Battle of Monocacy

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Coordinates: 39.3711°N 77.3920°W


Destruction of the R.R. bridge, over the Monocacy River near Frederick, Md.
Alfred R. Waud, artist

Date: July 9, 1864
Location: Frederick County, Maryland
Result: Confederate victory
Belligerents:
United States (Union), Confederate States
Commanders and leaders: Lew Wallace, Jubal A. Early

The Battle of Monocacy (also known as Monocacy Junction) was fought on July 9, 1864, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Frederick, Maryland, as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 during the American Civil War. Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early defeated Union forces under Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace. The battle was part of Early's raid through the Shenandoah Valley and into Maryland in an attempt to divert Union forces from their siege of Gen. Robert E. Lee's army at Petersburg, Virginia.

The battle was the northernmost Confederate victory of the war. Afterward, the Union troops retreated to Baltimore, Maryland, and the Confederates continued toward Washington. But because the battle had delayed Early's march for a day, Union reinforcements had time to get to the Union capital before the Confederates. Early launched an attack on Washington on July 12 at the Battle of Fort Stevens, but the Confederates were unsuccessful and retreated to Virginia.

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Commemorate the 160th anniversary of the battle that saved DC
Jimmy Alexander | jimmy.alexander@wtop.com

July 5, 2024, 6:39 AM

Over the next three days, there will be activities at the Monocacy Battlefield to commemorate the 160th anniversary of The Battle of Monocacy.

While not as well known as other Civil War battles, it’s hard to discount the significance of the battle that saved D.C.

“I think a lot of people are unaware of the Battle of Monocacy, largely because of what it accomplished,” Monocacy Park Ranger Tracy Evans said.

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According to The National Park Service, 2,200 men (900 Confederate, 1,300 Federal) were killed, wounded, captured or listed as missing during the Battle of Monocacy.

The activities the National Park Service has planned for this weekend includes hikes, Ranger-led car caravan tours, artillery demonstrations and a panel discussion.

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Jimmy Alexander
Jimmy Alexander has been a part of the D.C. media scene as a reporter for DC News Now and a long-standing voice on the Jack Diamond Morning Show. Now, Alexander brings those years spent interviewing newsmakers like President Bill Clinton, Paul McCartney and Sean Connery, to the WTOP Newsroom.

jimmy.alexander@wtop.com