Cold Day on the Accotink

Just a quick post today.

As luck would have it, my office is very close to Lake Accotink Park in Springfield, Virginia, and I often spend my lunch breaks there. Earlier today, as I was leaving the park, we had a sudden snow flurry. It all vanished within 30 minutes, but I was able to enjoy a few peaceful minutes on the trail before returning to my office.

Lake Accotink is a minor Civil War site (complete with Civil War Trails interpretive signage). The park area includes the trestle where the Orange & Alexandria Railroad crossed the Accotink Creek. The longest continuous stretch of the old Orange & Alexandria line runs through Lake Accotink Park.

This foot trail was built on the original rail bed
of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad.

After Union troops occupied Fairfax Station, the O&A line became a popular target for Confederate sabotage. Most notably, JEB Stuart dispatched twelve men under the command of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee (nephew of Marse Robert) to burn the bridge over Accotink Creek during his raid on nearby Burke Station (December 28, 1862).

Aside from it's historical significance, Lake Accotink is a lovely park, and I frequently sneak out there with a quick lunch and a history book.