Battle of Dranesville

The Battle of Dranesville, fought on December 20, 1861, during the American Civil War, was a small-to-medium engagement in Virginia. Union forces, under General J.G. Barnard, clashed with Confederate troops led by General J.E.B. Stuart. Despite being outnumbered, Union troops held their position, preventing Confederates from advancing into Northern Virginia. The battle was important because it boosted Union morale early in the war and helped secure Washington, D.C., from Confederate threats. Though not a large battle, it demonstrated the importance of strategic defense and combat readiness in the ongoing conflict.