See You In The Field

 On August 3, 1861,  Confederate soldiers, belonging to the brigades of Brig. Gens. Henry Whiting and Cadmus Wilcox, arrived from the devastated battlefields of Manassas to the pristine acres surrounding Bristoe Station.   Historical marker for CAMP JONES This encampment was named Camp Jones after Col. Egbert Jones of the 4th Alabama Infantry, who died from wounds suffered at the First Battle of Manassas. These rolling hills  served as an ideal location for a large encampment, as it was near the fresh water source of the Broad River and close to the vital Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Camp Jones probably consisted of numerous unit encampments spread out around the Bristoe Station area. Sadly little is known about this camp, it's layout, it's hospitals and it's cemeteries today.  We know that the Sixth North Carolina State Troops marched here on this date, because they told us ...in their muster roster descriptions, like this one from Co.  Co. I, 6th Regiment North Carol

The Sixth North Carolina at 1st Manassas 
  Researched and written by Historian Frederick Walton Copyright © 2001, 2023 By Frederick Walton Confederate troops boarding the train at Piedmont Station en route to Manassas It was not too many years ago that any schoolboy or girl could have told you the story of the battle of 1st Manassas. Even a child could see the irony of the southern citizen soldiers  who gathered on the plains of Manassas with their faces toward an invading northern army and their backs to the  homes and hearths that they vowed to protect. This is a classic David and Goliath story, right against might, a story of how stout-hearted Confederates, against overwhelming odds were able to turn the tables on an over-confident enemy and send them running back to Washington, D.C. in a panic stricken and confused  rout. But, there is another story to be told within the context of this larger tale. The story of the only North Carolina Regiment in the fight that day. The story of