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Monocacy Battlefield|
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Monocacy Battlefield|
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During the Battle of Monocacy, Union forces were positioned in lines
of battle in the yard of the mill. The building was set up as a field
hospital, although as Major General Lew Wallace declared in his autobiography,
"the place appeared well selected for the purpose, its one inconvenience
being that it was under fire." As the Federal forces fell back towards
Baltimore, Confederate troops moved in and occupied the mill and surrounding
area.The mill was built in 1830 July 9, 1864 Estimated Casualties: 2,359 total Description: After marching north through the Shenandoah Valley from Lynchburg, the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early side-stepped the Federal garrison at Harpers Ferry and crossed the Potomac River at Shepherdstown into Maryland on July 5-6. On July 9, 1864, a makeshift Union force under Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace attempted to arrest Early's invading Confederate divisions along the Monocacy River, just east of Frederick. Wallace, joined by Ricketts's Division of the VI Corps that had been rushed from the Petersburg lines, was outflanked by Gordon's Division and defeated after putting up a stiff resistance. Hearing of Early's incursion into Maryland, Grant embarked the rest of the VI Corps on transports at City Point, sending it with all dispatch to Washington. Wallace's defeat at Monocacy bought time for these veteran troops to arrive to bolster the defenses of Washington. Early's advance reached the outskirts of Washington on the afternoon of July 11, and the remaining divisions of the VI Corps began disembarking that evening. Monocacy was called the "Battle that Saved Washington."(Tex Source: U.S. Gov't, National Park Service) |
 Gambrill's Trail.  Maryland Monument and Confederate Monument.  View of the Maryland Monument.  Monocacy was Lee's Headquarters in 1862 when he wrote the famous Order 191, the loss of which almost cost him the Sharpsburg campaign.  Monocacy Junction (at the circle on the above) was the center of the Union infantry skirmish line consisting of troops of the 1st Maryland Potomac Home Brigade and detachments of the 106th New York, the 9th New York Heavy Artillery (troops only, no guns) and the 10th Vermont.  The monument to the 14th New Jersey Regiment was dedicated in July of 1907. Also known as the "Monocacy Regiment," the 14th New Jersey served as guards for the bridges at Monocacy junction in 1862-63. In 1864, during the Battle of Monocacy, the 14th New Jersey fought with distinction in some of the heaviest fighting of the day in and around the Thomas Farm.  Vermont Monument on the Monocacy battlefield.  Pennsylvania Monument. |