First Rifle Shot of the Civil War (Site)

These coordinates mark the exact spot where the unit was stationed. No visible remains exist.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Fall 2009 edition of the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

The First Man to Fire the First Rifle Shot in the Civil War in Virginia
Written By Don Hakenson

Last summer, while walking alone in the Presbyterian Cemetery, located on Wilkes Street, inside the City of Alexandria, I would periodically stop and read the tombstone inscriptions identifying some of Alexandria’s earliest settlers. While perusing the burial monuments I ran across an obelisk with the inscription of “William T. Morrill,” engraved on one side of the marker. I also happened to notice that this young man was only twenty-three years old when he passed away on June 11, 1862. Noticing he had died during the Civil War, I was sure he must have been killed in one of the early engagements between the Blue and the Gray.

For some reason I couldn’t get Morrill’s name out of my mind. The more I thought about him the more I wanted to learn more about his life and how he died. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me, so I got in my car and visited the Alexandria Library and its Virginia Room. This valuable facility maintains, collects and preserves all the early books, manuscripts, genealogical records, and histories of Virginia, the City of Alexandria, and the Civil War.

While combing through various books and records I was pleasantly surprised to discover that William Morrill had played a small, but long lost forgotten role in Alexandria’s first combat engagement with Union forces on Virginia’s soil. In researching a book about University of Virginia alumni that were killed during the War Between the States; other publications about the Seventeenth Virginia Infantry; and the Union occupation of Alexandria, I finally found the information concerning William Morrill that I had been seeking. Here is his story:

William Todd Morrill, the only son of William and Mary Morrill, was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 7, 1838. His father died in 1843, leaving him at a tender age to the guidance of his loving mother. He spent most of his boyhood in Alexandria, and for a short time attended a boarding-school in Georgetown, in Washington, DC.

In the fall of 1856 he entered the University of Virginia, and while there, a great change occurred in his spiritual life and he determined to give himself to the Lord. Morrill took part in various religious activities in and around the University and had really changed his character for the better for all concerned. His mother most certainly welcomed this life altering change by her son.

Unfortunately, his health became delicate and his eyes became weak from neuralgia while at the University. Yet he was able to graduate in three schools during the two sessions of his attendance. He left the University in the summer of 1858.

The following fall he commenced the career of a teacher in the house of Mr. James William Mason, of Clarke County, Virginia. While here he began to study with a view towards entering the Ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He taught for two years, but his health did not improve, and he spent the winter of 1860-61 at home in Alexandria, hoping that he would be able to harden his constitution, so that he might rid himself of his old foe, neuralgia.

When Virginia was preparing for secession and war, Morrill enlisted on April 17, 1861, as a private in the Alexandria Riflemen. This company was composed of some of the most respected young men in the entire city. Its captain was Morton Marye, who was afterwards colonel of the Seventeenth Virginia Infantry, and lost a leg at the Second Battle of Manassas.

When the State of Virginia finally passed the Ordinance of Secession on May 23, 1861, the “Riflemen” were selected to perform various guard and picket duties in and around the city of Alexandria. On May 24, 1861, at approximately four o’clock, early in the morning, Private Morrill was on guard at Cazenove’s wharf (located at the end of Cameron Street), opposite the point where the United States steamer Pawnee was lying at anchor in the Potomac river. It was at Cazenove’s wharf where Morrill was one of the first witnesses to observe the advance boats full of Federal troops approaching the shoreline of Alexandria, and the State of Virginia. Finally distinguishing the outline of one of the boats heading towards shore, Private Morrill issued a loud challenge, “Who goes there?”

Hearing no response to his call, he repeated it, but there still was no answer. This finally persuaded the young infantryman to raise his rifle to his shoulder, seat the butt of its stock firmly into the pocket of his shoulder, and fire the first rifle shot of the war against an enemy foe on Virginia’s soil, an act almost totally forgotten by historians.

Morrill’s company retired along with others to Manassas Junction, where it became Company A, of the Seventeenth Virginia Infantry. This company was engaged in combat action on July 18, 1861 at Blackburn’s Ford, and its members, generally, showed that they were gallant and courageous men. At the First Battle of Manassas, on July 21, 1861 the “Riflemen” were again under fire. Following those actions, Company A spent the fall and winter in camp training, and in the next spring marched to Richmond and formed part of Johnston’s army in the Peninsula. The hardships and privations of the Alexandrians had been great. During the winter, while the Seventeenth Virginia was near Centreville, Fairfax County, a party of six of the “Riflemen” built a hut. Morrill was one of the six. Here they had daily family prayer.

On May 1, 1862, in the spring, he had been promoted to color corporal with the regiment due to his leadership traits displayed on the outpost and in the camp. But something else had also occurred that was extremely significant, and important to the new color corporal. On October 12, 1861, in the preceding Fall, Morrill had married Miss Laura Mason, daughter of James William Mason, Esquire, of Clarke County, Virginia. Unfortunately, this marriage would be short lived because of what occurred on the bloody field of Seven Pines. In the midst of a terrible enemy fire, Color Corporal Morrill was severely wounded while charging with his unit’s battle flag. He received two very serious wounds on that field, was taken to the rear and was cared for with tenderness and affection by old Alexandria friends. He was recuperating at the home of Mr. & Mrs. William N. McVeigh, residing in Richmond, but he died from the severe effects of his injuries on June 11, 1862, a few days after receiving his wounds.

Color Corporal William Todd Morrill was a faithful Christian, a dutiful citizen, an affectionate son and brother, a tender husband, a warm and generous friend. This was the testimony of all those who knew him best.

The following tribute is from the gallant Colonel Morton Marye, who succeeded Colonel Montgomery D. Corse in command of the Seventeenth Virginia regiment, when the latter was promoted to brigadier-general: “William Morrill was greatly esteemed and beloved by both officers and men of the regiment, for his cheerful and conscientious performance of duty, and courteous and kindly bearing towards all. Though exceedingly amiable and gentle, he was proverbially brave.”

In his official report of the battle of Seven Pines, in which Morrill received his mortal wound, Colonel Corse thus complimented his gallantry: --- “In the advance into the enemy’s camp, Color Corporal Morrill was struck down, wounded in three places, and rose upon his elbow to cheer the men forward; the colors were caught by Captain Raymond Fairfax, Company I, and handed to Color Corporal Diggs, who instantly fell wounded; they were then taken by Private Harper, Company E, who retained them until the close of the day.’

“The regiment, at the time Morrill was wounded, was under a terrible fire of musketry, shell, and canister, and lost seventy men killed and wounded in three or four minutes. His heroic behavior in this trying situation was long afterwards the theme of conversation with his comrades who had witnessed it.”

He was originally interred in Richmond, Virginia, and his remains were later laid to rest in the family burying ground at the Presbyterian Cemetery, in Alexandria, where the author came upon his tombstone.

Let us not forget that Color Corporal William Todd Morrill, who lost his life for a cause he thought was just and right, should hereby be forever remembered as the first man to fire the first rifle shot against an enemy foe during the Civil War in Virginia.

If the reader should get a chance to visit the Presbyterian Cemetery, make sure you visit the final resting place of this heroic fallen hero. I’m sure it would be well worth it.