Battle of Bull Run Bridge
Liberia
In Aug. 1862, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee ordered Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson from the Rappahannock River to keep Gen. John Pope’s and Gen. George B. McClellan’s armies from uniting. Jackson marched on Aug. 25, and Lee followed the next day with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia. Jackson captured Bristoe Station and Manassas Junction late on Aug. 26. When reports reached Pope, he thought it was one of J.E.B. Stuart’s raids and ordered Gen. George W. Taylor’s reinforced infantry brigade to drive the imagined cavalrymen away.
Meanwhile, about 6 a.m. on Aug. 27, Col. Gustav Waagner led the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery from nearby Bull Run to engage Jackson northeast of Liberia. Jackson quickly counterattacked and sent the New Yorkers retreating to Centreville. When Taylor’s command arrived about 8:30 as Waagner began withdrawing, Jackson’s men, entrenched here in a line between Liberia and Fort Mayfield, prepared to greet it with a “storm of lead.” The Federals advanced within 300 yards of Fort Beauregard, and Jackson rode forward waving a white handkerchief to suggest they surrender. When a Union bullet flew past Jackson’s head, he ordered his troops to open fire. Taylor fell mortally wounded, and his force retreated to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and the Bull Run Bridge.
Built for William and Harriet Weir in 1825, Liberia served as Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard’s headquarters before and after the First Battle of Manassas in July 1861. Union Gen. Irvin McDowell had his headquarters here in March 1862.
Marker is at the intersection of Breeden Avenue and Portner Avenue, on the left when traveling west on Breeden Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
