Written by Debbie Robison; Edited by Larisa Epatko
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Although Quakers were the original settlers of Waterford, Virginia, and maintained a significant presence, by the start of the Civil War in 1861, the town was home to a diverse population of tradesmen, farmers and laborers. While the Society of Friends held firm to pacifism and opposition to slavery, many of their neighbors were deeply integrated into Virginia’s traditional social order and viewed secession as a necessary defense of their state.
In May 1861, the divide within Waterford became official during a statewide referendum needed to ratify Virginia’s Ordinance of Secession, marking the state’s decision to separate from the United States. The Waterford precinct saw a sharp split in the referendum with local Quakers voting against it. Although Unionist sentiment was strong, a vocal and active minority of residents supported the Southern cause, creating an environment of local tension that persisted throughout the war.
The emergence of the Loudoun Rangers
This internal division was most vividly illustrated by the military units that drew from the local population. The town became a primary recruiting ground for the Loudoun Rangers, which was the only organized Union unit from the state of Virginia. Led by local miller Samuel C. Means, the Rangers calvary unit was composed of men who felt their primary loyalty belonged to the federal government.
At the same time, other men from the Waterford area, who were often the neighbors or former associates of the Rangers, joined Confederate units like the 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry,
famously known as “White’s Comanches.” Led by Elijah V. White, who lived just a few miles away, these soldiers were equally determined to defend their vision of Virginia.
Battle at the Baptist Church
The skirmish at the Waterford Baptist Church on August 27, 1862, was a direct result of these clashing loyalties. There, a group of Loudoun Rangers suffered a surprise attack at its encampment by White’s Comanches.
The Rangers used the church’s brick walls for cover, firing from the windows while the Confederates charged through the streets. The engagement ended in a Confederate victory. The physical and psychic toll on the town was immense. The sight of soldiers bleeding in the shadows of the church and the mill served as a visceral reminder of the deep fracture within the county.
The tactical importance of Walker’s Hill
To the southwest of the town center lies Walker’s Hill, a high point of land that became a critical tactical position for both armies during the war. Because of its elevation, the hill provided a commanding view of the town and the surrounding roads, making it a natural location for pickets and scouts.
In August 1863, almost exactly a year after the fight at the Baptist Church, the hill became the site of another fierce encounter. A detachment of the Loudoun Rangers, operating under Captain Daniel M. Keyes, was positioned on the hill when they were attacked by their Confederate counterparts, White’s Comanches.
The fighting was desperate and underscored the “no-quarter” nature of this localized war. During the melee, the Confederates suffered significant local losses, including the deaths of Captain Richard B. Grubb and his cousin John C. Grubb, both of whom were well-known members of the surrounding community.
Life in a contested town
Because of its location and its divided heart, Waterford spent much of the war under “contested” status, where control shifted frequently. A Union patrol might be welcomed in the morning, only to have a Confederate detachment arrive by evening to arrest “disloyal” citizens or seize supplies.
For the residents, this meant a life of constant vigilance. Families with Confederate sympathies had to hide their support when Union troops occupied the town, and Unionists lived in fear of being sent to Castle Thunder, the notorious Confederate prison in Richmond, when Southern forces held the area.
The war’s end and the long recovery
The end of the war in 1865 brought a cessation of combat, but the internal divisions of Waterford took time to heal. The community had to find a way to function again with former Rangers and former Confederates living side by side.
Today, Waterford is preserved as a National Historic Landmark. Its architecture remains as a silent witness to a time when the village was a microcosm of a nation at war with itself, a place where competing definitions of loyalty lived door to door.
Debbie Robison writes about Northern Virginia history. You can read more of her articles on her website.
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