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Monocacy National Battlefield
National Park Site
Known as the "Battle that saved Washington," the Battle of Monocacy was fought on July 9, 1864 between 18,000 Confederate forces under General Jubal Early, and 5,800 Union forces under General Lew Wallace. Fought on the road to Washington at the Monocacy River just south of Frederick, the battle marked the last campaign of the Confederacy to carry the war into the north. One of the Confederate objectives of this campaign was to capture Washington, D.C. Although the battle was a military victory for the Confederates, it cost them dearly. Time spent for the battle cost them a day's delay in marching on the federal capital. General Lew Wallace's defense along the Monocacy bought critical time to allow troops in Washington to be reinforced. After the battle, Early pushed through to Washington, but it was too late. Following a brief but futile encounter with federal troops at Fort Stevens, Early withdrew from the city and returned to Virginia by crossing the Potomac River at White's Ford near Leesburg. Read Ward A.'s review of Monocacy National Battlefield on Yelp
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National Park Service
5201 Urbana Pike
Frederick MD 21704
301-662-3515
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