A Tale of Two Mills
Trading and Burial Grounds
During the Civil War, two mills stood on the Rush River in this vicinity on the property of John Jett, who resided at Ellerslie half a mile south of here. They included the Avon Mill before you and the Jett Mill (no longer standing), located half a mile downstream. According to local tradition, this mill became a neutral trading site for Union and Confederate soldiers, who periodically declared “soldier’ truces” and met between the lines to trade for coffee, tobacco, newspapers, and other items. At that time, the road on which this huge mill stands was part of the Warrenton and Rappahannock Turnpike, the major east-west route.
In July-August 1862, when the Union Army of Virginia occupied Rappahannock County, hundreds of soldiers in the camps around Little Washington suffered from typhoid fever, and many died. The 60th New York Infantry, whose camp was near here, experienced a large number of deaths. Because of the intense summer heat, the dead soldiers were buried in a brigade cemetery near the Jett Mill instead of being transported to Washington’s cemetery. They were reburied in national cemeteries after the war.
“Near this point, and on the east bank of the stream, is a stone building, called Jett’s (Calvert’s) Mill. Ascending the hill on the west side of the stream, and on a line with the mill, we come to two parallel rows of graves; the heads of which, in both rows are to the north. The north row contained, when we left, nineteen graves, and the south row, four graves.” – Richard Eddy, Chaplain, 60th New York Infantry, August 1862
Marker is on Old Mill Road (County Route 683), on the left when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
