The neighborhood of George Mason Forest is located on what once was a farm owned by John and Harriet Burtis. This couple was part of the great influx of people from the North migrating to the South in the mid 1800’s. They were originally from New York state and settled in Fairfax County. The Burtises raised vegetables and sheep for their wool. They did not own slaves.
On May 25, 1861, Corporal John “Jack” Horace Barnes, a Fairfax County native, and a companion identified as Pettit rode east along Braddock Road. They were from Company D, 17th Virginia Infantry, C.S.A. which was authorized to patrol Fairfax County roads to seek our and arrest runaway slaves, agitators, and abolitionist “incendiaries.” They were on a foraging mission to secure food for the rest of the unit which was camped at Fairfax Station. While foraging for food, Barnes and Pettit turned their horses onto the Burtis farm off of Braddock Road just east of the intersection of Roberts Road, on what is now the subdivision of George Mason Forest and a Fairfax County park called University Park.
Last Saturday, Mr. John Burtis, a native of New York, was waited upon his farm by John Barnes and a man named Pettit, both members of a Fairfax Rifle Rangers unit then encamped at Fairfax Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Mr. Barnes inquired about any sheep or cattle for sale. Mr. Burtis replied that he had none. At this point, Barnes told Mr. Burtis that they were without provisions at the camp and that he must supply them with something. After some conversation, the men went into an adjoining field where Burtis shot several of his sheep. Barnes then told Mr. Burtis to use his team of horses to deliver the carcasses to the encampment. Mr. Burtis refused.
After threatening Mr. Burtis severely, they compelled a free negro to catch a horse and take the sheep over to the camp. On their way they declared, in the presence of the negro that they intended to get Mr. Burtis, with his team, over to the camp, and seize the latter, and probably put him under arrest. On Saturday night, Mr. Burtis attempted to come to Washington, but was prevented by secession pickets stationed near his house. On Monday morning, he started with his team in an opposite direction from Washington, and after a very circuitous route through the woods, he finally succeeded in reaching this city.
Courtesy: Paige Johnson II, South County Chronicle, September 30, 2006
