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The Battle of Arlington Mill, Virginia, was one of the first military engagements of the American Civil War, a week after the Union occupation of that part of Virginia opposite Washington, D.C. It occurred on June 1, 1861, at about 11:00 p.m., a few hours after the Battle of Fairfax Court House.
Under cover of darkness, a squad of just nine Virginia soldiers fired at troops of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry and the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry, who were performing picket duty at Arlington Mill, Virginia. During a brief and confused exchange of fire, one Union soldier was killed and another was wounded, while one Virginian soldier was wounded. It demonstrated that Union forces were vulnerable to enemy attacks, even when close to the capital.