Part of our in-depth series exploring Southern Early American Forts
The Manassas Museum System
9101 Prince William St.
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: 703-368-1873
Fax: 703-257-8406
The 11-acre site is located near the western boundary of the City of Manassas along the banks of the Cannon Branch, a tributary of the Broad Run River The site overlooks a railroad bridge over the Cannon Branch creek, on the old Orange and Alexandria Railroad line.
Its location near water resources has long made its occupation advantageous. Archaeological evidence, including fire-cracked rock, quartz, quartzite flakes, and a quartz spear point indicate that this site, like Mayfield, may have been used as a seasonal base camp by Native Americans. To date, seventeen Native American archaeological sites have been identified within a two-mile radius of the Cannon Branch Earthwork Fort site.
Although no specific references to Cannon Branch Fort have yet been found in historical documentation, it appears likely that the fortification was built by Union troops, circa 1863-1864, as part of a series of forts sited along the railroad to defend supply lines. Once the town of Warrenton, Virginia, was secured by Union forces in April 1863, Maj. Gen. Joseph hooker began to use the Orange and Alexandria Railroad as a major supply route for his army. At that time, Col. John Singleton Mosby's battalion and other Confederate supporters began engaging in raids to disrupt the rail line using whatever tactics possible.
In July and August 1863, regiments from Pennsylvania and New York, among other northern states, reached the Manassas area as they followed Confederate troops south after the Battle of Gettysburg. These regiments remained in the region until April 1864, to guard the Orange and Alexandria Railroad from additional cavalry and guerilla raids and the fortifications continued to be manned by Union soldiers until late 1864.
Cannon Branch Fort is was restored all the way back in 2007. For more information about Cannon Branch Fort, call the Museum Office at (703) 368-1873.