Skirmishes at Blackburn's, Mitchell's Ford

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James Longstreet

Daniel Tyler

• US General Irvin McDowell enters Centreville, Virginia, near Manassas and reconnoiters P.G.T. Beauregard's position. A strong skirmish at Blackburn’s Ford proves a probing test for McDowell, but was a complete blundering accident on the part of US Brigadier General Daniel Tyler who surprised himself and the Confederates while checking the ford. Confederate troops under James Longstreet, retreating from the Shenandoah Valley, meet and push back the probing action with the Federals losing 19 killed and 38 wounded and the Longstreet’s losses are 15 dead, 53 wounded. Another probe brings on another skirmish at Mitchell’s Ford. Hearing of Beauregard’s success at Blackburn’s Ford, Jefferson Davis tells him, “God be praised for your successful beginning.”/1861 

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