Germantown, VA burning

[JulieWeathers]

I'm writing or have written a Civil War historical inspired by Hetty Cary. (I'm in final revision now.) I say inspired by because I knew I wouldn't be able to do her justice and write the novel I wanted, so I created a new character who borrowed a lot of pieces from her life. The novel ends a few weeks after the First Battle of Manassas.

That's the background. I'm curious about the burning of Germantown, VA by Union troops. One source had the initial burning in 1861 around the time of the battle. I can't find the reference now and half my books are still packed. Another says it was burned later. I tried contacting a historian in the area, but no response.

Does anyone have any information on this?

Thanks,

Julie

 

[ami]

I can't say I can offer much help, but I am sure someone has something to offer!

 

[JulieWeathers]

I can't say I can offer much help, but I am sure someone has something to offer!

Ami.

Thank you.

Julie

 

[mobile_96]

I just check the OR's and found the following in Dyer's
Germantown, Va. --Skir Aug. 31, 1862
Germantown, Va. --Affair Feb. 26, 1863
Germantown. Va. --Affair Nov. 16, 1863
Germantown, Va. --Affair Dec. 13, 1863
Germantown, Va. --Affair Dec. 24, 1863
Germantown, Va. --Skir Jan. 22, 1864
Germantown, Va. --Action June 22, 1864
But, of course not everything is in the regular OR's, maybe someone has access to the "Supplement to theOr's
Found no references to any burning anything in reports from or about Germantown.

 

[mobile_96]

Just found these at amazon:
1.

Chronology of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Part 1: Chronology of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Part 1: Battles, Skirmishes, Incidents & Events ... of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Virginia) Paperback – December 25, 2015

by Edward T Wenzel (Author)
2.

Chronology of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Part 1 Indexes: Chronology of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Part 1 Indexes: Battles, Skirmishes, ... of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Virginia) Paperback – December 25, 2015

by Edward T Wenzel et al. (Author)
Maybe your lib. can get you copies??

 

[JulieWeathers]

I just check the OR's and found the following in Dyer's
Germantown, Va. --Skir Aug. 31, 1862
Germantown, Va. --Affair Feb. 26, 1863
Germantown. Va. --Affair Nov. 16, 1863
Germantown, Va. --Affair Dec. 13, 1863
Germantown, Va. --Affair Dec. 24, 1863
Germantown, Va. --Skir Jan. 22, 1864
Germantown, Va. --Action June 22, 1864
But, of course not everything is in the regular OR's, maybe someone has access to the "Supplement to theOr's
Found no references to any burning anything in reports from or about Germantown.

I know it was occupied in 1862 and houses and churches burned during that time. One officer commented that it would be no great loss for the entire town to burn as it could be replaced for $200. The Germantown Presbyterian Church survived because the pastor told the Union commander they were both fellow Masons and begged him to spare the church. The church and Mason hall were spared, but other churches were burned.

I appreciate you digging into the for me. I think the reference to a burning in 1861, must be a case of mistaken dates. I find no other references to it.

Thank you so much,

Julie

 

[JulieWeathers]

Just found these at amazon:
1.

Chronology of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Part 1: Chronology of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Part 1: Battles, Skirmishes, Incidents & Events ... of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Virginia) Paperback – December 25, 2015

by Edward T Wenzel (Author)
2.

Chronology of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Part 1 Indexes: Chronology of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Part 1 Indexes: Battles, Skirmishes, ... of the Civil War in Fairfax County, Virginia) Paperback – December 25, 2015

by Edward T Wenzel et al. (Author)
Maybe your lib. can get you copies??

Thank you so much. I will look into those.

Julie

 

[Stone in the wall]

I believe the story about the saving of the Germantown Presbyterian Church is the one in Germantown, Tennessee. Germantown Va is in near by Fauquier county. The one in Fairfax is "Jermantown" writers of the OR's may not have been aware of the spelling.

 

[Booner]

This is a bit confusing, isn't it?

There appears that there was a "Germantown" located in Fauquier County, VA. at one time with about a dozen residents, but they all moved prior to the Am. Revolution.

Then there is a "Jermantown" located in Fairfax County, VA. and is now part of the city of Fairfax, but I couldn't find any information of when it was founded. I also get the impression it was more of a gathering of a few residences rather than a village or hamlet, etc. Perhaps the area got its name from a school or church by the name of Jermantown. The battle of Chantilly, or Ox Springs occurred at this location in 1862.

Since the area of Germantown is south and west of the Manassas area by 15-20 miles, and Jermantown is essentially in Fairfax, along the retreat route of the Union army during both 1st & 2nd Manassas, I'd say Jermantown is what you need to look for. Complicating this, is that it seems most references to Jermantown, the hamlet in Fairfax County, are spelled "Germantown." I can see why the mistake could be made, as both of the pronunciations of the two places are the same.

Here's a battle map of the Chantilly battlefield, fought right after 2nd Manassas (Sept. 1, 1862). You'll note in the lower righthand corner of the map is "Germantown" which is really Jermantown.

I hope this helps explain the confusion, and I hope my explanation is correct.

 

[JulieWeathers]

I believe the story about the saving of the Germantown Presbyterian Church is the one in Germantown, Tennessee. Germantown Va is in near by Fauquier county. The one in Fairfax is "Jermantown" writers of the OR's may not have been aware of the spelling.

I think you may be right. There are so many varying stories about this that I've decided to scrap any mention of it in the book.

I so appreciate your comments.

There was a Germantown, VA. It was an unicorporated village in this area and a Jermantown, VA. Further leading to confusion. Yikes.

Thank you again.

Julie

 

[JulieWeathers]

This is a bit confusing, isn't it?

There appears that there was a "Germantown" located in Fauquier County, VA. at one time with about a dozen residents, but they all moved prior to the Am. Revolution.

Then there is a "Jermantown" located in Fairfax County, VA. and is now part of the city of Fairfax, but I couldn't find any information of when it was founded. I also get the impression it was more of a gathering of a few residences rather than a village or hamlet, etc. Perhaps the area got its name from a school or church by the name of Jermantown. The battle of Chantilly, or Ox Springs occurred at this location in 1862.

Since the area of Germantown is south and west of the Manassas area by 15-20 miles, and Jermantown is essentially in Fairfax, along the retreat route of the Union army during both 1st & 2nd Manassas, I'd say Jermantown is what you need to look for. Complicating this, is that it seems most references to Jermantown, the hamlet in Fairfax County, are spelled "Germantown." I can see why the mistake could be made, as both of the pronunciations of the two places are the same.

Here's a battle map of the Chantilly battlefield, fought right after 2nd Manassas (Sept. 1, 1862). You'll note in the lower righthand corner of the map is "Germantown" which is really Jermantown.

View attachment 447332
I hope this helps explain the confusion, and I hope my explanation is correct.

Booner,

Yes, this is what I found from further research. I think the letter I had must have referred to Germantown, Tenn. I'm not sure why it was with my reading collection, but there you go.

Thank you so very much. I'm deleting all references to Germantown. I have an elderly lady leaving Fairfax Court House ahead of the Union army prior to the first Manassas. She'll go to stay with her sister in a neighboring village. I'll locate something on the path of the armies.

Again, thank you so very much.

Julie

 

[Stone in the wall]

I think you may be right. There are so many varying stories about this that I've decided to scrap any mention of it in the book.

I so appreciate your comments.

There was a Germantown, VA. It was an unicorporated village in this area and a Jermantown, VA. Further leading to confusion. Yikes.

Thank you again.

Julie

I had a little advantage in that I grew up near there.

 

[Booner]

Booner,

Yes, this is what I found from further research. I think the letter I had must have referred to Germantown, Tenn. I'm not sure why it was with my reading collection, but there you go.

Thank you so very much. I'm deleting all references to Germantown. I have an elderly lady leaving Fairfax Court House ahead of the Union army prior to the first Manassas. She'll go to stay with her sister in a neighboring village. I'll locate something on the path of the armies.

Again, thank you so very much.

Julie

You are so welcomed.
I guess I'm just bored today.

I did find where a house, the Farr house, was burned in Fairfax, when the Union found out its owner was a confederate. Jermantown would have been maybe less than a mile northwest from Fairfax if that would help. The Farr residence, which is just a block east of Fairfax Court House, as that was what Fairfax was called at the time of the war.

I hope you don't have to make many changes to your book.

 

[JulieWeathers]

I had a little advantage in that I grew up near there.

Stone in the Walll,

Haha. Well, aren't you the fortunate soul!

Again, thank you.

Julie

 

[JulieWeathers]

You are so welcomed.
I guess I'm just bored today.

I did find where a house, the Farr house, was burned in Fairfax, when the Union found out its owner was a confederate. Jermantown would have been maybe less than a mile northwest from Fairfax if that would help. The Farr residence, which is just a block east of Fairfax Court House, as that was what Fairfax was called at the time of the war.

I hope you don't have to make many changes to your book.

Booner,

If my information is correct (and now I wonder) Confederate forces burned some buildings as they retreated to keep supplies from falling into Union hands. Union troops looted houses and burned more as they moved through.

I hope you don't have to make many changes to your book.

I'm in final revisions, so it's tidying up and catching dates that are off due to switching things around, pesky little things like this that are off, and so forth. I had to put down a best-selling book that everyone loves because the author has taken Longstreet's view of certain events as gospel and it just irks me. Another general proved Longstreet and his harping on it were wrong, but people ignore him.

I'll still get some things wrong, and some things I have deliberately manipulated, (I'm quite sure Pelham didn't travel to Winchester with my fictional character to visit his love, but this is fiction not a documentary), but I do try to get right what I can.

I tend to lurk around here, but this site has been invaluable. Even when I just come here to bask in all things Civil War.

Again, thank you.

Julie