Battles & Campaigns · 1861
Battle of Dranesville
Dranesville, Fairfax County, Virginia, USA
What happened
Union troops under Edward O.C. Ord met Confederates under J.E.B. Stuart. Stuart's force was guarding wagons on a trip to gather food and supplies. Ord's troops were clearing Confederate guards from the area, and the two sides met at the Dranesville crossroads around midday. After about two hours, Stuart withdrew once his wagons were safe.
Why it matters
The battle did not change much in the war. Even so, it was the first time in the East that a Union force had beaten its Confederate opponent.
What came next
The next day Stuart came back with more troops, but the fighting was already over.
Did you know?
Early in the battle, two Confederate regiments mistook each other for Union troops and fired on one another.
Timeline
- 21 Jul 1861First Battle of Bull Run, a Confederate victory.
- 20 Dec 1861Battle of Dranesville.
- 21 Dec 1861Stuart returns with reinforcements.