Battles of Manassas • Tour the Battlefield • Monuments • Facts • The Armies
The Matthews Hill orientation marker is next to the parking area at Stop 4 on the Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour.
From the right panel on the marker:
Matthews Hill
False Hopes for Success
At the First Battle of Manasas, Union forces here on Matthews Hill seemed on the verge of victory when Confederate lines collapsed late in the morning of July 21, 1861. Thirteen months later at the Second Battle of Manassas, overconfident Union commander Maj. Gen. John Pope used the fields on nearby Dogan Ridge as a staging ground for attacks on Confederates along the Unfinished Railroad.
Follow the mowed path to the crest on your right to the site of the morning action at First Manassas. An interpretive loop trail follows the opposing battle positions.
From the caption to the background photo:
Union artillery held the dominant ground near the crest of Matthews Hill. In the background rises Henry Hill, scene of the decisive afternoon fighting at First Manassas.
Manassas National Battlefield Park preserves nearly 5,000 acres of historic land. History and nature converge here to create an absorbing visitor experience. In addition to historic structures, archaeological sites, and cultural landscapes, the park provides habitat for a wide variety of plants, birds, and other wildlife. Please enjoy your visit and help us protect the park for future generations.
From the left panel:
Welcome to Manassas National Battlefield Park. I two fierce battles fought thirteen months apart, Union and Confederate armies clashed here over the same ground.
Many of the key features of the battlefields survive today, including the Stone House, the Unfinished Railroad, and the historic road network.
Begin your tour at the Henry Hill Visitor Center, which rovides orientation to the battlefields and their many points of interest.
