Battle of Monocacy saves Washington

Monocacy River

July 9, 1864

Categories: Civil War, Military, Politics
Tags: 1861 – 1899, Frederick County

General Jubal Early (1816-1894) leads a third Confederate invasion of the north. He accepts $200,000 in cash as ransom not to burn the city of Frederick and heads to Monocacy, an important railroad junction south of the city. There he encounters General Lew Wallace (1827-1905), who has hastily gathered a force of Federal troops, including some experienced veterans. General Early wins a hard-earned victory over General Wallace but is delayed for a day as he marches on toward the U.S. Capital, giving the Union time to bring reinforcements to the DC forts.
The rebel army soon retreats to Virginia. Monocacy is the farthest northern victory for the Confederacy but it ultimately it is the “Battle that Saves Washington.”

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Monocacy Battlefield

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