Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 12/13/1988
NRHP Listing Date 08/08/1989
NRHP Reference Number 89001062
Signal Hill, or the Wilcoxen Signal Station, was used by Confederate forces in the first battle of Manassas, and later by Union forces. The heavily-fortified station was sited to command an excellent view of the Manassas railroad junction and the Bull Run Mountains. Signal Hill was commanded by Edward Porter Alexander, chief signal officer of Confederate Gen. Beauregard’s Army and a student of the inventor of the semaphore signaling system. On the morning of July 21, 1861, Alexander spotted Union troops attempting a movement around the Confederate flank, some eight miles away. With a semaphore he quickly signaled a station close to Col. Nathan G. Evans, “Look out on your left; you are turned,” Evans hurriedly redeployed his forces, blocking the Federal advance while he awaited reinforcements. This episode marked the first use of the semaphore signal station in combat.
Signal Hill is listed in the registers under the Civil War Properties, Prince William County Multiple Property Documentation form.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: February 13, 2023
