MARYLAND CIVIL WAR TRAILS How to Use this Map-Guide This guide depicts four scenic and historic driving tours that follow the routes taken by Union and Confederate armies during the June–July 1863 Gettysburg Campaign. Information contained here and along the Trail tells stories that have been hidden within the landscape for more than 140 years. Follow the bugle trailblazer signs to waysides that chronicle the day-to-day stories of soldiers who marched toward the Civil War’s most epic battles. And discover the stories of civilians who, for a second time in nine months, watched their countryside get trampled by the boots of the “Blue and Gray.” Destinations like Rockville, Westminster, Frederick, Hagerstown and Cumberland offer walking tours that can be enjoyed all-year long. Recreational activities such as hiking, biking and paddling add interest to the driving tour. Amenities along the Trail include dining, lodging, shopping, and attractions, which highlight Maryland’s important role in the Civil War. For more detailed travel information, stop by any Maryland Welcome Center, local Visitor Center or contact any of the organizations listed in this guide. For additional Civil War Trails information, visit www.civilwartrails.org. For more travel information, visit www.mdwelcome.org. Tim Tadder, www.tadderphotography.com Tadder, Tim Biking through C&O Canal National Historical Park.
Follow these signs to more than 1,600 Civil War sites.
Detail of painting “Serious Work Ahead” by Civil War Artist Dale Gallon, www.gallon.com, (717) 334-0430. H THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN H
mboldened by his recent of Winchester. victories at Fredericksburg and The Confederates Chancellorsville in May 1863, splashed northward EConfederate Gen. Robert E. Lee across the Potomac launched a second invasion into Union River at Boteler’s territory. Lee first invaded the North Ford and at nine months earlier and retreated from Williamsport, Antietam. This time he intended to carry then marched the war across the Mason and Dixon Line through Western into Pennsylvania. Maryland towns What lay ahead was the fateful like Hagerstown Battle of Gettysburg, the farthest the and Smithsburg. Confederate army ventured into the The bulk of the North— its “high water mark.” The 75,000 Confederates Gettysburg Campaign took thirty-five had entered Gen. Robert E. Lee days, with most of the advance and retreat Pennsylvania by June 25. occurring in Maryland. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army searched The Shenandoah Valley in Virginia desperately for the Confederates. The and the Cumberland Valley in Maryland Blue Ridge Mountains effectively screened became Lee’s avenue of invasion. The Lee’s movements. The Federals marched first battle of the campaign occurred on northward along the east side of the June 9, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, mountain range. The Confederates were on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. on its western side. Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart held the Finally, on June 24, the Federals began high ground at the end of the day. crossing the Potomac at Edward’s Ferry to By June 15, Lee’s army had cleared concentrate at Frederick, Maryland. Then its path with a victory at the Second Battle they moved north toward Emmitsburg and east into Carroll County on The Confederate cavalry crossing the Potomac River, June 11, 1863. a dual mission to confront the invaders and protect Baltimore and Washington, D.C., along the “Pipe Creek Line.” Stuart had separated from Lee and led a cavalry raid to capture desperately needed resources. He moved east of the main Federal army and seized 125 wagons and 400 prisoners near Rockville. But his raid through central Maryland H THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN H
HARRISBURG Carlisle
PENNSYLVANIA Wrightsville Dover York Chambersburg
Cashtown GETTYSBURG Hanover Greencastle MASON AND DIXON LINE Waynesboro Emmitsburg BigPipe Creek Hagerstown Manchester Taneytown Williamsport Middleburg Westminster
Martinsburg Sharpsburg Frederick Bunker MARYLAND & O h Hill ( B a l t i m o r e i o R R )
Harpers Ferry BALTIMORE
Stephenson Depot R Stuart’s E V I Route Berryville R Winchester H A O Leesburg D N A N E Rockville H Upperville S P Aldie Dranesville O T O Middleburg M A C R I Front Royal V E Fairfax R WASHINGTON, D.C. Salem Court House (Marshall) Fairfax Station Centreville r i a R R ) A l e x a n d e & a n g Manassas Junction (O r Warrenton MEADE (Hooker) Sperryville
Brandy R A Station P P Stafford A H Court House Kelly’s A Culpeper N N O C Court House Ford K Aquia Landing R I V V E R E R I R LEE N Chancellorsville A FREDERICKSBURG D P I R A
Orange VIRGINIA Court House THE GETTYSBURG WHO’S IN COMMAND CAMPAIGN
deprived Lee of his army’s “eyes and ears” during much of the campaign. The advancing Confederate Army of Northern Virginia met and clashed with the Union’s Army of the Potomac at the crossroads town of Gettysburg, just above the Pennsylvania line, on July 1. Gen. Robert E. Lee’s troops Gen. Joseph Hooker Gen. George Meade were unprepared for the ferocity and strength of the Union forces under en. Joseph Hooker, the newly named Potomac Army commander of the Army of commander, Gen. George G. Meade. the Potomac, was furious. He By the third day of fighting, Lee Gdemanded that Washington ordered an attack by fewer than 15,000 authorize him to abandon Maryland troops on the Federal Army’s center at Heights and relocate the 10,000 men, Cemetery Ridge. The assault, known as who were guarding the mountain “Pickett’s Charge,” managed to pierce fortress at Harpers Ferry, to join the the Union lines but eventually failed. main army in Frederick, Md. After the Suffering thousands of War Department refused, Hooker offered Confederate casualties, Lee was forced his resignation on June 27, 1863. to withdraw his battered army on It was a bad time to pick a fight July 4 and retreat toward Virginia. with the Lincoln administration, A flooded Potomac River prevented since Gen. Robert E. Lee had invaded immediate escape, and for nearly the North after thrashing Hooker at one week, pursuing Federals trapped Chancellorsville, Va. Lincoln accepted the Confederates at Williamsport Hooker’s resignation and replaced him and Falling Waters. The Gettysburg with Gen. George G. Meade. A courier Campaign ended on July 14 when Lee delivered the order to Meade at 3 a.m. finally crossed the river. on Sunday, June 28, near Frederick. Meade had not campaigned for the job but had earned the position on merit. “Cannons on the Square” by Ron Lesser. “I am moving at once against Lee,” he wrote to his wife. “[A] battle will decide the fate for our country and our cause.” When the Union and Confederate armies collided unexpectedly at Gettysburg, just four days later, Meade delivered Lincoln the fateful victory he so desired. WHERE’S STUART H SIGNALING H
s the Army of Northern ommunications are extremely Virginia invaded Northern important in wartime, both soil in June 1863, for locating and predicting A Confederate Gen. James Cthe movements of the enemy Ewell Brown “J.E.B” Stuart and his and for keeping track of friendly forces. cavalry corps served as Gen. Robert Many advances were made in military E. Lee’s “eyes and ears.” Lee directed communications during the Civil War, him to protect his right flank, avoid the first war in which the telegraph protracted engagements with the was used extensively. The U.S. Signal Federals, Corps, established in 1860, was the first and capture corps of officers and men whose sole provisions mission was communication. Maj. Albert while gathering J. Myer, who had developed a flag- information. signaling system called “wigwagging,” Stuart commanded the corps. At night, torches disrupted Union were used instead of flags. Either communication method could only be used when the and supply visibility was good. Wigwag signal lines, alarming stations were placed on high ground Washington with unobstructed views and moved and Baltimore. when the army moved. He also lost A student of Myer’s, Edwin Porter contact with Alexander, went south and founded the Lee, rendering Confederate Signal Corps. Both sides Gen. J.E.B. Stuart him blind and used Myer’s system during battles as deaf to the whereabouts of the Federals well as during campaigns. Capt. Lemuel and frustrating him as the military Norton was U.S. Chief Signal Officer situation changed. during the Gettysburg campaign, Lee’s infantry stumbled into and Col. William Norris headed the Union Gen. George G. Meade’s Army Confederate Signal Corps. of the Potomac at Gettysburg early on Civil War signal station. July 1, 1863, where Stuart’s absence further limited Lee’s options. Delayed by a captured Union wagon train and various engagements, Stuart did not reach Gettysburg until late on July 2. Union Gen. David McM. Gregg’s cavalry thwarted his attack the next day. Criticism of Stuart’s performance began after the battle and has continued ever since. HHHINVADED AGAIN HHH
uring the Civil War, Marylanders struggled to maintain normalcy despite the suspension of some Dcivil rights by the Federal government and repeated military invasions by the Confederates, which created havoc for local residents. While families and neighbors were often divided by loyalties, many Marylanders were united by compassion. At the start of the war, U.S. troops
were immediately deployed to occupy areas Courtesy of the Historical Society Frederick County sympathetic to the South. Some places The only known photographs of Confederate troops marching were under martial law, leading to arrests under arms were taken at the intersection of Patrick and Market Streets in Frederick in September 1862. for many reasons, including “disloyalty.” Meanwhile, Confederates under Gen. Union and Confederate forces J.E.B. Stuart arrested Union supporters. occupied communities to secure strategic Mollie Dawson’s father, who lived roads and lines of communication. Soldiers in Rockville, was one example. A Union disrupted everyday life, sometimes getting supporter, he was arrested to prevent him into altercations with civilians and stealing from transmitting crucial information. livestock. Virginia Moore of Bethesda Taunted in school for her family’s recalled an intoxicated soldier stealing her allegiance, Mollie and her siblings worried chicken: “Had we reported him our lives that their father would continue to face would not have been safe.” Confederate arrest. Members of her family In this climate of confusion and fought on both sides, creating division and mistrust, some families provided meals to confusion, even among her family. Union officers camped nearby to protect their livestock and crops from marauding soldiers. Families also prepared and sold meals to supplement their incomes. Marylanders did not suffer the
shortages and privations of the South, but e
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, y a to cross Union picket lines, and endured r G n o s unreliable newspaper accounts and rumors. w a D ry a Men 18-45 years old were subject to the M sy te ur Co draft. When faced with arrest from either Mollie Dawson Lt. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. government, however, political opponents often stepped forward to defend neighbors. H LONG MARCHES H LINCOLN SPEAKS AT GETTYSBURG
s you drive this tour in your climate-controlled vehicle, consider the plight of the hen President Abraham A Civil War infantryman who Lincoln learned of Union trudged the same route, putting one sore victories at Vicksburg and foot in front of the other in all types of W Gettysburg in July 1863, weather, while wearing ill-fitting army he told a crowd it was providential that shoes and toting 60 pounds of equipment. they had occurred around the nation’s The typical marching day would birthday. “Gentlemen,” he added, “this last from dawn into the afternoon at a is a glorious rate of two and a half miles per hour. theme, and the A division of the Army of the Potomac occasion for a numbered between 3,000 and 5,000 men, speech, but I am included wagons carrying food and not prepared to ammunition, and could stretch out along make one worthy four miles of road. of the occasion.” During the Gettysburg Campaign, He found his however, soldiers sometimes marched occasion that fall more than 30 miles at a time. After a at the dedication miserable hike of 35 miles on June 24, of the cemetery 1863, Pvt. Alex Haley of the 17th Maine at Gettysburg. By Infantry complained, “Ye gods! … I the time Lincoln could stand no more of this.” But the Abraham Lincoln left Washington, next day he got up and hoofed it for six D.C. by train more miles, testifying to the amazing on November 18, he had substantially resilience of the American soldier. completed his speech, adding the final touches in Gettysburg. Union troops marching through Middletown At the ceremony on November 19, on the National Road. Lincoln followed a widely praised two- hour oration by Edward Everett, the principal speaker. Lincoln delivered his 272-word speech in a few minutes and sat down, his brevity surprising the crowd, and scattered applause leaving him uncertain whether it had been “worthy of the occasion” after all. His supporters called it “thrilling” and his enemies thought it “silly.” Subsequent generations, however, have proclaimed the speech—the Gettysburg Address—immortal. Cashtown nn ittletown Hanover PA Fairfield Gettys urg Mason and Clear Di on ine eiters urg mmits urg Union 1 pring hielding 2 3 Mills the rmy miths urg Taneytown Thurmont Manchester HAGERSTOWN Middle urg Williamsport Fun stown Uniontown Catoctin ld attle of Wagoners Furnace Frederic Meade s H oad Union W TM T Jones ridge attle of Crossroads ewistown ew Falling Waters attle of ichfield Windsor oons oro 7 i ertytown ose Hill Manor