section of the broadsheet described Taylor :
“ To see you to advantage , the spectator should station himself in the middle of the turnpike at Heaton ’ s Crossroads , on the bright summer afternoon on an eastern mail day . If he will now look straight down the road leading to Goose Creek , he will soon see emerging from the wood at the end of the lane , a square built , heavy set , hugely footed , not very courtly figure of an old man , mounted on the vertebra of a somewhat lusty animal , with one hand tightly grasping the rein , and the other holding on … to a little black bag containing the Goose Creek mail . “ Such is the remarkable personage as he appears to the spectator from the standpoint above indicated , riding along in a brisk trot , with a demure visage and meditative air …”
Somehow , Trayhern ’ s critical description of Taylor “ square built , heavy set , hugely footed ” and “ riding along in a brisk trot ” with a “ meditative air ” leaves with us an appealing image of the old fellow .
It is ironic that this man , a pacifist Quaker , would create a map that became an important guide in the Civil War of 1861- 1865 . The Union army , not familiar with northern Virginia geography , needed directions when battling their way through Loudoun county .
Memos were written by Union officers crossing back into Virginia from Maryland , after the battle of Antietam . George McClellan , Union Commander of the Army of the Potomac , reported to President Lincoln . Union Brigadier General Pleasonton reported to McClellan ’ s headquarters and on it goes . Brig . General Pleasonton wrote to McClellan ’ s Chief of Staff
Union Cavalry Brigadier General Alfred Pleasonton admired Taylor ’ s map and relied on it while fighting Confederates in Loudoun County . He sent a copy of the map to Commander of the Army of the Potomac , Major General George McClellan . Courtesy Library of Congress .
of having found “ an excellent map of Loudoun County , by Yardley Taylor .”
What would Taylor have thought about this ? Did he know that his map was a helpful tool in the theater of war ?
Yardley Taylor died in 1868 at the age of 75 and is buried next to his wife , Hannah , in the Goose Creek burial ground located in the village of Lincoln . The couple ’ s stone markers are very modest , with only names and the years of their deaths . Taylor lived long enough to see the abolition of slavery , his lifelong goal . To most Loudoun residents , Yardley Taylor will be best known for his 1853 Loudoun County map . Modern travelers can study the map , chose a road and follow in Taylor ’ s hugely footsteps .
No shortage of brass buttons , but where are the roads ? Union Major General George McClellan with his officer staff , Virginia 1862 . McClellan received a Yardley Taylor map while passing with his army through Loudoun County . Courtesy the Library of Congress .
Loudoun resident Lee Lawrence enjoys researching and writing about local history , in particular , uncommon lives of common people .
wander I fall • winter 2021 41