Battle of Vienna, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Vienna, Virginia
Part of the American Civil War
1st Ohio Infantry in action at Vienna, Virginia June 17, 1861
Date June 17, 1861 Location Vienna, Virginia Fairfax County, Virginia Result Confederate Victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Irvin McDowell Robert C. Schenck	P. G. T. Beauregard Maxcy Gregg
Strength
274	750
Casualties and losses
8 killed 4 wounded	none

The Battle of Vienna, Virginia was a small fight during the early days of the American Civil War. It happened on June 17, 1861, between soldiers from the Union (the North) and the Confederacy (the South).

The Union army wanted to protect areas of Virginia that were close to Washington, D.C.. They set up a camp in Vienna, which was at the end of a railroad line from Alexandria.

As Union General Robert C. Schenck was moving soldiers by train to Vienna, Confederate scouts heard them. Colonel Maxcy Gregg led the Confederate scouts. They quickly set up a surprise attack. The Confederates fired two cannon shots at the train, hurting some Union soldiers. The Union men quickly jumped off the train and ran into the nearby woods. The train's engineer got scared and drove the locomotive away, leaving the soldiers behind. This meant the Union troops had to walk back to their camp. The Confederates tried to chase them in the dark, but they soon gave up.

This battle was small compared to later fights. The Union had 274 soldiers, while the Confederates had about 750. Even though it was small, newspapers reported on it a lot. This worried the government because many soldiers' enlistments were ending soon.

Why Did the Battle of Vienna Happen?

Union Forces Secure Virginia Areas

In May 1861, after Virginia voted to leave the Union, Union soldiers moved into Alexandria and Arlington. These areas were just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Union troops secured land about 5 miles (8 km) from the river.

On June 1, 1861, a small group of U.S. Army soldiers went on a scouting trip. They rode about 8 miles (13 km) from their camp in Falls Church, Virginia to Fairfax Court House. There, they had a short fight with some Virginia militia, who would soon join the Confederate Army. This fight was called the Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861). The Union soldiers thought the Confederates at Fairfax Court House were much stronger than they actually were.

Later that night, there was another small fight at a Union outpost in Arlington, known as the Battle of Arlington Mills. These small battles made Union commanders careful about moving deeper into Virginia.

Railroad Protection Becomes Important

On June 16, 1861, Union soldiers from Connecticut rode along the Alexandria, Loudon and Hampshire Railroad line. They traveled about 17 miles (27 km) from Alexandria past Vienna. They reported that the railroad line was clear, but one soldier was shot from a hidden spot.

Union Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell was in charge of the area. He knew the railroad would not be safe without guards. He had also heard that Confederates planned to block the tracks. So, on June 17, 1861, McDowell sent General Schenck with the 1st Ohio Infantry to make the Union's position stronger in Fairfax County.

General Schenck took six companies of soldiers on the train. He dropped off small groups to guard railroad bridges between Alexandria and Vienna. As the train got close to Vienna, about 4 miles (6 km) north of Fairfax Court House, 271 officers and men were still on board.

Confederates Plan an Ambush

On the same day, Confederate Colonel Gregg led about 750 men on a scouting trip. His group included 575 infantry soldiers, 140 cavalrymen, and 35 artillerymen with two cannons. They were scouting from Fairfax Court House towards the Potomac River.

Around 6:00 p.m., on their way back, the Confederates heard the train whistle. Colonel Gregg quickly moved his cannons to a curve in the railroad line in Vienna. He placed his soldiers around the cannons to hide them.

An elderly local man who supported the Union saw what was happening. He ran down the tracks to warn the approaching train about the hidden Confederate soldiers. However, the Union officers mostly ignored his warning. The train kept moving, though an officer was sent to the front car as a lookout.

What Happened During the Battle?

The Union soldiers were riding in open cars as the train slowly backed up towards Vienna. As the train went around the curve, a soldier saw some Confederate cavalry on a nearby hill. Just as the Ohio soldiers got ready to shoot, the Confederates fired their cannons from their hidden spot.

The first cannon shots went a little high, which saved many Union soldiers. They quickly jumped from the slow-moving train. Some ran into the nearby woods, while others found cover near the train cars.

General Schenck told Lieutenant William H. Raynor to go to the engine and have the engineer move the train away. Schenck followed Raynor. Raynor had to help loosen the brakes. The brakeman had uncoupled most of the cars, so the engineer left them behind. He didn't stop for the Union soldiers to catch up. Instead, he drove the train all the way back to Alexandria.

This left General Schenck without a way to communicate. He had to have the wounded soldiers carried back to camp in blankets by other soldiers. The medical supplies had been left on the train.

Many Union soldiers took cover behind the train cars and tried to shoot back at the Confederates. There was a lot of confusion with different orders. Colonel McCook managed to get many soldiers reorganized in the woods. The two sides were a bit too far apart for their muskets to be very effective, so not many shots were fired.

As it got dark, the Union soldiers were able to retreat. They managed to avoid the Confederate cavalry who tried to chase them. The Confederates stopped their chase early. They were worried that the Union force might be just the front of a larger army. Also, the Confederate soldiers were supposed to return to their camp that night. The Confederates took any supplies left behind and burned the train cars. When Union commanders in Arlington heard about the attack, they sent wagons to pick up the wounded and dead. But the wagons did not reach the battle site.

What Was the Result of the Battle?

Casualties and Public Reaction

The Union army lost eight soldiers who were killed, and four were wounded. The Confederates reported that they had no casualties.

Union officers were criticized for not sending scouts ahead of the train, especially since it was moving slowly. They were also criticized for ignoring the warning from the local Union supporter. The Battle of Vienna happened just a week after another Union loss at the Battle of Big Bethel. Historian William C. Davis noted that newspapers were very upset by the small defeat at Vienna. People started to wonder when the Union would win some battles.

Historical Significance of the Battle

Historian Charles Poland, Jr. says that the Battle of Vienna, along with the Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861) and the Battle of Arlington Mills, were early events leading up to the first major battle of the war, the First Battle of Bull Run (also known as the Battle of First Manassas).

Poland also mentioned that the Battle of Vienna is "cited as the first time the railroad was used in warfare." He was likely talking about using the railroad to move troops or for fighting. Railroads had been used to move supplies during the Crimean War before this.

Small fights also took place in Vienna on July 9 and July 17, 1861. These happened as Union forces began their slow march towards Manassas, Virginia and the First Battle of Bull Run.

The railroad line eventually became the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. It was closed in 1968 and later turned into the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail. A historical marker from the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority stands near the trail. It is about 0.25 miles (0.40 km) east of where the trail crosses Park Street.

How Is the Battle Remembered?

The Town of Vienna named a street near the battle site "Battle Street." In 1961, to mark the 100th anniversary of the battle, the town held a reenactment. A real steam train, which still ran on the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad tracks, was part of the show.

The town also remembered the 125th anniversary of the battle in 1986. On June 18, 2011, for the battle's 150th anniversary, the town and other groups put on another reenactment near the original site. This event featured a replica steam locomotive that was rented from the Town of Strasburg, Virginia.

Images for kids

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  1st Ohio Infantry in action at Vienna, Virginia
  June 17, 1861