Battle of Funkstown - 156 years ago

infomanpa

1st Lieutenant
Joined
Feb 18, 2017
Location
Pennsylvania
How many of you have been to Funkstown, Maryland? Not many, I would think. I made a trip there.

On July 10, 1863, during the retreat from Gettysburg, Stuart's cavalry and a few brigades from Longstreet's Corps held off an attack by Buford's cavalry and brigades from the Sixth Corps.
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Used to drive through there every day a few years ago. Lol this photos are very familiar. Actually meeting someone in Hagerstown tomorrow...

Thanks for the photos, brings back memories
 
I believe the only site that saw action during the Gettysburg campaign that I haven't been to is Sporting Hill.

I have a friend who lived in Mechanicsburg, PA for more that 30 years and even though I visited him at least once a year, I never gave much thought that I was near Sporting Hill. Maybe, because it's so built over that there isn't much left to see.
 
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Funkstown mentions in soldier accounts:

-25 June [1863], rested a short while in [Funkstown], a few ladies cheered us by waving their handkerchiefs, we cheered them in return, all the stores closed, population I think about 500 or 600. (Mosely diary, 6 VA)

-Quite a number of rebel sympathizers, buttons on sleeve of jacket cut off for 4-5 young ladies, my company was in advance of the brigade. (Charles Waddell diary, A/12 VA)

-Streets lined with citizens; some were friendly and others were cross in their answers to questions. A fair looking woman standing in the door of a store and uttering bitter denunciations of Confederates gave me a peculiar look and a wave of her hand to the inside of the room. On the left was another room with a long table loaded with bread, roast beef, boiled ham, pickles and preserves. I had a good meal and more were coming in when I left. (Alfred Zachry, Fighting with the 3rd Georgia)

-11 July, at Funkstown guarding the bridges over the Antietam. (Diary, Robert Douglass, F/47 VA)

-12 July, just before entering we found the enemy’s rifle pits, which they evacuated last night. After entering the village we turned to the right and crossed the Antietam on the Hagerstown Pike. ... Rode into town for supper and found Secretary Cameron and the brother of Gen. Reynolds at a house in town. (War Diary and Letters of Stephen M. Weld – aide to Reynolds)
 
I live on the Western side of the Antietam Creek from Funkstown. According to the War of The rebellion Atlas some 11th Army Corps works at one time ran through my property. Lee camped nearby as well. Theres a historical marker maybe 200 feet from my house about the CSA encampment. I have heard of some interesting detecting finds in the proximiy over the years, a GA state buckle, A Union Corps Badge etc.
 
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