Gap Alexandria Pike/Charlestown Pike – Keyes Gap During the war, the county had three bridges, three ferries, and at least three fords across the Potomac into Maryland connecting the county with Frederick and Montgomery counties. These crossings represented the only points of travel across the river above Great Falls and east of the Blue Ridge. Listed from east to west, they were: Rosner's Ford - Used by J.E.B. Stuart as he left belatedly for Gettysburg Edwards Ferry - Used by the Union army to cross into Maryland during the Gettysburg Campaign Conrad's (White's) Ferry - Used by J.E.B. Stuart on his return from the Maryland Campaign White's Ford - Used by the Army of Northern Virginia at the beginning of the Maryland Campaign Cheek's Ford - Used by the Army of Northern Virginia at the beginning of the Maryland Campaign Noland's Ferry - Used by John G. Walker's artillery prior to the Battle of Harpers Ferry Point of Rocks Bridge - Burned by General Thomas Jackson June 9, 1861 Berlin Bridge (at present day Brunswick) - Burned by General Thomas Jackson June 9, 1861 Harpers Ferry Bridge - Burned by General Thomas Jackson June 9, 1861 The Carolina Road (present-day U.S. Route 15) was the principle north-south thoroughfare, crossing the river at Point of Rocks near Noland's Ferry. It intersected the Alexandria Pike (present-day Route 7) at Leesburg and the Little River Turnpike (present-day U.S. Route 50) near Aldie. In addition to road transportation, Loudoun was the terminus of the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad, which ran between Leesburg and Alexandria. The unfinished Loudoun Branch of the Manassas Gap Railroad was also graded as far west as the Carolina Road in Loudoun, with tracks laid to Gum Springs. Furthermore, the C&O Canal and B&O Railroad, both vital links between Washington and the west, ran past Loudoun on the Maryland shore of the Potomac. Geography Beside the main ridge making up the county's western border, two ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains run through the county. These mountains played a significant role in the settlement of the county and thus the division of its loyalties during the war. Several of the mountains and tall hills in the county were used as signal and spy stations by both sides during the conflict. In addition the ridges helped create an ideal environment for partisan warfare. The easternmost ridge is the south end of