Gooding's Tavern (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this roadside historical marker:

Gooding's Tavern
The Gooding Tavern served Little River Turnpike travelers and stagecoach passengers from 1807-1879 and was famous for “the best fried chicken” and “peaches and honey.” For the community, the tavern served as a social and commercial gathering place. The Goodings also operated a blacksmith shop and stable. Several Civil War skirmishes occurred around the tavern. On 24 August 1863, Confederate partisan ranger Major John S. Mosby was severely wounded by the Union 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry. Two of his officers were killed and three men wounded. Union losses included two killed, three wounded and nine prisoners taken. The tavern burned down in 1879.

Erected 2011 by The Fairfax County History Commission.


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Here follows an excerpt from "The Story of Ravensworth" website as prepared by John Browne:

From May 1807 and until his death in 1861, William Gooding, Jr. maintained a license from the Fairfax County Court to operate an ordinary – a place of hospitality and lodging. The tavern was in his house on land owned by Giles Fitzhugh (Parcel 1.1.3) that Gooding later bought in 1814.

Little River Turnpike
The tavern was located on Little River Turnpike near the 10-mile marker and was referred to in deeds of that era as the “ten mile house.” The site is across Little River Turnpike from today’s Annandale Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

Gooding’s Tavern historical marker (Fairfax County)
The turnpike was in an early stage of construction with the first 10 miles having just been completed and opened to traffic in 1806 from Alexandria virtually to Gooding’s doorstep. The tavern served turnpike travelers and was a gathering place for local patrons.

In 1835 Gooding expanded the business, adding a blacksmith shop across the road on additional land he had bought in 1821.

Dying four months before the start of the Civil War, Gooding willed to his daughters Jane Coyle and Maria Howard equal shares of the property that included the tavern and the stables and other buildings across the road. Maria inherited the tavern building itself and Jane’s house was next door on the east side of the tavern. Jane’s husband James Coyle operated the tavern for a time during the war.

Civil War
The tavern and stables were a frequent watering and resting stop on the turnpike for drovers and sutlers, and several times the site of hostilities. Two actions are especially notable: the killing of James Coyle and the wounding of Confederate partisan ranger Major John S. Mosby.

Tavern Keeper James Coyle Killed
On August 6, 1863 James Coyle was shot and killed in the Coyle house by Union cavalry. Whether the killing was justified or the tragic result of mistaken identity is unclear. It’s also unclear whether James supported the Union or Confederate cause. The Alexandria Gazette of August 10, 1863 printed this account of the incident:

THE KILLING OF MR COYLE — The following is the testimony of Mrs. Coyle in reference ot the killing of her husband, Mr. Jas. Coyle by some cavalrymen, last Thursday evening, taken before Col. D.F. Dulany and Mr. James Purdy:

Mrs. Coyle testified: “On Thursday evening last, about five o’clock p.m., while a number of sutlers were passing my residence, they were attacked by a party of Guerillas, near a mile above my house, who took their teams and goods; there was frequent firing for about half an hour; shortly after the Federal cavalry arrived and recaptured the sutlers and goods; Mr. Coyle was in the house and had closed the door; shortly after, the Cavalry demanded the door to be opened, and as he was in the act of opening the door he (Mr. C.) was fired upon; he walked into his room near the passage door, and falling on his bed exclaimed, I am a dead man. Immediately afterwards two soldiers rushed in and beat him on the head and face with their pistols, and then dragged him into the road in front of the house, beating him severely and calling him a d-md s-n of a b—h, I’ll let you know how to rob sutlers’ wagons, &c. I exclaimed this is my husband. They replied I don’t care who the devil’s husband it is; I was knocked down by one of the men, and they dragged my husband’s body over me. There had been no Guerillas in the house before or after the transaction. My house was searched and no weapons or men found. One of the soldiers took my husband’s watch from his neck and brutally dragged his clerk, Mr. John McLouchlin from him, who he had requested to pray for him.

Partisan Commander Major John Mosby Wounded
A short time later in a skirmish at the tavern on August 24, 1863 between Mosby’s Rangers and the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, Major John C. Mosby himself was severely wounded. Reports place some of the Union troops firing from inside the tavern where they had taken cover. Although he was wounded, Mosby’s forces won a clear victory, as is evident from his official report of the action:

On the morning of August 24, with about 30 men, I reached a point (Annandale) immediately on the enemy’s line of communication. Leaving the whole command, except 3 men who accompanied me, in the woods concealed, I proceeded on a reconnaissance along the railroad to ascertain if there were any bridges unguarded. I discovered there were three. I returned to the command just as a drove of horses, with a cavalry escort of about 50 men, was passing. These I determined to attack and to await until night to burn the bridges. I ordered Lieutenant Turner to take one-half of the men and charge them in front, while with the remainder I attacked their rear.

In the meantime the enemy had been joined by another party, making their number about 63. When I overtook them they had dismounted at Gooding’s Tavern to water their horses. My men went at them with a yell that terrified the Yankees and scattered them in all directions. A few taking shelter under coffer of the houses opened fire upon us. They were soon silenced, however.

At the very moment when I had succeeded in routing them I was compelled to retire from the fight, having been shot through the side and thigh. My men, not understanding it, followed me, which gave time to the Yankees to escape to the woods. But for this accident the whole party would have been captured. As soon as I perceived this I ordered the men to go back, which a portion of them did just as Lieutenant Turner, who had met and routed another force above, came gallantry charging up.

Over 100 horses fell into our possession, though a good many were lost in bringing them out at night; also 12 prisoners, arms, &c. I learn that 6 of the enemy were killed… my loss was 2 killed and 3 wounded…

Following the war, Gooding’s Tavern continued operations under William Gooding, Jr.’s son William H. Gooding and later under Maria Howard’s family. The tavern building was destroyed by fire in 1887.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Clio Foundation website as written by Daniel Newcomer:

Introduction
The Gooding’s Tavern, located at this site on the Little River Turnpike, was a small and historically critical meeting house, lodge, and tavern designed for stagecoach passengers and travelers. Operating from 1807 until 1879, Gooding’s Tavern was widely known for its famous fried chicken, peaches, and honey. Locals who lived nearby also used the tavern as a social gathering place. During the Civil War, Gooding’s Tavern was frequently a resting stop for both Union and Confederates soldiers, and near the tavern two important events of the War occurred: the killing of tavern owner James Coyle and Confederate partisan ranger Major John S. Mosby. The tavern burned down in 1879.

Backstory and Context
Historical Significance of Gooding’s Tavern
The original owner of Gooding’s Tavern was William Gooding Jr. Beginning in 1807, Gooding obtained a license from the Fairfax County Court to operate an “ordinary,” the title for a place of hospitality and lodging. Originally, the tavern was run out of Gooding’s home, on land owned by Giles Fitzhugh. Known commonly as the “10-mile house,” the tavern was located on the Little River Turnpike, a highway that opened in 1806 bringing traffic from Alexandria directly to the tavern.

By 1835, Gooding expanded the tavern to include a Blacksmith shop across the road. Gooding died about four months before the Civil War and willed the tavern to his daughters. During the War, one of the daughters, Jane Coyle, left operations of the tavern to her husband, James Coyle. Unfortunately, on August 6th, 1863, James Coyle was shot and killed in his home by Union Cavalry. Historical records are unclear as to whether Coyle was affiliated with the Union or Confederate cause.

According to the Alexandria Gazette on August 10, 1863:

THE KILLING OF MR COYLE — The following is the testimony of Mrs. Coyle in reference ot the killing of her husband, Mr. Jas. Coyle by some cavalrymen, last Thursday evening, taken before Col. D.F. Dulany and Mr. James Purdy:

Mrs. Coyle testified: “On Thursday evening last, about five o’clock p.m., while a number of sutlers were passing my residence, they were attacked by a party of Guerillas, near a mile above my house, who took their teams and goods; there was frequent firing for about half an hour; shortly after the Federal cavalry arrived and recaptured the sutlers and goods; Mr. Coyle was in the house and had closed the door; shortly after, the Cavalry demanded the door to be opened, and as he was in the act of opening the door he (Mr. C.) was fired upon; he walked into his room near the passage door, and falling on his bed exclaimed, I am a dead man. Immediately afterwards two soldiers rushed in and beat him on the head and face with their pistols, and then dragged him into the road in front of the house, beating him severely and calling him a d-md s-n of a b—h, I’ll let you know how to rob sutlers’ wagons, &c. I exclaimed this is my husband. They replied I don’t care who the devil’s husband it is; I was knocked down by one of the men, and they dragged my husband’s body over me. There had been no Guerillas in the house before or after the transaction. My house was searched and no weapons or men found. One of the soldiers took my husband’s watch from his neck and brutally dragged his clerk, Mr. John McLouchlin from him, who he had requested to pray for him."

The other major event at Gooding’s Tavern was the wounding of Major John Mosby. Some reports state that the wounding occurred due to Union troops firing from inside the tavern, where they had taken cover. Following the war, Gooding’s Tavener continued operations until it burned in 1879.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Fall 2011 edition of the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

James Coyle - Mosby Ranger or Not!
Written By Don Hakenson

On August 6th, 1863, Mosby with his Rangers attacked some sutlers wagons on the Little River Turnpike, very near to Gooding’s Tavern, which was a popular stage stop, operated by James Coyle and his wife Jane. A detachment of Federal troops, Company F, First Maine Cavalry, came upon the guerillas pillaging the wagons by surprise and began a running chase that passed Gooding’s Tavern to the west. The Union troopers in pursuit supposedly saw a ranger, possibly James Coyle, run into the tavern and close the door. Supposing Coyle to be a guerilla, the Union troopers immediately tried the door and demanded admittance. After some delay Coyle finally came to the door and was shot. Some said that he was shot through a closed door and others stated that the door had been opened before the fatal shot was fired. But at any rate he was killed by Union troopers who were on duty and in active pursuit of Mosby’s guerillas. Whether he had been with guerillas or not, there is no doubt that the pursuing Yankees thought that he had.

Mrs. Coyle testified, “On Thursday evening last, about five o’clock p.m., while a number of sutlers were passing my residence, they were attacked by a party of Guerillas, near a mile above my house, who took their teams and goods; there was frequent firing for about half an hour; shortly after the Federal cavalrymen arrived — and recaptured the sutlers and goods; Mr. Coyle was in the house, and had closed the door; shortly after, the Cavalry demanded the door to be open, and as he was in the act of opening the door he, Mr. Coyle, was fired upon; he walked into his room near the passage door, and falling on his bed exclaimed, I am a dead man. Immediately afterwards two soldiers rushed in and beat him on the head and face with their pistols, and then dragged him into the road in front of the house, beating him severely and calling him a damn son of a bitch. I’ll let you know how to rob sutlers’ wagons…. I exclaimed this is my husband. They replied I don’t care who the devil’s husband it is; I was knocked down by one of the men, and they dragged my husband’s body over me. There had been no Guerilla’s in the house before or after the transaction. My house was searched and no weapons or men were found. One of the soldiers took my husband’s watch from his neck and brutally dragged his clerk, Mr. John McLouchlin from him, who he had requested to pray for him.”

Colonel Daniel F. Dulany, an aide to the Union Governor Francis Pierpont had known James Coyle for about thirty years and stated that Coyle saved his whole command and ammunition train somewhere around 1862, during Pope’s retreat. Colonel Tait and General Banks both knew about what Coyle had done. Colonel Dulany also said Coyle was detailed as a Union pathfinder and showed them the way to Telegraph road thereby saving the command. Colonel Dulany ended his testimony by stating James Coyle was an Irish man and was thoroughly a Union man.

Nace Dade, a slave during the war who was owned by the Gooding’s said that James Coyle and the entire family were secesch. Rennsealaer Trumbull testifying in a Southern Claims case stated that James Coyle had been in the South when the war broke out, and had remained there for a year and a half. Trumball also stated that the forest surrounding both sides of Gooding’s Tavern, where Coyle lived, was a favorite resort for Mosby and his gang. Trumball further reiterated that Mosby’s men lurked in the woods and watched for any “opportunity to take plunder when they could get it without being exposed to a fight.”

Trumball finished his testimony by saying that Coyle was undoubtedly disloyal and if he had anything to do with General Pope’s Bull Run battle, he was probably there in the interest of the rebels than as a guide for the Union army.

The Washington Chronicle newspaper reported after the incident, “One who professes to have known Coyle has assured us, that he was no secessionist, and that he gave honest warning: but how death was provoked he could not say.”

Whether he gave warning or not may not be clear, but we do know that after Coyle was killed he was laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery, in Alexandria, and that is where he remains today.

This story and others are included in the newly released DVD titled, “Mosby’s Combat Operations in Fairfax County, a film by the author, Chuck V. Mauro and Steve Sherman. You can obtain a copy by visiting the Franconia Museum or going to www.franconiamuseum.org.