Gap War. Heaton's Crossroads, July 16, 1864 Skirmish at Woodgrove, July 16, 1864 Battle of Snicker's Ferry, July 17–18, 1864 Battle of Ashbys Gap, July 19, 1864 Partisan warfare in Loudoun In between and during the passing of the armies through Loudoun, bitter sectional warfare raged in the county. Owing in part to its divided loyalties and in part to its ideal terrain, various partisan groups on both sides of the conflict routinely attacked one another, the nearby armies, and preyed on the citizens of the county. The depredation of Loudoun The Confederate evacuation The bombardment of Leesburg The Burning Raid of Major General Philip Sheridan Fortifications in Loudoun Primary redoubts and forts Fort Evans - Constructed in the long Edwards Ferry Road in summer 1861, following the Rockville expedition, to defend the eastern approaches to Leesburg. Fort Johnston - Constructed atop Catoctin Mountain in the winter of 1861-62 to defend the western approaches to Leesburg. Fort Beauregard - Partially constructed atop a hill above Tuscarora Creek the winter of 1861-62 to defend the southeastern approaches to Leesburg. Batteries and earthworks Edwards Ferry Rd - "The Masked Battery" - a long, deep trench across Edwards Ferry Road at Cattail Branch auxiliary of Fort Evans, used during the defense of Leesburg during the Battle of Ball's Bluff and Edwards Ferry. Evidence of the works can still be found near Edwards Ferry Road and Battlefield Parkway. Potomac Trenches Goose Creek - A series of three gunpits with cannon embrasures and infantry entrenchment atop Bluffs on the west bank of Goose Creek to defend the eastern approach to Leesburg along the Alexandria Turnpike after the wooden bridge over the creek had been burnt during the Rockville expedition. Evidence of the works can still be found north of modern-day Route 7. Loudoun Heights - Loudoun Heights was first fortified in 1861 by Stonewall Jackson as part of the defenses of Harpers Ferry. In 1862, during the Battle of Harpers Ferry Brigadier General John G. Walker constructed gun embrasures atop the mountain for his ordnance to aid in the siege of the town (see the Maryland Campaign section above). Following the Battle of Antietam, the Union army took possession of the mountain and enlarged its defenses, adding rifle pits, entrenchments and additional blockhouses. The fortifications were manned by Cole's Maryland Cavalry during the winter of 1863-1864 and were attacked by Mosby's Rangers during the Battle