U. S. Civil War Photographs

U. S. CIVIL WAR
PHOTOGRAPHS

MONOCACY
(PAGE 1 OF 2)

Monocacy Plaque (B)

In the text, the icon is a link to the definition of the word it marks.
Use your browser's "back" button to return to this page.

Support the American Battlefield Protection Program

Monocacy Battlefield

Date: July 9, 1864
Estimated Casualties: Approx. 2,100 total

At the Battle of Monocacy, July 9, 1864, Confederate forces under Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early defeated Union forces under Major General Lewis Wallace. The battle cost Early a day's march, which, combined with other factors, cost him his chance to capture Washington, DC. However, it should be noted that the main purpose of Early's raid was to cause Union Forces to be diverted away from General Robert E. Lee's army at Petersburg. From that viewpoint, it was successful.

THE ARMY OF THE VALLEY MOVES

Leaving Richmond June 12, 1864, Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early's Army of the Valley marched west to the Shenandoah Valley and then down the Valley, crossing the Potomac River into Maryland at Sharpsburg, near Antietam. In Maryland, they collected ransoms from Hagerstown, and Frederick as they passed each town.

In response to Early's advance, General U.S. Grant sent a division of the VI Corps, nearly 5,000 men, under Brigadier General James B. Ricketts to Washington on July 6. Several days later Grant sent the rest of VI Corps under General H.G. Wright to Washington.

As Rickett's men began their trip north, the only Federal force between Early's army, which was crossing the Potomac River at Sheperdstown, W.Va., and Washington, D.C. was a group of 2,300 men commanded by Major General Lew Wallace.

When Wallace learned of Early's approaching army, he didn't know whether Baltimore or Washington was the Confederates's objective. However, he knew he had to delay their approach until Grant's reinforcements could arrive.

The location of Monocacy Junction, three miles southeast of Frederick, Maryland, provided a point at which Wallace could delay Early's approach to either Baltimore or Washington hopefully long enough for the Union re-enforcements to arrive.

The Georgetown Pike to Washington, the National Road to Baltimore, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, all crossed the Monocacy River near Monocacy Junction. Wallace intended to use his small force to protect these bridges and fords, forcing Early into a time-consuming battle.

To Wallace's relief, by the time General Early's troops arrived at Monocacy, July 9, General Ricketts had already added his 5,000 Union veterans to Wallace's forces and they were in place, guarding the fords and bridges across the river.

THE BATTLE

Moving down the Georgetown Pike, near the Best Farm, Confederate Major General S. Dodson Ramseur's division encountered Union troops at the Monocacy River bridge. On the National Road Major General Robert E. Rodes's division also clashed with the Federals near the long bridge. Not wanting to risk a direct attack across the river, Early sent Brigadier General John McCausland's cavalry down Buckeystown Road to find a ford and outflank the Union line. As a result, the Confederates crossed the river below the McKinney-Worthington Ford and attacked Wallace's left flank. Heavy fighting occurred where the Confederates encountered Rickett's veterans on the Thomas farm.

The Federals fought fiercely to hold position, but were pushed back by a three- pronged attack of Confederates from Major General John B. Gordon's Division led by Brigadier General William Terry, Brigadier General Zebulon York, and Brigadier General Clement A. Evans.

The Federals, retreating toward Baltimore, left behind 1,294 dead, wounded or captured.

The next morning the Confederates resumed their march on Washington. They had won the battle but it cost them 700 to 900 killed and wounded, and delayed them a day.

By June 12th, the Confederates were at Fort Stevens inside the District of Columbia, but their visit to Washington, D.C. was short-lived. The arrival of General H. G. Wright's Corps forced Early to withdraw across the Potomac River and ended any prospects for the Confederates taking Washington.

CONCLUSION

The Battle of Monocacy is called the battle that saved Washington. It did save Washington, but not alone. Any of the other delaying events that occurred during Early's month-long march from Richmond to Washington, could also have been credited with saving Washington. However, the battle of Monocacy was the only action, during Early's raid, that was specifically intended to delay the Confederates, and, in that, the Federals were successful.

(Text Source: U.S. Gov't, National Park Service and various others.)

PAGE TWO