Although many local residents don't know it, the lovely countryside around Unison, Virginia, includes an important battlefield of the American Civil War. Growing recognition of this fact is likely to make it more difficult for a recently proposed development to go forward there.

During the first three days of November, 1862, after the battle of Antietam, Jeb Stuart, John Pelham, and 1000 Confederate cavalry held up General McClellan and his large Union Army around Unison long enough for General Lee to cross over from the Shenandoah Valley in time to defend Fredricksburg and the Confederate capital at Richmond. President Lincoln had personally directed McClellan's advance and hoped cutting off Lee and possibly capturing Richmond, might soon end the war. He was so angry with McClellan's slow action that he relieved him of command of the Union Army at Rectortown four days later.

The importance of the Unison battle, although recognized by some historians, has been generally underappreciated until recent efforts by the nonprofit Unison Preservation Society in reviewing period documents, histories, archival materials and newspaper reports of the battles around Unison.

After historians from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the National Park Service visited Unison for two days of discussion and field inspections in December, Kathleen Kilpatrick, head of VDHR, issued a letter stating, "I am able confidently to report the professional finding of this Department that the known battlefield in and around Unison appears to meet the criteria for listing on the Virginia Landmark Register and the National Register of Historic Places."

Armed with this significant state finding, the Unison Preservation Society has just submitted a grant request to the American Battlefield Protection Program of the National Park Service for its assistance in studying and mapping the battlefield. The grant would be similar to that given by NPS to study and map the 1863 cavalry battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville. Trappe resident Paul Ziluca led that effort and has helped Unison in its application. Unison residents Mitch Diamond, Kim Hart and Paul Hodge organized the research into the Battle of Unison and the grant application.

From initial studies of the battlefield area, it now appears likely that the high ground north of the village was part of the Battle of Unison, including the 95-acre site recently purchased by developer Jeff Gould. Gould is attempting to subdivide the hillside into 3-acre parcels under current, but temporary, county zoning regulations. Because of the state's action, it is now virtually certain that Loudoun subdivision regulations will require the developer to conduct a full archaeological and historical analysis of the site. To meet the high professional standards required of such a study will likely take months. Further research by historians under a National Park Service study and mapping grant, may also help influence the outcome.