The American Civil War figures importantly in the history of Prince William County.  Two of the largest battles of the conflict took place here - First and Second battles of Manassas, also known as Bull Run (1861 and 1862). The Bristow Campaign (1863) was also a major action. First Confederate and then Union military forces occupied the county for the entire war (1861-1865). The Manassas National Battlefield Park is only a mile from our library. The County is preserving a portion of the Bristow Battlefield.  Many local historic sites are linked to the events of that era.     

Chasing the Civil War: A Pathfinder. A guide to many of the resources available for researching the War. 

Historic Sites Index  Identifies many of the Civil War sites in Prince William County, with sources of information.