Thanks to the efforts and resolve of a group of amateur historians in the Oakton, Reston and Vienna area, six historic markers were dedicated on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the intersection of Hunter Mill Road and the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) trail. The markers commemorate significant Civil War activities and events that took place along Hunter Mill Road and the W&OD Trail, then called the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad, and the importance of both routes as Union and Confederate forces took up positions on those routes. With the Hunter Mill Defense League (HMDL) and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority working as partners, with several years of research behind it, these markers note the impact the Hunter Mill corridor had during the Civil War.

Between 175 and 200 guests showed up for the unveiling of the markers, as did a host of local dignitaries.



“WE WANTED TO PRESERVE the rich Civil War history in this area,” said Charlie Balch of Oakton. The history committee of the HMDL set out to raise awareness and to educate the community when it turned its attention to the Civil War history in the Hunter Mill corridor. Balch said that while his group of fellow historians worked independently of HMDL, as history committee members, they were happy to support the goals of the League.

At the W&OD Trail at Hunter Mill Road, which was then the main North/South route, markers recognize the execution of Union spy Rev. Read of Falls Church, skirmishes along the route, the railroad tracks and station and the Hunter Mill corridor’s role in troop movements and encampments during the Civil War. Control of the corridor changed hands more than 10 times during the war.

The official Commonwealth Historic Marker, designating the intersection as the “Crossroads to War,” was unveiled by U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11). Hunter’s Station, Terror by the Tracks, and Strategic Junction are NVRPA historic markers. The Hunter’s Mill and Hunter Mill Road markers are Fairfax County Historic Markers. The Hunter Mill Road marker is to be moved closer to Route 123, across from the new Oakton community park and Oakton schoolhouse, as an introduction to the richness of the byway.

“I love history and the lessons we can learn from history,” said Steve Hull of Reston, HMDL history committee chairman. “What intrigued me is how much happened right here. The markers would have a deeper meaning for people living around here. It’s their history, not someone else’s.”



THROUGH SALES of DVDs and other products, the HMDL raised enough money to buy six markers. Bill Cramer of HMDL Board, and vice president of Vienna Paints, raised an amount equivalent to 1 1/2 markers, Hull said. The Freeman Store, as sellers of HMDL merchandise, was responsible for sponsoring a marker, as well. No public funds were used in any part of the research and creation of the markers.

As chairman of the history committee, Hull led the marker initiative. HMDL history committee members Balch, Bob Eldridge, Tom Evans and Jim Lewis helped to research the background and physical terrain. The relics discovered off Hunter Mill Road, on exhibit during the unveiling, were unearthed by Evans.

Stories of bravery, military prowess, tragedy and local friction dotted the content of the speeches, as speakers drew on the historical depth of the area. All speakers stressed the imperative of preserving local history.

“These remarkable stories made this area come to life,” said Fairfax County Board Chairman Sharon Bulova (D-At-large).



COUNTED AMONG the honored guests were Connolly; Del. Ken Plum (D-36); Bulova; Supervisors Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill), Linda Q. Smyth (D-Providence), John Foust (D-Dranesville) and Michael Frey (R-Sully); and Vienna historian Mayo Stuntz.

Re-enactors representing Brady’s Michigan Sharpshooters and the 17th Virginia Infantry Regiment marched and closed the program with three volleys fired into the woods. Cub Scout Pack 32 of Reston led the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance to open the program, and Civil War-era music played throughout the morning.

“Preserving the history of Fairfax County is something we all need to be doing,” said Smyth, who unveiled the Hunter Mill Road marker.



TO LEARN MORE about the mission of the Hunter Mill Defense League, see www.hmdl.org. Information on the history of the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park is at www.nvrpa.org and www.wodfriends.org.