The June 1, 1861, skirmish at Fairfax Court House in which a Union scouting party battled local Virginia militia was the first land engagement of the Civil War that resulted in its first combat-related fatalities, the first wounding of a field-grade officer, and 32 years later the awarding of a Medal of Honor for the first action in combat of the Civil War.

Brigadier General David Hunter gave verbal orders to Lieutenant Charles Tompkins of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment to gather information about the number and location of Confederate forces in the Fairfax Court House area. Hunter’s instructions about entering Fairfax Court House were vague. At about 10:30 p.m. on the night of May 31, Tompkins led a Union force of between 50 and 86 regular army cavalrymen, dragoons and a few volunteers from Camp Union in Falls Church on the ordered reconnaissance mission.

Confederate commander Lieutenant Colonel Richard Ewell, was directed by General Bonham to take one company of light infantry (the Warrenton Rifles about 90 men) commanded by Captain John Quincy Marr and two companies of cavalry (the Prince William and Rappahannock cavalry- about 60 men each), to advance to either Germantown or Fairfax Court House, whichever he deemed appropriate. On May 31, they occupied Fairfax Court House. These men were largely untrained and ill-equipped. Ewell had only recently arrived in town and had only met a few of the officers. Captain John Q. Marr commanded the Warrenton Rifles. On the night of May 31, only two pickets were posted on the road east of town because the risk of attack from Federal forces was thought to be small.

The battle is summarized on the map below and the text that follows. At about 3:00 AM on the morning of June 1, 1861, one of the Confederate pickets, Private A.B. Francis, rode into Fairfax Court House along the Little Falls Church Road warning of the Federal cavalry approach. The other picket, Private B.F. Florence, was captured (#1 on map- to the right of the figure). A few of the Prince William cavalry tried to form a line of battle in the street while others ran for their horses. As the Union force arrived on the Falls Church Road, most of the Confederate cavalrymen fled, leaving four of the Prince William cavalrymen in the street to be taken prisoner. The Rappahannock cavalrymen had few weapons and no ammunition, so they also fled when Union soldiers arrived.

Captain John Quincy Marr, in command of the Warrenton Rifles, moved his men into a clover field west of the Methodist church where they had been camped, just off Little River Turnpike, and formed them into two lines of battle (#3 on map). Fleeing Confederate cavalrymen from the Prince William cavalry company came upon them. In the darkness, some of Marr’s men fired on them, wounding one of their own men in the process. Reports are conflicting regarding how Captain Marr died. Some feel that as another group of horsemen approached Captain Marr was unsure who was riding toward him. He shouted out to try and determine their identity. They were members of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry, and they shot and killed him. Others feel that he was struck by one of the shots fired by Union horsemen on their first ride through town. The company was temporarily leaderless after Marr fell because the two lieutenants were on leave and Ewell was not yet on the scene. His body was found in the clover field later the next morning. The Union forces of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry rode west in and out of town firing shots from their repeating rifles. It may be during this time that Colonel Richard Ewell received a flesh wound in the shoulder (#2 on the map). He was the first Confederate field officer wounded in the war.

After the initial flurry and excitement, the men of the Warrenton Rifles realized that Captain Marr was missing. At this point, former and subsequent Virginia governor and later Major General William “Extra Billy” Smith, emerged with his rifle from The Joshua Gunnell house where he was staying. Smith, at the time a 64-year old civilian, from Warrenton, had helped recruit the rifle company, and knew many of the men. He took charge of the company despite his lack of military training or experience. Colonel Ewell soon arrived, Governor Smith assured the men that Ewell was the Confederate officer in command.

Ewell then placed approximately 40 men of the Warrenton Rifles that he found at the edge of the clover field between the hotel and the courthouse (#4 and #5 on map), where they were able to turn back the Union force as they approached the Confederate position on their return trip through town. The Virginians were not in a good position to defend themselves, and Smith moved them to a more defensible position behind rail fences about 100 yards closer to the Warrenton Turnpike.

Civilians, sheltered in buildings, joined in the shooting at the Union horsemen. Lieutenant Tompkins, began ordering his cavalrymen forward firing with their repeating rifles. The Warrenton Rifles fired another volley at the Union horsemen. This volley, combined with the shooting coming from housed civilians, forced the Union cavalrymen to retreat for a second time (#6 on map). After a third failed attempt to ride through town, Union cavalrymen, feeling they were outnumbered, were forced to leave town through fields toward Flint Hill (#7 on map) in the Oakton area of Fairfax County, 2 miles north of Fairfax Court House, and return to Camp Union by a longer route. Lieutenant Tompkins had two horses shot out from under him. One of those horses fell on him and injured his foot. They took five prisoners and two horses. Tompkins lost nine horses, four men were wounded, and three men were taken prisoner. He thought he was facing two companies of cavalry and one rifle company and with reinforcements up to a thousand men and that 25 Rebels were killed and wounded.

The Confederates reported Captain Marr killed, two wounded with Colonel Ewell shot in the shoulder, one missing and five Federals were taken prisoner. Former Governor Smith examined Captain Marr’s wound after the battle and stated “And, further, from a careful examination of his wound next morning, I became satisfied that the Captain was killed, as I have before said, by a random shot. The wound was immediately over the heart — had a perfect circular suffusion of blood under the skin, something larger than a silver dollar, but the skin was unbroken, and not a drop of blood was shed. Nothing but a round spent ball could have inflicted such a wound. Manifestly, it was the shock of the blow, which, suspending the machinery of the heart, had necessarily produced instant death.” If this was indeed the case it may be the first combat-related death due to commotio cordis. The Union force reported one killed, four wounded (including Lieutenant Tompkins) and one missing. The Union soldier killed was identified as Private Saintclair.

In his after-action report Colonel David Hunter, although commending Tompkin’s gallantry, stated that he advanced further than his orders allowed. Union General-in-Chief Winfield Scott was displeased at Tompkins impetuous charge which he thought exceeded Tompkin’s orders to scout the Confederate position and by the fact that Tompkins spoke to newspaper reporters before filing his after action report.

Despite the criticism Tompkins would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle 32 years later in 1893, which would be the first Medal of Honor awarded for an action in combat. See citation below from the National Medal of Honor Museum. Lieutenant Tompkins without question showed valor during the battle. He had two horses shot out from under him and a third fell on him injuring his foot while charging the enemy. However, the battle was fought in complete darkness and if what William “Extra Billy” Smith stated was true the bullet was fired from a considerable distance. Anyone on the battlefield could have fired that shot.

Several weeks later, on July 17, Union forces occupied Fairfax Court House after Confederates abandoned the town, as a large Union force moved toward them in what would eventually result in the First Battle of Manassas.

Sources

The Glories of War, Small Battles and Early Heroes of 1861 by Charles P. Poland Jr.

Southern Historical Society Papers Volume X page 273- the page appears below.

War of the Rebellion: Serial 002 Page 0059 Skirmish at Fairfax Court House. Ohio State University.