Frying Pan Baptist Church, Virginia, photo by Debbie Robison
The Frying Pan Baptist Church, located in northern Virginia, is situated along a critical road used for troop movement. Both Confederate and Union forces are alternatively dominate in the area during the war years.
On the eve of the Battle of Manassas, the church yard had been used as a Confederate encampment. Today, the church is again buzzing with Confederate activity. The circumstances this time, however, are not as pleasant for southern forces.
Early in the day, J.E.B. Stuart, Confederate Brigadier-General, commanding four regiments of infantry numbering 1,600 men, artillery, and 150 cavalry, advances on union troops a few miles north of the church at Dranesville, VA. Stuart’s goal is to protect Confederate supplies. In the fighting that ensues, Stuart recognizes he is overpowered, and quickly retreats with the wounded to a railroad cut. A short march later, the Confederate troops make camp at Frying Pan Church, where the wounded, numbering 143, are treated.
The skirmish is unremarkable in the big scheme of things, offering only a minor setback to the Confederacy at this time. The Frying Pan Church, however, will appear again and again in the annuls of the war.
Source: Debbie Robison, “Frying Pan Baptist Meeting House” (link)
