Images, Letters, and Diaries are links in the chain that tell us about historical properties. Scanning or photocopying a letter or diary entry that mentions Centreville would greatly help us. We welcome your participation! If you have something to share please contact us at Friends of Historic Centreville
Wartime source material such as this Edwin Forbes sketch from Harpers Weekly in August 1863 also helps us determine the state of buildings at set points in time.	This letter tells us that the Grandfather of Rufus King (the Union General who tried to defend Centreville) was a confidant of General George Washington. King's Granfather was appointed by President Washington as Minister to Great Britain. Often it is the letters that were never delivered, that tell us the most about a particular historical personality.
Modern day artists such as Don Troiani can also help us imagine how a particular historic event looked. Here in Centreville on November 28, 1861 the Confederate Battle Flag was officially issued for the first time. Go to www.historicalartprints.com to see more of Troiani's paintings.	These photographs of the huts in Centreville are valuable tools for rendering historically accurate paintings.
In addition to an October 1861 visit by Confederate President Jefferson Dayis, Centreville also boasts a visit made by a most boastful Presidential candidate. Union General George B. McClellan marched his troops into Centreville in March of 1862. He would lose his bid to unseat Abraham Lincoln as President in November 1864. McClellan is shown here with his wife Mary Ellen. Known as "Nelly" she dated a famous Confederate General before the war - Ambrose P. Hill of Culpeper. Union Troops would often shout "Whoa Nelly why didn't you marry him?" when fighting Hill's Confederates.