The Complete History of the Civil War Fortifications at Centreville

A Centreville historian once said, "a complete history of the Civil War fortifications at Centreville had never been written," which for him, only applied to the Confederate occupation of the works. A complete history of the fortifications includes the Union occupation, and the impact of both armies on the village of Centreville. The location of the village atop a high ridge between Washington, D.C. and Manassas, ensured that the war would sooner or later come to the village. A complete history, however, must also include a history of the 150-year old village and how it became a part of southern plantation society. In 1862, Matthew Brady's photographers came to Centreville after the Confederate army had withdrawn from Northern Virginia. They were strong, pro-Union men and they deliberately portrayed through their photographs a negative image of the Confederate fortifications and the village. The works were show as insignificant and empty; the village as lifeless and decaying. It was an image frozen in time, which endured as their history. Using the personal narratives of soldiers stationed in the works and the citizens of Centreville, the Complete History breathes life back into the empty works and streets. The true significance of the fortifications is revealed, as deserving of the honor of being considered hallowed ground. Centreville is shown as a viable community which continually re-invented itself up to modern times.