The Connection

In June 1863, thousands of Union soldiers trudged down Hunter Mill’s dusty roads during the hottest week of the year.

Craving food, water and rest, the soldiers who did not die from the extreme temperatures hunkered down in a field to recuperate at 11 a.m. on the 17th. That field, which became aflame from the dry heat that day, became known as the Fields of Fire.

Hunter Mill Defense League unveiled what may be their last civil war marker at a ceremony on Oct. 11, recalling how the troops fell victim to sunstroke just days before they crossed what is now across the street from the Reston Zoo.

“This is the most difficult marker we have put up here in the Hunter Mill corridor,” said HMDL History Committee member Jim Lewis, standing in the grass alongside the intersection of Hunter Mill Road and Leesburg Pike.

He said this marker was low priority in an area rich with history.

“After mulling over our options, we decided to honor our roots,” he said.

He told the audience some background on the soldiers trip from Fairfax County to Gettysburg.

“Captain George Collins, 2nd Division, 3rd Brigade, described the road as one of inferior width and quality,” he said as the audience laughed. “Not too far off.”

The previous two days, the soldiers had marched about 25 miles.

That morning, the soldiers were traveling from Fairfax Court House and the Hunter Mill area, where they had breakfast. The fields, which previously were full of vegetables near harvest, were damaged by the time they got there. The temperature, said Lewis, was 99 degrees in the shade.

“Hundreds fell by the wayside from fatigue,” he said.

The Union soldiers, once in Gettysburg, stayed there and fought until General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. Again, they had to march to Washington, D.C., with all of their animals and gear for the official ceremony, arriving on May 19 in Alexandria.

This is the 11th marker HMDL has helped install and dedicate in the area.

“We had a desire to increase the awareness of the history of the corridor,” said HMDL History Committee Chairman Steve Hull.

THE GROUP has bus tours and walking tours of the 11 markers, including Cartersville Baptist Church and the Oakton Schoolhouse. This may be the last marker to be installed in the area, according to Hull.

“I’ve been involved in some of the activities here,” said David Mudrick, Reston, after the unveiling. “I have a general interest in the history of the area, and I think they’re doing a great job of promoting that.”

Nearly 50 people showed up, despite the rain earlier that day.

“I drive around here all the time and wonder what is right underneath my nose,” said Janet Goodman, Vienna.

For more information about HMDL or to find out about history tours, visit www.hmdl.org.