At Heaton’s Crossroads near Purcellville, where the Loudoun and Berlin Turnpike intersected the Leesburg and Snicker’s Gap Turnpike, Gen. Jubal A. Early’s Confederate army passed on Saturday, July 16, 1864, as it retired west of the Shenandoah Valley after attacking the northwestern defenses of Washington. Union forces shelled Early and pursued him after leaving Leesburg that morning, but his destination remained unclear. Alfred N.A. Duffié sent 300 men of Col. William B. Tibbetts’ 21st New York Cavalry from Harpers Ferry in pursuit, and in mid-afternoon they found Early’s wagon train passing the crossroads. Tibbetts divided his force into several detachments and attacked along the train, quickly capturing about 200 wagons and 150 prisoners. Confederate infantry under Gens. Robert E. Rodes and Stephen D. Ramseur then marched rapidly from the rear and counterattacked with cavalry and artillery support, reclaiming 118 wagons and all but 54 of the captured men. The Federals still sent 37 wagons of booty taken by Early in Maryland back to Harpers Ferry. After the last of Early’s forces passed through, Purcellville residents came to inspect the damage at Heaton’s Crossroads, where about 43 destroyed Confederate wagons still smoldered along the road.