Middleburg’s Mount Defiance: A Battle in Your Backyard

Middleburg’s Mount Defiance: A Battle in Your Backyard

By Ellie Rose Killinger

Richard Gillespie, Mount Defiance Historic Park’s lead tour guide, was raised in New England, captivated at a young age by American history.

He attributes much of this fascination to his grandparents, who, during Gillespie’s childhood, often shared stories detailing what it was like to live through World War II.

Richard Gillespie at the Mt. Defiance Historic Park.

Photo by Ellie Rose Killinger

At William & Mary, Gillespie fully experienced the historically-rich town of Colonial Williamsburg. However, what really sparked Gillespie’s interest was his work as a park ranger in West Virginia.

“Harpers Ferry is what got my heart,” Gillespie recalled.

After a 31-year teaching career, he retiredfrom Loudoun Valley High School, but his passion for history has never waned.

“My wife, Tracy, was the site manager at Aldie Mill,” he said. “It was kind of the perfect opportunity for me to get involved.”

In 2017, Gillespie’s mission to put Mount Defiance on the map commenced. Development of the park initially moved “at a snail’s pace,” due to a lack of funding. Still, that year, informational signage was installed at the main site for the Battle of Middleburg during the Civil War.

The signs along the trail are crucial because, he said, they “visually let people know what happened,” providing visitors with a truly sensory-rich experience.

“The coolest thing for me,” Gillespie said, “was the moment I realized, wow, I’ve really got my own Civil War site in my backyard!”

Though often overlooked, the Battle of Middleburg was a significant engagement. “It was a really nasty fight,” he said. “Very hot, very hazy.” So why was the nearby village left in such pristine condition? “It’s a bit of a funny theory, actually,” Gillespie said, explaining that during the war, women were the primary town residents because most men had joined the army. “When he got to Middleburg, [Confederate General] J. E. B. Stuart really enjoyed the attention from these ladies. Some say (they) ultimately influenced Stuart to steer the battle away from the town. He wanted to preserve family homes. So, the Confederates moved to this site.”

Mt. Defiance originally been home to the Barton family, but was declared by Stuart to be the perfect encampment. The Bartons had fled town at the onset of the war and were residing with relatives in Maryland.

Its location, Stuart thought, was rather strategic, allowing for the Confederate soldiers to line either side of the Ashby’s Gap Turnpike – today’s Route 50.

The tactic ultimately failed when Union soldiers maneuvered around Stuart’s encampment, launching a surprise attack from the side. After hours of brutal warfare, Stuart’s troops were forced to retreat into the Blue Ridge.

In recent years, there has been an increase in initiatives to preserve such smaller historic sites, resulting in the formation of organizations such as NOVA Parks and the American Battle Trust.

In 2018, Gillespie conducted his first official tour at Mount Defiance. It has since become a hotspot for school field trips, and popular with tourists and history enthusiasts. “People often come here for picnics,” he said. “It just has a nice feel.” Gillespie also anticipates future preservation possibilities at Mount Defiance, including the possible appointment of a resident curator to help maintain the Barton House on the site. Meanwhile, he continues to deliver the weekly tours.

“Sharing historic sites with people is really fun,” he said. “I get to watch people get curious about things they didn’t even know they were curious about.”

Details: novaparks.com.