1003 Summer 2024 The Civil War, Off the Beaten Path: A Walking Tour of the Civil War Redoubt at GMU

Event Limit: 25

Today’s busy Braddock Road-Ox Road/Chain Bridge Road junction, at GMU, dates back to Colonial times. During the Civil War, both Confederates and Federals marched through, encamped at, or manned defenses at this strategic location, then known as “Farr’s Crossroads.” One recently preserved Civil War redoubt remains, overlooking the modern intersection from the George Mason campus. Join two noted local historians for a walking tour of this historic site. Parking directions: use the GMU Roanoke River Drive off of the Braddock Road entrance to Parking Lot K (on your left). Park at the back (southwest, Ox Road/Rt. 123) of Lot K. Meet by 12:45 pm at the new GMU historic marker located at the entry to the Farr’s Fort trail, near the Global Center. The quarter-mile length trail has a gradual incline, so attendees may want to bring a walking stick.

Jim Lewis has previously lectured for OLLI and AARP on local history, the Civil War, World War II, and the Cold War. He is a member of the Bull Run Civil War Roundtable, and he has researched more than 30 Fairfax County historical markers. He and Brian have been involved with the preservation of the Farr’s Fort site for the past six years.

Brian McEnany is co-author, with Jim Lewis, of Sunstroke & Ankle-deep Mud, the saga of the Army of the Potomac’s journey through northern Virginia enroute to the Battle of Gettysburg. He is a member of the Bull Run Civil War Roundtable and has previously lectured at OLLI and other organizations about West Point and the Class of 1862 during the Civil War. He is a graduate of West Point (1962). He and Jim have been involved with the preservation of the Farr’s Fort site for the past six years.