Centreville, VA

[Mike Serpa]

Most of these have been posted before but a few are new for me.

Centreville.

Grimsby House, Centerville, Headquarters General Johnston.

General Johnston's Headquarters, Centreville.

Fort and Barracks at Centreville.

Quaker Guns in Fort at Centreville.

Fortifications, Heights of Centerville.

Fortifications, Heights of Centerville.

Stone Church, Centerville.

 

[Old Bay]

She sure don't look like that anymore.

 

[chellers]

New to me, too, Mike. Thank you. My daughter lives in Centreville.

 

[caller]

The Stone Church from approximately the same position - notice the trees completely hide what is referred to as The Havener House across the street from the church. https://goo.gl/maps/W3A1z9CLSBU2

 

[caller]

One thing I am trying to figure out - is the first image taken from down the street facing the opposite direction from the Stone Church image? Based on the number of chimneys and basic appearances I would say yes, but I think I need to invest in a better monitor to be certain.

 

[Patrick H]

It is probably just a trick of the lenses, etc., but I'm struck by how barren and bleak the surrounding countryside looks in the pictures of the fortifications. In contrast, the town appears to have had nice shade trees, etc.

 

[TinCan]

Funny that you should mention that Pat as that was the same thought that struck me, how barren everything seemed. I wonder if we could go back in time would we have the same ideas and expectations about what it was like back then as we do today?

 

[67th Tigers]

McClellan's report of the occupation indicates the rebs scoured the country, and no food or firewood was available throughout the whole area.

 

[DaveBrt]

It is a normal precaution for the defense to clear the files of fire out to effective range of your weapons. I suspect that the clearing for defense, cutting for firewood, and cutting for building winter huts, in an area of farm fields, produced the barren landscape.

 

[AUG]

Here's a higher res version of the image of soldiers sitting on the earthworks. Notice one of them is playing with a puppy.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Here's a higher res version of the image of soldiers sitting on the earthworks. Notice one of them is playing with a puppy.

Not just any puppy. A two-headed puppy.

 

[caller]

Not just any puppy. A two-headed puppy.

For all of us who know the story of our ancestor(s) who fought in the civil war, it is really unfortunate that it is so extremely unlikely that we would/could ever know any descendants of the dog in the picture... unless having two heads is genetic of course.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

@LoyaltyOfDogs , is this one in your " Spot the dog " thread?

I hadn't run into a few of these, good to see ' Centerville ' photos all in one spot.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Some mentions of Centreville during the Gettysburg campaign:

-26 June [1863], they are firing [burning] the buildings that contain Government stores. The large church must go too, it's a pity to see it burning as it is a fine building and has a very fine organ. But it's full of hard bread and hay, so it must go. Such is war! (Diary of Major John I. Nevin, 93 PA -'On the March Again at Daybreak,' ed. by Dana B. Shoaf, A Journal of the American Civil War, vol. 6, no. 3 (Savas Publishing Company), p. 118)

-The most forsaken looking place I ever saw [25 June]. The 111th New York took down their "A" and wall tents and they, with many other stores, were stored in the church. ... On 26 June the church containing the stores of the brigade that left here yesterday was in flames. Many of the government stores shared the same fate. (Diary of Alonzo Clapp, 122nd New York)

-Only a few buildings now standing [as of 25 June], and they are mere huts built of logs. Every hill is crowned with a fort, and they are all connected by rifle pits and covered ways for artillery to pass from one to another. (Elisha Hunt Rhodes, All for the Union (2nd Rhode Island), pp. 113-114)

-[Mid-June] Halt made at Centreville for two days, and no one who was on that march will ever forget the great spring of clear cold water, gushing out of the ground in a stream as large as a stove pipe, at the very top of the hill. There was water enough for all and to spare. (Lt. Francis Wiggin, 16th Maine)

-Quite a village, the buildings of which, made of stone, have a venerable and ancient appearance. A fine stream nearby was convenient for bathing and washing. (22 June letter of Lt. Rush P. Cady, 97th New York)

 

[LoyaltyOfDogs]

@LoyaltyOfDogs , is this one in your " Spot the dog " thread?

I hadn't run into a few of these, good to see ' Centerville ' photos all in one spot.

No, he wasn't, until now, thanks to your "heads-up," @JPK Huson 1863. Thanks, @Mike Serpa, for the most unusual dog-sighting yet!

 

[bankerpapaw]

Great pictures. Thanks!!!

 

[Saint Jude]

Not much of a "ville" back in the day! Thanks for posting these pics!

 

[Robert Gray]

Most of these have been posted before but a few are new for me.
View attachment 64243
Centreville.

View attachment 64244
Grimsby House, Centerville, Headquarters General Johnston.

View attachment 64245
General Johnston's Headquarters, Centreville.

View attachment 64246
Fort and Barracks at Centreville.

View attachment 64247
Quaker Guns in Fort at Centreville.

View attachment 64248
Fortifications, Heights of Centerville.

View attachment 64249
Fortifications, Heights of Centerville.

View attachment 64250
Stone Church, Centerville.

Another view of the Stone Church.

 

[CHavener]

Great pictures of Centreville...wish there were some of the Havener House!

Clarke Havener