The Battle of Mile Hill was an American Civil War cavalry skirmish that took place just north of Leesburg, Virginia, on September 2, 1862. It preceded the occupation of the town by the Army of Northern Virginia just prior to its crossing of the Potomac River starting the Maryland Campaign. This article is becoming very long. ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Loudoun County, Virginia is part of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area. ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (traditional) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (from April 3, 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Government Republic President... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (traditional) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (from April 3, 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Government Republic President... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat are commonly known as cavalry (from French cavalerie). ... Leesburg is a town located in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War in the eastern theater. ... The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States (USA). ... Confederate dead at Antietam The Maryland Campaign, or the Antietam Campaign, of September 1862 is widely considered one of the major turning points of the American Civil War. ...

Confederate cavalry under Col. Thomas T. Munford surprised and routed the Federal force of Cole's Maryland Cavalry and the independent Loudoun Rangers. The engagement successfully cleared the area of Federal forces, allowing Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia to occupy the town two days later on September 4, before crossing the Potomac north of town on September 6. Some Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was formed in February 1861 to defend the Confederate States of America, which had itself been formed that same year when seven Southern states seceded from the United States (four more states soon followed). ... Colonel (IPA: or ) is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with the corresponding ranks existing in nearly every country in the world. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a career U.S. Army officer and the most celebrated general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. ... September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ... September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ...

The Battle

After the failure of Army of Northern Virginia to deliver a death blow to the Army of Virginia at the Battle of Ox Hill, following the resouinding victory at 2nd Manassas, Robert E. Lee decided it unwise to pursue the federals any further towards their fortifications near Washington D.C.. Instead he planned to move into Loudoun County to obtain forage and provisions before his invasion of Maryland. The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War in the eastern theater. ... The Army of Virginia was organized as a major unit of the Union Army and operated briefly and unsuccessfully in 1862 in the American Civil War. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Jesse L. Reno Philip Kearny Isaac Stevens Thomas J. Jackson Strength Renos IX Corps Jacksons Corps (20,000) Casualties 1,300 800 The Battle of Chantilly (or Ox Hill, the Confederate name) took place on September 1, 1862... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders John Pope Robert E. Lee James Longstreet Stonewall Jackson Strength 63,000 54,000 Casualties 1,747 killed 8,452 wounded 4,263 captured/missing 1,553 killed 7,812 wounded 109 captured/missing The Second Battle of Bull Run... Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a career U.S. Army officer and the most celebrated general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... Loudoun County, Virginia is part of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area. ... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,417 sq mi (32,160 km²)  - Width 90 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37°53N to 39°43N  - Longitude 75°4W to 79°33...

Loudoun County at the time was under federal occupation. As such J.E.B. Stuart's calvary was sent ahead in advance to screen the army's movements and to clear Loudoun of enemy resistance. To this end the 2nd Virginia Calvary under the command of Col. Thomas T. Munford was sent out on September 1st to Leesburg to secure the river crossings in its vicinity. James Ewell Brown Stuart (February 6, 1833 – May 12, 1864) was an American soldier from Virginia and a Confederate Army general during the American Civil War. ...

The following day as Munford approached the eastern end of Leesburg he split his command, sending a squadron under the command of Cpt. Irvine directly through town, while he with the rest of his regiment turned north off the Leesburg Pike (present day Rt. 7) towards the river crossings.

Cpt. Irving and his command rushed into town to find Samuel Means and his unionist Loudoun Rangers gaurding the courthouse. The Rangers, having been severely manhandeld a few days prior at Waterford, put up little resistance before retreating north up King St (Rt. 15), though not before suffering four wounded. The Rangers fell back on Cole's Maryland Calvary, who were positoned to the north of town near the big spring (near present day Tutt ln), with Irving's command in hot pursuit. Cole's dismounted command began to engage Irving, but moments later Munford's command attacked from their rear flank, having been able to circumvent the Union position via Smart's Mill Lane, which Cole had foolishly left unguarded. Loudoun County in the Civil War - Loudoun County, Virginia was destined to be an area of great military activity during the American Civil War. ...

Cole attempted to mount his command to engage Munford, but many of his troops were killed or captured before the could reach their horses. Those that did briefly engaged Munford before retreating towards the Catoctin Mountain and the Old Waterford Rd which cuts through a gap in the ridge. Munford gave chase for two miles driving the federals through the gap into Loudoun Valley before retiring having succesfully cleared Leesburg and the river crossings in its Vicinity. Catoctin Mountain is the easternmost spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are in turn a part of the Appalachian Mountain Range. ...

Of Munfords 163 troops on the field he suffered 2 killed and 5 wounded, while of the Loudoun Rangers 30 or so men 1 was killed, 6 were wounded and 4 captured. Cole's Calvary estimated at 150 strong reported 6 killed, 27 wounded and 11 captured, though a significant amount of those casualties sustained were officers.

Battlefield

The main portion of the battle started at about where the current day Rt. 15 bypass converges with Business Rt 15 near the Harrison Farm. (This being Cole's initial position). The battle then moved southwest across present day Morven Park and Ida Lee park to Old Waterford Rd. None of the battlefield is protected as such, but Morvin Park remains undeveloped as does much of Ida Lee park so if one follows the Civil War Trails signs to the Historical Marker off of Tutts Ln a good feel the the setting of the battle can be had. Cole's initial position has been mostly obliterated by construction and widening to the Rt 15 highway system, as well as the partial condemnation of the Harrison farm by the public school system to build Smart's Mill Middle School and Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School. Likewise the approach Munford took up Smart's Mill Lane has become a housing development, though a piece of the olf road survives within the subdivision. Smarts Mill Middle School is a public secondary school in Leesburg, Virginia. ...

References

• Turner, Fitzhugh (ed.), Loudoun County and the Civil War, Loudoun County Civil War Centennial Commission; Leesburg, Virginia, 1961.

• Phillps, John T. II. (ed.), The Bulletin of the Historical Society of Loudoun County, Virginia, 1957-1976. Goose Creek Productions: Leesburg, Virginia, 1997.