Action at Mount Zion Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Action at Mount Zion Church
Part of the American Civil War
Date July 6, 1864 Location Loudoun County, Virginia 38°57′49.67″N 77°36′35.06″W / 38.9637972°N 77.6097389°W / 38.9637972; -77.6097389 Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
Confederate States	United States
Commanders and leaders
John S. Mosby	William H. Forbes
Units involved
43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry	2nd Massachusetts Cavalry 13th New York Cavalry
Strength
150	150
Casualties and losses
6 (1 killed, 5 wounded)	106 (12 killed, 37 wounded, 57 captured)

The Action at Mount Zion Church was a small but important fight during the American Civil War. It happened on July 6, 1864. This battle was a cavalry skirmish, which means a quick, short fight between small groups of soldiers.

The battle was fought between soldiers from the Union army and the Confederate army. Union forces were led by Major William H. Forbes. Confederate forces were led by Colonel John S. Mosby. The fight took place near Aldie in Loudoun County, Virginia.

This battle was part of Mosby's special operations in Northern Virginia. Mosby's soldiers, known as Mosby's Rangers, had just raided a Union base at Point of Rocks, Maryland. After that, they defeated Forbes's troops. Forbes's men had been sent to Loudoun County to find and capture Mosby's Rangers. The battle ended with a victory for the Confederates.

Why the Battle Happened

In early July 1864, Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early planned to invade Maryland. His goal was to help the Confederate cause. Colonel John S. Mosby learned about this plan. Mosby decided to help Early by raiding Maryland himself. He wanted to cut telegraph wires. These wires connected Washington, D.C. to Harpers Ferry.

Mosby's Rangers Prepare

Mosby ordered his Rangers to meet at Rectortown. About 250 Rangers showed up. They rode all day and camped near Purcellville. The next morning, July 4, they rode to the Potomac River. They arrived across from Berlin (now Brunswick).

Scouts were sent to find targets. They reported a small Union force at Point of Rocks, Maryland. Mosby decided this would be their target. They rode east along the Potomac River to the village.

Union Forces Hunt Mosby

On the same day, Major William H. Forbes was sent into Loudoun County. He had 100 soldiers from the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry. He also had 50 soldiers from the 13th New York Cavalry. Their mission was to hunt down Mosby and his Rangers.

Forbes's troops rode west from Falls Church. They went along the Little River Turnpike (now U.S. Route 50). They stopped at Ball's Mill on the Goose Creek for the night. The next day, they traveled to Aldie and Leesburg. Then they returned to Ball's Mill.

The "Calico Raid"

When Mosby's Rangers reached Point of Rocks, they found Union soldiers there. There were two companies of Federal infantry and two companies of cavalry. These included the Loudoun Rangers, about 350 soldiers in total.

One group of Union infantry was on Patton's Island in the Potomac River. Another was in a small fort near the C&O Canal. The Loudoun Rangers were camped in the village.

Mosby quickly began to clear Patton's Island. He placed Ranger Sam Chapman and his howitzer (a type of cannon) on a bluff. Lieutenant Albert Wrenn led sharpshooters into the river. They attacked the Union position on the island. The Union soldiers fought back but soon fled to the Maryland shore. They destroyed a small bridge over the canal as they crossed.

The Rangers then rushed across the river to the Maryland shore. They started fighting the Union soldiers across the canal. Many Rangers quickly repaired the bridge. Henry Hatcher led the charge across the canal. He ran into the Union camp under heavy fire and captured their flag. Once across, the Rangers quickly drove the Union soldiers out of the town.

After the Union soldiers were defeated, the Rangers burned canal boats. They also cut the telegraph wires. These wires connected Washington to Harpers Ferry. Point of Rocks was also home to many Union supporters from Loudoun. So, after disrupting travel and communication, the Rangers took supplies from the town's stores. Some of these supplies belonged to Union supporters. The Rangers returned with many fine clothes. Because of this, the raid became known as the "Calico Raid." After the raid, the Rangers went back to Virginia. They camped on the road to Leesburg.

After the Raid

The next morning, Mosby sent about 100 Rangers to take the stolen goods back to Fauquier. He also sent Rangers Fount Bettie and Harry Heaton to report to General Early. Early was camped near Antietam Creek. Mosby's message was that his soldiers would work with Early's.

Mosby then led his Rangers back to Point of Rocks. He wanted to continue his raid into Maryland. But the Union army in Washington had learned about the raid. Major General Henry Halleck sent the 8th Illinois Cavalry to Point of Rocks.

When Mosby's Rangers arrived at the Potomac, the 8th Illinois Cavalry held the village. A 90-minute firefight happened across the river. The 8th Illinois claimed to have killed one Ranger and wounded two. Mosby did not report any casualties. Mosby then stopped the attack and headed south toward Leesburg. The 8th Illinois Cavalry was later sent to Monocacy Junction. There, Union Major General Lew Wallace was gathering soldiers to stop Early's advance on Washington. The 8th Illinois and the Loudoun Rangers would fight in the Battle of Frederick and the Battle of Monocacy.

The Battle at Mount Zion Church

As Mosby's Rangers neared Leesburg, his scouts reported that Forbes's Union soldiers were in the town. Mosby led his Rangers to a camp west of Leesburg on Catoctin Mountain. They spent the night there.

The Union soldiers left Leesburg the next morning, July 6. They headed south past Oatlands Mill and on to Aldie. Around 6 p.m., they reached an intersection with the Little River Turnpike. They stopped to rest at the Skinner farm near Mount Zion Church.

Meanwhile, Mosby entered Leesburg shortly after the Union soldiers left. He learned they had withdrawn. He led his Rangers out of town toward Ball's Mill. He thought the Union soldiers had returned the same way they came. At Ball's Mill, local people told Mosby he was wrong.

Mosby then made a new plan. He decided to head southeast toward Gum Springs (now Arcola). He wanted to cut off the Union soldiers as they traveled east on the Little River Turnpike.

The Clash Begins

When they reached Gum Springs, Mosby's scouts found the Union force. They were about half a mile away. Mosby placed his howitzer on top of a small ridge. He formed his soldiers on the Turnpike. They were in columns of four, led by Lieutenant Harry Hatcher. A dozen skirmishers (soldiers who scout ahead and start the fight) were in front.

The skirmishers met Forbes's pickets (guards) just as the Union soldiers were getting ready to leave. Alerted by his pickets, Forbes quickly lined up his men. They formed two lines in a field south of the road. He prepared to charge Mosby's oncoming Rangers.

The shots from the skirmishers also alerted Ranger Sam Chapman, who was with the howitzer. He fired a shot. It wasn't aimed perfectly, but it caused confusion in the Union line. Seeing this, Forbes couldn't order a charge. He tried to move his lines to meet a charge instead.

This confusion gave the Rangers time to take down a rail fence between them and the Union soldiers. Once the fence was gone, the Rangers charged. They fired a deadly volley of shots at the reforming Union lines. This startled the Union horses, throwing their ranks into disarray.

Fierce Fighting and Union Retreat

The Union soldiers broke and fled southwest past the Skinner house and Mount Zion Church. Forbes tried to rally his men. He got them to form a line in the woods southwest of the road. In the woods, the two forces fought fiercely at close range.

The Union soldiers drew their sabers (swords). But they found them useless against the Rangers' pistol fire. In the close fighting, Forbes met Mosby. Forbes tried to stab Mosby with his saber. Ranger Thomas Richards jumped in front of the blade. He took the saber in his shoulder, saving his commander. Mosby emptied his pistol, shooting Forbes's horse. This threw Forbes to the ground. Forbes quickly surrendered. The Union resistance finally broke. The Union soldiers ran away in a panic, with the Rangers chasing them for several miles.

What Happened Next

This hour-long fight was one of the Rangers' most complete victories. They caused heavy losses to the Union side. They killed 13 Union soldiers, including Captain Goodwin Stone. They wounded 37 and captured 57 prisoners, including Major Forbes. They also captured every horse that wasn't hurt or killed. In total, 71% of the Union force was lost. The Rangers suffered only 1 killed and 6 wounded.

Also, the telegraph wires that Mosby's Rangers cut at Point of Rocks during the Calico Raid helped the Confederates. These cut wires made it harder for the Union army to chase General Early after the Battle of Fort Stevens.