17th Mississippi Regiment Visits Aldie Mill

Aldie Mill Historic Park, a property of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, welcomes the 17th Mississippi Regiment in a return visit to the mill on Saturday and Sunday, June 2nd & 3rd.  A living history unit, members of the 17th will portray Confederate soldiers who camped near the village of Aldie during part of the Civil War.  “We’re thrilled to have members of the 17th Mississippi return to the Aldie Mill, to help us continue our commemoration of  the 150th anniversary of the Civil War,” says Tracy Gillespie, Historic Site Supervisor.  “Soldiers of the 17th Mississippi were hospitalized here in the village early in the war, and some of the troops even had supper at the Aldie Hotel that existed at the time.”  The living history group will demonstrate military drills, fire their weapons, and explain life of a soldier in camp.  To accompany these living history demonstrations, Aldie Mill historical interpreters will share information about the village during the four years of fighting, as well as the experiences of Unionist miller John Moore in an overwhelmingly Confederate area.

Aldie Mill, built between 1807-1809 for village resident Charles Fenton Mercer, ground corn and wheat until 1971.  It is considered to be one of the finest restored mills in Virginia, with unusual twin overshot waterwheels.  The mill was a center of activity for Aldie, and continues to bring residents and visitors alike to visit the quaint and historic village and to see corn being ground by award-wining miller Mike Devine.