Stonewall The Stone House at Manassas

[James N.]

One of the most identifiable sights on the battlefield of Manassas/Bull Run and one which played a role in both battles fought there is the venerable Stone House that stands at the intersection of the Warrenton Turnpike (currently the Lee Highway) and the Sudley Road leading from Sudley Springs, Church, and Ford of Bull Run to Manassas Junction. Depending on which account is believed, the house had been built in either the 1820's or 1840's, and had been variously a tavern, an inn, or a private dwelling.

The Stone House was photographed by George N. Barnard during his visit in March, 1862 as a prime object of curiosity immediately upon the abandonment of Manassas by the Confederate army, as documented in his photograph above.

Unfortunately for touring, this location is often crowded with local traffic along the narrow NPS roads making it both difficult and dangerous to visit. In the photo above, taken from the area atop Buck Hill that served as the headquarters of Maj. Gen. John Pope during the second battle, Warrenton Turnpike runs left-to-right with Sudley Road crossing it at the right and running on towards Manassas. Henry House Hill is in the background center, topped by the NPS Visitor Center.

Additional views of the house from the trail leading up Buck Hill indicate its importance here at the epicenter of the action, especially during the first battle. In both battles it was pressed into service as a Federal field hospital and is frequently interpreted as such by the NPS in living history programs held during prime summer tourist season.

Signage atop Buck Hill includes a wartime drawing featuring the house in the foreground with Pope's army spread out in the distance attacking the line of Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson along the treeline marking the position of the Unfinished Railroad in the background. This photo is looking from Pope's position toward Matthews Hill in the background.

Because of its central location during both battles, the site was chosen for the location of the marker above erected in July, 1928 by the Virginia Historical Society under the direction of historian, author, and biographer of Lee and his generals, Dr. Douglas Southall Freeman denoting the location of the battlefields. It stands on the grounds of the Stone House only a little behind and to the left of it.

The location of the house between advancing Union troops on Matthews Hill in the background and defending Confederate artillery of John Imboden here on the brow of Henry Hill is shown on this sign along the NPS trail that circles the latter. Below, the projecting second story of the Stone House can be seen at the left from this view near the Henry House and marker denoting where Col. Cameron of the 79th New York (Cameron Highlanders) fell while attacking Jackson's Brigade in the first battle; in the second fight Henry Hill was the scene of the final Union defense before their retreat.

 

[amweiner]

Thanks for these great pictures and information, James N.! I've only been to Manassas once but it leaves a powerful impression...i must have gone on a slow day as I was able to visit the Stone House with no difficulty. Hopefully this battlefield can continue to resist the onslaught of development around it.

 

[Stony]

Walked this battlefield last spring with my family.

 

[JOHN42768]

Thanks for posting. Visited many years ago, no fence around it then

 

[mofederal]

Thanks James N. I always enjoy your photo tours. I have been there before, and the traffic really sucks there. The house is great, it is just stopping the car without getting hit. Those drivers act like you are doing something wrong by trying to see the house. Of course I would need to add that there is nothing normal about the traffic there or anywhere in D.C.

 

[James N.]

Thanks James N. I always enjoy your photo tours. I have been there before, and the traffic really sucks there. The house is great, it is just stopping the car without getting hit. Those drivers act like you are doing something wrong by trying to see the house. Of course I would need to add that there is nothing normal about the traffic there or anywhere in D.C.

The worst we encountered was a back-up waiting for the light there - we were approaching the battlefield from the north on the Sudley Road that was backed up from the intersection at the Stone House all the way to Sudley Church creeping along one car at a time.

 

[bdtex]

The worst we encountered was a back-up waiting for the light there - we were approaching the battlefield from the north on the Sudley Road that was backed up from the intersection at the Stone House all the way to Sudley Church creeping along one car at a time.

Is there an easy to get to place where one can park their car and just walk to the sites in your photos? I realize that's probably quite a walk and I would certainly wanna do that in cooler temperatures.

 

[James N.]

Is there an easy to get to place where one can park their car and just walk to the sites in your photos? I realize that's probably quite a walk and I would certainly wanna do that in cooler temperatures.

Thanks for these great pictures and information, James N.! I've only been to Manassas once but it leaves a powerful impression...i must have gone on a slow day as I was able to visit the Stone House with no difficulty. Hopefully this battlefield can continue to resist the onslaught of development around it.

Yes - as amweiner indicates there is a pull-off and parking area for the Stone House stop on the NPS driving tour of the battlefield; it's to the left of this photo, deliberately just out-of-frame. From it you can easily walk all around the house and take the trail leading up Buck Hill. Another parking area is north of here on Sudley Road for the Matthews Hill stop.

 

[bdtex]

Yes - as amweiner indicates there is a pull-off and parking area for the Stone House stop on the NPS driving tour of the battlefield; it's to the left of this photo, deliberately just out-of-frame. From it you can easily walk all around the house and take the trail leading up Buck Hill. Another parking area is north of here on Sudley Road for the Matthews Hill stop.

View attachment 168889

When I blow up that picture I can see a person walking on the trail in the center-right of the picture.