In and Around Frederick, Maryland

[farrargirl]

My son's spring book-buying trip took us to beautiful Maryland. How gorgeous it was in April! I am posting some pics,etc. primarily on the Monocacy Battlefield, and also the grave of my gt.gt.uncle, buried at Mt. Olivet. Have other places nearby, but for another day…
All I had ever seen of Stephen's grave was a small photo on Find A Grave, which I was thankful to have. Here are a few shots I took of the tiny Confederate Row:

Thank you, Governor Bowie, for your list. That was the easiest way to find Confederate Row.

Do not know what this was, maybe the original monument to the burials?

The Row consists of Confederate burials, primarily from Antietam. Many Georgia, Virginia and Louisiana soldiers have been buried here. Very few identified here who died in 1864.

This signage across from the Row was almost unreadable due to the mud from the rain. I cleaned it was best I could…

This is my ancestor, Stephen Rikard. It's a wonder he was identified with so many spelling variations of his surname. Stephen enlisted under Gen.Robert Rodes when he was a Colonel In 1861. He was shot in the hand, in summer of 1863, had two fingers amputated, spent a month in the hospital in Richmond and returned to duty.He re-enlisted in January of 1864, and was shot in the field on 9 July at Monocacy. I included his CMSR's along with the Bowie list.
Company C of the 5th was composed of soldiers almost solely from Monroe County, Al.( home of both my father and my mother's ancestors). I had 7 more cousins who also enlisted in this Company and they were so very proud to be a part of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
Will revisit Rodes Brigade as part of the Battlefield pics. This brigades' part during the battle bears much more study on my part..
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The NPS has accomplished much in their preservation and interpretive signage at this beautiful battlefield.

They have chosen to tell their accounts of this battle primarily from the viewpoints of the four families whose farms make up
the bulk of the actual fighting. There are no red and blue Regiment markers dotted along the property as one would see on the Shiloh or Missionary Ridge battlefields. I believe this is because it would be difficult to pinpoint the numerous troop movements via place markers, which transpired here in only one day of battle.

The Hotchkiss map gives an overall N-S-E-W directional overview of the area. I added text identifying the two roads out of the area
because they were sometimes confusing to distinquish between when reading.

This map was easier for me as it referenced the brigades and cavalry present. I included the location of Rodes Brigade at the Jug Bridge.

Battle begins as Ramsuer's Brigade marches south on Georgetown/ Washington Pike from downtown Frederick…( first map ).

As Ramsour goes South, Early sends Rode's Brigade East to guard the Jug Bridge ( referred to as Stone Bridge ). This detailed book be ordered here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1537798537/?tag=civilwartalkc-20
I ordered it and look forward to my copy.
Here are a few images of the various views of the bridge:

Now there is no bridge, but the Jug itself is on Bowman Road, somewhat near original site.
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We began the Battlefield tour at the Best farm..

I flipped the map and circled the location where I took these photographs:

This panorama view reminded me of the Brandy Station property, just a little…

Apparently, corn is a staple up here …

One can see how very close the Best farm was to the B & O Railroad….

Across the tracks, lay a field, then the Monocacy River…

The Worthington farm…

views of Spring, everywhere. A farm up the road from the Worthington house…

No trip would be complete without BattleDawg....
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Did not get over to Thomas Farm, but did crawl down a hill near the Grambill Mill to catch a shot of the Monocacy River:

A great time in Frederick which started research on Gen.Early's entire Washington raid.
I have a great little reprint of Frank Vandiver's book, Jubal's Raid. Has greatly helped…..

 

[u515]

Excellent photos, thanks for sharing them. Frederick and Monocacy are quiet gems in the shadow of Gettysburg and Antietam, but very rewarding to visit. If you don't already have it, a very good recent account is Brett W. Spaulding, LAST CHANCE FOR VICTORY. JUBAL EARLY'S 1864 MARYLAND INVASION (2010), the author used to work at the Park.

 

[Kurtlg]

This is a great presentation . I was at Monocracy several years ago when they had an original copy of the "lost orders" on display at the visitors center.

 

[J. Horace]

Fantastic!

 

[captaindrew]

Nice photos, thanks for the tour!

 

[farrargirl]

Excellent photos, thanks for sharing them. Frederick and Monocacy are quiet gems in the shadow of Gettysburg and Antietam, but very rewarding to visit. If you don't already have it, a very good recent account is Brett W. Spaulding, LAST CHANCE FOR VICTORY. JUBAL EARLY'S 1864 MARYLAND INVASION (2010), the author used to work at the Park.

Thank you! I will see if I can find a copy…appreciate the recommendation..

 

[farrargirl]

This is a great presentation . I was at Monocracy several years ago when they had an original copy of the "lost orders" on display at the visitors center.

Thanks so much. I enjoyed the visitors center, especially the lighted battle table with the troop movements.

 

[farrargirl]

Fantastic!

Thank you for the message..glad you enjoyed.

 

[farrargirl]

Nice photos, thanks for the tour!

And thank you for your comment!

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Thanks for this. I plan to go to Monacacy before the fall Muster. You've given me a full itinerary!

 

[LCYingling3rd]

Thank you so much for your excellent, wonderfully informative post with all your great photographs!

Being a native of Maryland with ancestors that fought on both sides at Monocacy, it is one of the battles I am most interested in. My mother's ancestor, Samuel Stuckey, was in the 2nd VA Infantry that was there and my father's grandfather, George E Yingling of the 87th PA Infantry was there. The 2nd VA was in Terry's Brigade of Gordon's Division and the 87th PA was in Truex/Emerson's Brigade of Rickett's Division so, they would have both been at the southern end of the battlefield by the Thomas and Worthington farms.

Monocacy is a lesser known battle that does get lost when people think of Maryland and the Civil War. Most think of the Antietam and Gettysburg campaigns, however, this was an important battle as well. And obviously, it is very important to remember for you and others who lost relatives in it. Many don't think about the fact that men gave their lives, even in lesser known engagements.

Yes, Frederick is a lovely town in Springtime! I have always enjoyed the town with its quaint shops and pretty parks. Of course the Museum of Civil War Medicine is there too!

Thanks again for posting about Monocacy! I really enjoyed seeing your photographs; especially the one of your dog by the cannon!!!

 

[farrargirl]

Thanks for this. I plan to go to Monacacy before the fall Muster. You've given me a full itinerary!

Thanks, Kathy! I just could not give the visit enough time. And wanted to see the CW Medicine Museum, as @LCYingling3rd mentioned…

 

[DBT]

Outstanding work!

Dave

 

[farrargirl]

Thank you so much for your excellent, wonderfully informative post with all your great photographs!

Being a native of Maryland with ancestors that fought on both sides at Monocacy, it is one of the battles I am most interested in. My mother's ancestor, Samuel Stuckey, was in the 2nd VA Infantry that was there and my father's grandfather, George E Yingling of the 87th PA Infantry was there. The 2nd VA was in Terry's Brigade of Gordon's Division and the 87th PA was in Truex/Emerson's Brigade of Rickett's Division so, they would have both been at the southern end of the battlefield by the Thomas and Worthington farms.

Monocacy is a lesser known battle that does get lost when people think of Maryland and the Civil War. Most think of the Antietam and Gettysburg campaigns, however, this was an important battle as well. And obviously, it is very important to remember for you and others who lost relatives in it. Many don't think about the fact that men gave their lives, even in lesser known engagements.

Yes, Frederick is a lovely town in Springtime! I have always enjoyed the town with its quaint shops and pretty parks. Of course the Museum of Civil War Medicine is there too!

Thanks again for posting about Monocacy! I really enjoyed seeing your photographs; especially the one of your dog by the cannon!!!

Well, you are so kind! Glad you enjoyed. Having an ancestor in Gordan's (Legendary!)Division and another in Rickett's, aren't you fortunate they did not wound or kill each other?..
Thanks much for your comments. Was a really beautiful trip. And BattleDawg agreed! She is a 13-yr-old dachshund who thinks she is 3, when she gets on a battlefield…

 

[farrargirl]

Outstanding work!

Dave

Many thanks, Dave. I think Jubal Early did a good job with this campaign, given the timeline and particulars involved.

 

[Cavalier]

Thanks for the great photos!

John

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Thanks, Kathy! I just could not give the visit enough time. And wanted to see the CW Medicine Museum, as @LCYingling3rd mentioned…

I plan to go there and Monocracy. I should have a half day

 

[u515]

Thank you! I will see if I can find a copy…appreciate the recommendation

Used copies of Spaulding's book are listed at bookfinder.com, very reasonable prices. I understand the Visitor Center will undergo an overhaul in the near future to display more of their artifacts. Hopefully the New Jersey Monument will be accessible again before too long. Thanks again for sharing your photos and impressions!

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Monocacy is one of my very favorite battlefields and battles to study--I've been going there since 1992, when there was no interpretation on the battlefield other than the monuments erected by the veterans. This was a terrific presentation--well done. We were just in Frederick last week, and passed right by Olivet Cemetery several times during our brief stay there. Frederick is a lovely town with some interesting restaurants and a very cool waterfront in downtown.

 

[LCYingling3rd]

Well, you are so kind! Glad you enjoyed. Having an ancestor in Gordan's (Legendary!)Division and another in Rickett's, aren't you fortunate they did not wound or kill each other?..
Thanks much for your comments. Was a really beautiful trip. And BattleDawg agreed! She is a 13-yr-old dachshund who thinks she is 3, when she gets on a battlefield…

Battledawg sounds wonderful! He looks like a delightful companion! I love when they think they are young. We had dachshunds when I was growing up. Fraulein and Fritz; yes, I know, typical dachshund names...lol But they were excellent members of the family!

Yes, I feel fortunate. My ancestors were in several engagements relatively close to one another. It was when I discovered that it was the 2nd Virginia Infantry that captured the soldiers of the 87th Pennsylvania, including my great grandfather, on June 15, 1863 at the 2nd Battle of Winchester that my interest in the war became somewhat of an obsession. How close in battle they must have come!?! To think that my mothers ancestor was so close to my fathers ancestor he could have killed him, and me, was astounding. Thankfully, for me, he merely captured him! I have been to the site many times and can visualize the scene; the battle, the charge of the 2nd and 5th VA, the flying retreat of the 87th and other troops, the crowd of Union prisoners, George being guarded by Sam...?

Then I discovered that I had a maternal great, great, grandfather in the 7th Virginia of Laurel Brigade. Studying his history I discovered that he fought against my great grandfather of the 87th PA at the battle of Cedar Creek. Two direct ancestors fighting on opposite sides in a battle... that then became an obsession. Learning all that happened back in the 1980's and I have learned so much since.

The battle of Monocacy is very important to me because the 87th PA and one of it's sister regiment's of Truex's Brigade, the 14th NJ, made a daring and gallant bayonet charge down the Thomas home's lane and captured the house from some of Gen, John McCausland's dismounted troopers in a hand-to-hand fight. I enjoy going to the Monocacy Battlefield and seeing all it's sights, however, being at the Thomas family farm, "Araby," traveling down that lane to the house, and thinking of the soldiers on both sides that engaged in such a desperate struggle that day always moves me.