Monocacy Battlefield Trails

[George Thomas]

Worthington Farm, start of the Worthington Ford loop trail, and also the Brooks Hill loop trail.

I made my first visit to the Monocacy Battlefield last week and really enjoyed the various walking trails, particularly those near the Worthington Farm. Even thought I-270 cuts through the center of the park, there are many peaceful and interesting spots. Below are views from some of my favorite spots along the trails.

View from the Brooks Hill loop trail, looking towards the Thomas Farm

Monocacy River from near Worthington Ford on the Worthington loop trail.

From Worthington loop trail, looking uphill towards the Worthington House (shown in first photo). Part of the Confederate force crossed at the ford and move up over this ground.

Thomas Farm from Baker Valley Rd. Gordon's division attacked left to right across the fields.

Thomas Farm from Thomas Farm loop trail (looking in opposite direction from previous photo).

10th Vermont monument looking towards Thomas Farm. Union forces made their final stand in this area.

Modern railroad bridge over Monocacy from Gambrill Mill loop trail. Union forces defended the railroad bridge and covered bridge that crossed the river at Monocacy junction.

Modern Route 355 bridge over Monocacy from Gambrill Mill loop trail, approximate site of covered bridge that was burned by retreating Union forces.

Best Farm, area from which Confederates attacked the junction. Railroad and river are out of picture to the left.

According to an exhibit at the visitor center, Lee's Special Orders 191 that were lost during the Antietam campaign were found by Union soldiers in a field north of the Best Farm.

 

[George Thomas]

I forgot to mention that there are two great booklets on the Thomas and Best farms for sale at the Monocacy visitor center/musuem -- they are a great value at only 25 cents each! I have also included a close up of the Thomas farmhouse that appears in the distance in some of my earlier posts.

Thomas farmhouse

 

[mofederal]

Thank you for the short tour of the battlefield. I have never been to the battlefield. I just never found the time when I was living out in Virginia. Thank you very much for the fine pictures @George Thomas I loved seeing the area and a new battlefield.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

This is one of my very favorite battlefields of all. Although the land acquisition was unbelievably expensive due to the location of the battlefield, and, with the exception of the I-270 freeway cutting through it, the entire core battlefield is protected and is in great shape. There's plenty of good interpretation out there, and the walking trails are well maintained. There's also plenty of interesting tactics to discuss. And, interestingly enough, this is one of three significant battlefields where the 8th Illinois Cavalry is credited with firing the first shots. Love this battlefield. Great pics!

 

[bankerpapaw]

Wonderful pictures!!! Thanks!!!

 

[Rob9641]

Bad news - a truck damaged the MD Rt 355 bridge over the Monocacy River yesterday, so it'll be harder to get to the battlefield for the next couple months. You'll have to get there via the Urbana exit off I-270 and not from Frederick. Good news - it's December and January.

 

[captaindrew]

Nice pictures, thanks for the tour

 

[George Thomas]

This is one of my very favorite battlefields of all. Although the land acquisition was unbelievably expensive due to the location of the battlefield, and, with the exception of the I-270 freeway cutting through it, the entire core battlefield is protected and is in great shape. There's plenty of good interpretation out there, and the walking trails are well maintained. There's also plenty of interesting tactics to discuss. And, interestingly enough, this is one of three significant battlefields where the 8th Illinois Cavalry is credited with firing the first shots. Love this battlefield. Great pics!

Agreed, I really enjoyed the visit -- very peaceful and well maintained sites. As you the say, the interpretation was very good as well. There is another beautiful monument to the Pennsylvania regiments (138th, 67th, 87th) essentially across the street from the Vermont monument I posted. I couldn't photograph the 14th NJ monument because the area was closed for repairs. I could just make out the NJ monument in the distance across the river when I followed the Middle Ford Ferry loop trail at the end of the Thomas farm trail. I have also included photos of two waysides that are located near sites on the Gambrill mill trail I posted earlier.

PA monument

Gambrill Mill Trail waysides regarding railroad bridge and covered bridge

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Looks like you had a beautiful day to visit the battlefield, too.

Because of its proximity to the Francis Scott Key Mall, the Best Farm property, in particular, was really threatened by development in the 1980's and early 1990's. Congress finally appropriated the money to buy the Best farm, but its 50 year delay in getting around to buying the land meant that it cost millions and millions of dollars more to buy than it should have. That acquisition ended up being one of the most expensive battlefield land acquisitions ever.

But, better late than never. Once the effort to buy the battlefield got under way, the Park Service did a great job of it and got nearly the entire core battlefield under its control.

There's also a very nice, brand new visitor's center on the battlefield with some good exhibits and an excellent fiber optic map presentation.

I had long wanted to write a history of this battle--my second ever published article on the Civil War was on the Battle of Monocacy--but four or five new books on the battle came out in a three or four year period and saturated the market, so that was that. However, it remains one of my three or four favorite battlefields, and I have spent many an hour wandering its trails over the years.

 

[Drew]

I had long wanted to write a history of this battle--my second ever published article on the Civil War was on the Battle of Monocacy--but four or five new books on the battle came out in a three or four year period and saturated the market, so that was that. However, it remains one of my three or four favorite battlefields, and I have spent many an hour wandering its trails over the years.

I know zilch about book markets, but you should do it, Eric. Studying and writing about it from a Confederate perspective would be an exercise in character building.

It's one of my favorites, too, especially because of the broader context. Northern morale was at a low point and Grant had stripped Washington of its defenses in support of the Overland Campaign. Had Lew Wallace's Union force not made it to Monocacy in time, who knows what would have happened? Food for thought...

 

[dlavin]

Great place to visit. Been there a few times. I also like the VC there.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I know zilch about book markets, but you should do it, Eric. Studying and writing about it from a Confederate perspective would be an exercise in character building.

It's one of my favorites, too, especially because of the broader context. Northern morale was at a low point and Grant had stripped Washington of its defenses in support of the Overland Campaign. Had Lew Wallace's Union force not made it to Monocacy in time, who knows what would have happened? Food for thought...

I appreciate that, Drew. However, publishers do know and care about such things. And in the end, that's what matters. I'm not interested in putting in all of that effort and then having nowhere to go with it.

 

[Bruce Vail]

I don't want to be a downer, but the Monocacy River has some very serious water pollution issues.

If you live in Maryland or Pennsylvania, I would urge you to insist that your elected officials join in efforts to improve the water quality.

 

[FrankN]

Great photos! Thanks for posting them. I own a Springfield musket used by a soldier of the 14th New Jersey. They have a statue there and are known as the "Monocacy Regiment". We've not been able to find time to visit there yet. I hope to get there soon. Maybe this next Spring. It's not that far from my Philadelphia area.


Frank

 

[Rob9641]

Bad news - a truck damaged the MD Rt 355 bridge over the Monocacy River yesterday, so it'll be harder to get to the battlefield for the next couple months. You'll have to get there via the Urbana exit off I-270 and not from Frederick. Good news - it's December and January.

I need to elaborate. The damaged bridge cuts the battlefield in half. To get to the Visitor's Center, go from Frederick on MD 355. To get to most of the hiking trails, go from the I-270 Urbana exit. To go from the VC to most of the the hiking trails, you'll have to go back up to I-270 Buckeystown exit, go south on I-270 to Urbana exit, then north on MD 355 from Urbana. It's a pain.

 

[JOHN42768]

Great pictures, thanks

 

[George Thomas]

I need to elaborate. The damaged bridge cuts the battlefield in half. To get to the Visitor's Center, go from Frederick on MD 355. To get to most of the hiking trails, go from the I-270 Urbana exit. To go from the VC to most of the the hiking trails, you'll have to go back up to I-270 Buckeystown exit, go south on I-270 to Urbana exit, then north on MD 355 from Urbana. It's a pain.

Wow, what a mess, here is a link with a photo of the wreck. When I visited in November, the area just before the bridge (near the NJ monument) had been under construction anyway, so this really adds to the mess.

http://sha.md.gov/pages/release.aspx?newsId=3041

 

[Drew]

I appreciate that, Drew. However, publishers do know and care about such things. And in the end, that's what matters. I'm not interested in putting in all of that effort and then having nowhere to go with it.

I don't want to "like" your answer, except to say I understand. It's a shame, but it is what it is.

Monocacy is a really neat place to visit. Here's to hoping folks who find themselves in the area get to do so.

 

[dlavin]

This thread inspired me to go today, but when I woke up it was 18 degrees and I decided against it. I wasn't real keen on the idea of touring the field in 20 degree weather, and the previous snow fall had all melted a day or two ago, so the beauty of the snow is gone. Another time perhaps.

 

[Mild53]

Thanks for posting images that show picturesque views - and avoiding the intrusion of the Interstate, ugh!