The Battle for Munson's Hill
Munson's Hill gained noteriety during the American Civil War when Confederate Army troops occupied it and Upton’s Hill following the Union defeat at First Bull Run. The hill's commanding views of the plain of Bailey’s Crossroads and all the way into the federal capital made it an important strategic objective.
A stalemate then ensued, as Washington and its residents grew increasingly concerned that the Confederacy would launch an attack from Falls Church and its hills via the river bridges. Observers at the U.S. Capitol, using telescopes, could see a large Confederate flag flying over the rebel's fortifications. Major General George McClellan was hesitant to directly attack and dislodge the Confederates.
From early August to late September 1861, the so called "Battle of Munson's Hill" ensued as Union and rebel forces engaged in almost daily skirmishes. The area became a deathtrap during this time as Confederate sharpshooters, with their commanding views, shot and killed as many Union army soldiers as they could. One particularly intense firefight occured on August 27th, 1861 and is known as the Ball's Cross Roads skirmish.
This all changed during the night of September 28, 1861. The Confederate Army silently withdrew from Falls Church and Munson’s and Upton’s hills, and retreated to Centreville, which they fortified. The Union Army, to its extreme embarrassment, discovered the fearsome-looking cannons to be “Quaker guns” – logs painted black.