Catlett, Virginia
| Catlett, Virginia | |
|---|---|
| Census-designated place | |
Catlett Deli
|
|
 Catlett
Catlett
Catlett
|
|
| Coordinates: 38°39′13″N 77°38′26″W / 38.65361°N 77.64056°WCoordinates: 38°39′13″N 77°38′26″W / 38.65361°N 77.64056°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Fauquier |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.24 sq mi (8.40 km2) |
| • Land | 3.22 sq mi (8.33 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) |
| Elevation | 270 ft (80 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 297 |
| • Density | 92/sq mi (35.5/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 20119 |
| FIPS code | 51-13624 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1492729 |
Catlett is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 census was 297. It is located west of the Prince William County line. Catlett was a former rail stop on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The area was the site of many raids on the railroad during the American Civil War. Today, it is a small community.
The Catlett Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, and Auburn Battlefield in 2011.
Thanks to the creation of a railroad system that was essential to travel and supply in Virginia, many small towns including Catlett sprung up as stops. During its heyday, Catlett was a busy telegraph outpost and mail stop along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The land that the town was built on had originally been granted to John Catlett in 1715, but was not named for him at first. The post office and town were first known as Colvin's Station after the Colvin family, but throughout the years evolved to Catlett Station, to Catlett, which is remains as today.
Catlett was the site of a pivotal skirmish in the Civil War between Maj. General J.E.B. Stuart of the Confederacy and the Union's Maj. General John Pope. The Confederates conducted the raid on the Union camp on August 22, 1862 in an effort to disrupt the Union's supply lines on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Stuart and his men began their attack during what Stuart referred to as the "darkest night I ever knew." He and his men rode into town, using sabers and fire to destroy the encampment. The Confederates were able to burn the Federal encampment, cut telephone wires, obtain wagon full's of supplies and capture almost 300 Union troops. They attempted to destroy the railroad bridge that lies on the outskirts of Catlett. A heavy thunderstorm prevented burning the bridge, so the Confederates attempted to use axes, but were turned away by Union riflemen who caught them. The most important prize that the Confederates gained were General Pope's orders, which contained critical information about the Union campaign. These orders were taken by Stuart to General Robert E. Lee and played a pivotal role in securing the South's victory in the Battle of Second Manassas.
...
Wikipedia