Battle of Loudoun Heights facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Loudoun Heights
Part of the American Civil War
Date January 10, 1864 Location Loudoun County, Virginia Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States of America	Confederate States of America
Commanders and leaders
Henry A. Cole	John S. Mosby
Strength
300	100
Casualties and losses
26	14

The Battle of Loudoun Heights was a small fight during the American Civil War. It happened on January 10, 1864. This battle was between two groups of soldiers on horseback, called cavalry. One group was John Mosby's Rangers. The other was Major Henry A. Cole's 1st Potomac Home Brigade Maryland Cavalry.

The fight took place in Loudoun County, Virginia. Cole's Cavalry successfully defended their camp. It was attacked at night on Loudoun Heights. This battle was important. It was one of the first times Union forces successfully fought against Mosby's famous "partisans." Partisans were soldiers who used surprise attacks and knew the land well.

What Happened Before the Battle?

A Raid into "Mosby's Confederacy"

On January 1, 1864, about 80 Union cavalry soldiers went on a raid. They were led by Captain A. M. Hunter. They rode into an area known as "Mosby's Confederacy." This area was around Upperville and Rectortown, Virginia. It was called this because Mosby's Rangers often operated there.

Mosby's Rangers Fight Back

John Mosby was away at the time. So, Captain William "Billy" Smith gathered 32 of Mosby's Rangers. They went after Hunter's Union force. The Rangers caught up near Middleburg. Captain Hunter quickly got his men ready to fight. But Smith ordered a charge.

The Union line quickly broke apart. This happened when Hunter's horse was killed. The captain fell to the ground. The Union cavalry quickly rode away towards Middleburg. But they lost 57 men who were killed, hurt, or captured. The Rangers also took 60 of their horses.

Planning a Surprise Attack

Within a week, Cole's camp was found. It was located on top of Loudoun Heights. Benjamin Franklin Stringfellow, a scout for the Confederates, found it. Mosby was angry that Cole's soldiers had raided so deep into his territory. He was also encouraged by how badly the Union soldiers had fought at Middleburg. So, Mosby decided to attack Cole's main force. He hoped to surprise them in their camp.

The Battle of Loudoun Heights

The Rangers' Journey

On January 9, Mosby ordered his Rangers to meet at Upperville. About 100 Rangers showed up. The group set out for Loudoun Heights. They traveled through deep snow and very cold weather. They reached Woodgrove around 8 p.m. They stopped for two hours at Ranger Henry Heaton's home.

Just north of Hillsboro, they met Stringfellow. He and his scouts told Mosby exactly where Cole's camp was. They also knew how many soldiers were there. The Confederates saw Union guards along the Hillsboro-Harpers Ferry Road. So, they turned east. They followed the wooded western side of Short Hill Mountain. They kept going until they reached the Potomac River.

Approaching the Camp

From the river, they went west along the riverbank. They reached the bottom of Loudoun Heights. As the Rangers went up the mountain, they had to get off their horses. The hill was very steep. They stopped when they were about 200 yards (183 meters) from the Union camp.

Mosby sent some men with Stringfellow. Their job was to capture Cole's headquarters at the back of the camp. Mosby took the rest of his men further up the hillside. They stopped directly west of the camp.

Confusion in the Dark

Around 3 a.m., Mosby was ready to order the attack. Suddenly, gunshots were heard from Stringfellow's direction. Then, horsemen appeared in the distance. They were riding towards Mosby from the enemy camp. Mosby thought these were Union soldiers who had found Stringfellow. So, he ordered a charge.

His Rangers rushed into the camp. They attacked the horsemen. But it turned out to be Stringfellow's group! It took several minutes for the two groups to realize who each other were in the dark. But not before some Confederate soldiers were hit by "friendly fire." This means they were accidentally shot by their own side.

Cole's Men Fight Back

Meanwhile, Cole's men woke up because of the gunshots. Captain George W.F. Vernon led Company A. The men quickly grabbed their weapons. They formed a battle line on foot. Many were barely dressed. Even in the dark, the Union soldiers could easily see the Rangers. The Rangers were on horses, which made them stand out.

The Union soldiers fired their first shots. Several Confederates fell. Many of them were caught out in the open on the road.

The Retreat

The fight lasted about 45 minutes. It was very confusing. Several Rangers started to retreat. Soon after, Union infantry soldiers were heard approaching from Harpers Ferry. Mosby then ordered a full retreat for his men.

The Rangers escaped with 6 prisoners. These were guards from Cole's Cavalry. They had been taken from their post along the Hillsboro road. The Rangers also took nearly 60 horses. But they had to leave their dead and seriously wounded soldiers behind.

A few miles from the Union camp, Mosby stopped. He sent two Rangers back with a flag of truce. This was a sign that they wanted to talk peacefully. They offered to exchange the prisoners for their dead and wounded. Among the wounded were Billy Smith and First Lieutenant Thomas Turner. However, Major Cole said no to the offer. So, the Rangers left and went back towards "Mosby's Confederacy."

After the Battle

Casualties and Promotions

Mosby's Rangers had 14 casualties. This means 4 were killed, 4 were badly wounded and later died, 5 were wounded, and 1 was captured. William "Willie" Mosby, John's brother, was among the wounded. It was believed that 3 of the dead were victims of friendly fire.

Cole's Union forces had 6 dead, 14 wounded, and 6 captured. This battle was the first time Union soldiers had defeated Mosby's Rangers. Because of their good performance, Cole was promoted from major to colonel. Vernon was promoted from captain to lieutenant colonel.