Fight at Waterford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fight at Waterford |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States of America |
 Confederate States of America |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Samuel C. Means Luther Slater |
Elijah V. White | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Loudoun Rangers | 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 53 | 51 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 15 (2 killed, 11 wounded, 2 captured) | 2 (2 killed) | ||||||
The Fight at Waterford was a small battle during the American Civil War. It happened in Waterford, Virginia on August 27, 1862. This fight was between two special cavalry groups. One group was called White's Rebels, who fought for the Confederates. The other group was the Loudoun Rangers, who fought for the Union.
The Rebels surprised the Loudoun Rangers in their camp at Waterford. They defeated the Rangers and captured most of them. After being captured, the Rangers were "paroled," which means they were set free after promising not to fight again. This battle was a win for the Confederates. It was also the first important fight of its kind in Loudoun County.
What Happened Before the Fight?
On August 26, Captain Samuel C. Means moved his new group, the Loudoun Rangers, to Waterford. Waterford was a village that supported the Union. Means wanted to start missions in areas controlled by the Confederates.
He placed 24 men on guard duty. Four men were on each of the six roads leading into town. The rest of his group stayed in the local Baptist church. Captain Means then went to his home in the village. Lieutenant Luther Slater was put in charge of the unit for the night.
Meanwhile, on August 25, Captain Elijah V. White and his cavalry company, about 100 strong, got permission. General Richard S. Ewell allowed them to go back to their home county. They wanted to find food for their horses and bother Union soldiers there.
The next day, they reached the southern part of the county. There, they learned about the Loudoun Rangers. They found out the Rangers had formed a month earlier and were in Waterford. That evening, White took about half of his group. They traveled off the main roads through fields and woods. They managed to sneak past the Rangers' guards and reach Waterford.
The Fight Begins
In the early morning hours of August 27, White's Rebels approached the Baptist church. Local Confederate supporters helped guide them in the dark. They found 28 Rangers camped on the church porch.
Captain White decided to split his group. He sent 30 mounted men onto the road. This was a trick to draw the Rangers out into the open. The other 20 men, on foot, waited in a field across the street. Their orders were to fire only after the Rangers fell for the trick.
But the Rebels were too excited and fired too early. The Rangers quickly ran into the church for safety. Before they could get inside, one Ranger was killed and two were hurt. Lieutenant Slater was among the injured. He gave command to Charles A. Webster.
White then sent his decoy force into town. Their goal was to capture Captain Means and the Rangers' guards. In town, the Rebels found that Means and his guards had already left. But they did capture two guards at Means's house. They also found a hidden supply of weapons and other items.
The Church Siege
About 30 minutes into the fight, White sent a local woman named Mrs. Virts to the church. Her home was next to the Rebels' position. She went under a white flag, which means she was asking for a truce. She demanded that the Rangers surrender. Webster, who was now in charge, refused.
The fighting continued for another hour. White sent Mrs. Virts into the church again to demand surrender. Again, Webster refused. This time, he warned Mrs. Virts that he would harm her if she came into the church again. The fighting went on for another hour and a half until 7 a.m. Then, the Rebels demanded surrender one more time.
The Rangers were out of ammunition. Webster agreed to surrender, but only if the prisoners were set free right away. The Rebels were also low on ammunition, so White agreed. They took the Rangers' horses and weapons. They paroled, or set free, 19 captured Rangers. Four other Rangers had escaped earlier by hiding in the basement and leaving through a back window.
The two guards captured outside the church were not paroled. They were sent to Richmond as prisoners of war. During the surrender, a Rebel soldier named William Snoots rushed into the church. He tried to kill his brother, Charles Snoots, who was a Ranger. But he was stopped before he could do it.
What Were the Results?
This short fight was costly for the Loudoun Rangers. They had 2 men killed and 11 wounded. The Rebels also took 56 horses and 100 revolvers and carbines (types of guns).
This battle was the Rangers' first real fight. It quickly showed that they needed more training and better leadership. Captain Means had left the village with his guards, leaving his unit without a leader in their first battle.
The Rebels also showed some lack of discipline in the fight. But they showed cleverness and initiative against their enemy. These qualities would become typical of their unit throughout the war. They even earned the nickname "Comanches." This fight was the first of many battles between people from Loudoun County who had different views on the war.
