Posts Tagged ‘Northern Virginia’
Bull Run/Occoquan Trail
Posted by Chris | Filed under Northern Virginia, Trail Information
Originally Written by Andy Hiltz
The word ‘Occoquan’, translated from the Doag Indian dialect means ‘at the end of the water’.”
“Early colonial settlers adhered to the English custom of naming water courses by the tidal characteristics, A broad tidal stream was called a river and a small tidal stream, a creek. The water channels above the tidal level, however, flowed in one direction only and were named ‘rundles’ or ‘runs’.”
“The Bull Run-Occoquan stream valley was originally inhabited by the Taux and Doag groups of the Powhatan Confederacy which were rapidly diminished during the early years of European settlement. During this time the Run served as a wilderness highway and surveying landmark. Although virtually untouched by the American Revolution, the Bull Run-Occoquan stream valley was the site of the first and major Civil War battle fought over the defense of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad crossing. During the reconstruction years, this same railroad line brought prosperity briefly to the town of Clifton, famed for the ‘paradise springs’ and the first location in the county to be serviced by electricity. The power plant remains standing below Hemlock Overlook.”
“During the Civil War, Bull Run was the site of military medical, supply and evacuation units during the first battle of the Civil War, the Battle of First Manassas. That battle is re-enacted at Bull Run every year on Memorial Day to help keep alive that sad part of our country’s history.”
(Excerpt from Happy Trails, a guide to Northern Virginia Regional Parks published by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA)) (more…)
