Monday, March 18, 2013
On St. Patrick's Day 150 years ago, Col. John Mosby led a raid on Union soldiers in what is now downtown Herndon.
The Herndon Historical Society and many supporters entertained crowds on St. Patrick's Day as a group of re-enactors took over downtown Herndon for the 150th anniversary of Mosby's Herndon Station Raid. Mosby and his Rangers led a surprise attack on the First Vermont Cavalry, stationed at the Herndon Depot downtown. The First Vermont had been on guard for 12 hours and presumed the group of soldiers — who wore blue jackets over their gray uniforms — to be their relief. The Herndon Historical Society and the Herndon Chamber of Commerce sponsored event with support from the Town of Herndon and many local businesses, including: MEDA, HRI Associates, Jimmy's Old Town Tavern, Vision Source - Dr. Finley's Family Eyecare, Aspen Jewelry Designs, …
Friday, March 15, 2013
The historic reenactment of Col. John Singleton Mosby's raid on Herndon will take place St. Patrick's Day.
History will come alive in downtown Herndon on St. Patrick’s Day as Col. John Singleton Mosby and his Rangers ride into town. Historical re-enactors will recreate Mosby’s surprise attack on the First Vermont Cavalry, stationed at the Herndon Depot downtown. Reenactments will be held at 11 a.m. as well as 2 p.m. on Sunday, along with living history portrayals. The Herndon Historical Society and the Herndon Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the free event with support from the Town of Herndon and many local businesses. The Mosby’s Herndon Station Raid Reenactment will offer a day of living history activities for all ages at the original site where the raid took place. The reenactment will be narrated in detail and books on the Civil War …
Sunday, March 10, 2013
On Sunday, March 17, Mosby’s Raid on Herndon Station will be reenacted at 11 a.m and 2 p.m. The Herndon Historical Society and the Herndon Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the event with support from the Town of Herndon.
On March 17, 1863, Saint Patrick’s Day, Captain John S. Mosby made a raid on a Union outpost near one of his favorite targets, the Herndon train station on the Alexandria Loudoun & Hampshire Railroad. This raid also involved Kitty Kitchen Hanna, one very frightened resident in the village of Herndon. A Union picket post had been deployed at a sawmill near the station at the intersection of today’s Elden and Center Streets. The post consisted of 25 men under the command of Lieutenant Alexander G. Watson, Company L, of the First Vermont Cavalry. At noon, Mosby approached the Herndon train station. He came out of the woods with 40 men who were wearing blue overcoats to cover their gray uniforms. Watson’s men saw Mosby and his men coming, but…
Sunday, March 3, 2013
On Sunday, March 17, Mosby’s Raid on Herndon Station will be reenacted at 11 a.m and 2 p.m. The Herndon Historical Society and the Herndon Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the event with support from the Town of Herndon.
Many Herndon residents are familiar with Confederate Captain John S. Mosby’s raid at Herndon Station on March 17, 1863. But few may be familiar with the story of a famous Union Officer who was also involved in that raid, Major William Wells. William Wells was born in Vermont in 1837 and attended school at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, William and three of his brothers joined the Union Army. He enlisted as a private and joined the First Vermont Cavalry. Within months he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, and soon after to Captain. By 1862 he had earned the rank of Major. He was only 27 when he rose to the rank of Brevet Major General. By the time he left the military in 1866 he held the rank of …
Friday, February 22, 2013
On Sunday, March 17, Mosby’s Raid on Herndon Station will be reenacted at 11 a.m and 2 p.m. The Herndon Historical Society and the Herndon Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the event with support from the Town of Herndon.
Much has been written about Mosby’s Raid on Herndon Station, but who exactly was Colonel John Mosby? John Singleton Mosby was born in 1833 in Powhatan County, just west of Richmond, Virginia. He was named after his grandfather, John Singleton. When he was a young boy his family moved to Albemarle County, near Charlottesville. He was a small and sickly child. He was often picked on by school bullies, fighting back but always losing. As an adult he was 5’8” and weighed only about 125 pounds. He enrolled in Hampden-Sydney College in 1847. He left that school after two years and later, in 1850, he enrolled at the University of Virginia. He excelled in literature, Latin, and Greek but struggled with math. After being insulted and threatened by …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The historic reenactment of Col. John Singleton Mosby's raid on Herndon will take place St. Patrick's Day.
History will come alive in downtown Herndon on St. Patrick’s Day as Col. John Singleton Mosby and his Rangers ride into town. Historical re-enactors will recreate Mosby’s surprise attack on the First Vermont Cavalry, stationed at the Herndon Depot downtown. Reenactments will be held at 11 a.m. as well as 2 p.m. on March 17, along with living history portrayals. The Herndon Historical Society and the Herndon Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the free event with support from the Town of Herndon and many local businesses. Mosby’s raid will recreate the St. Patrick’s Day in 1863 when troopers from the First Vermont were relaxing at the depot and a nearby sawmill. Herndon and surrounding areas were supposed to be occupied exclusively by Union …
Chuck Mauro
3:50 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
What a great day! Thanks to all the reenactors, volunteers, event staff, town suppoer and everyone that showed up. What a blast! Mosby rocks! more ›