The Battle of Monocacy explained. 9th July 1864

A cheap easy cop-out. I will upload a video showing parts of the battlefield but this display inside the Monocacy National Battlefield visitor center explains everything you need to know about what happened during this relatively small but very significant battle during the American Civil War on 9th July 1864.

[@disco07]

Love the Monocacy National Battlefield visitor center. Enjoyed this display very much. Watched it three times. The park Ranger was very cool and informative. We left happy.

[@wdavis6814]

It amazes me how so late in the war, when all was "clearly" lost for the Confederate Army, that situations, like this battle, occurred. Situations where the South would've had a very real chance to win independence still. Imagine if Early made it across the Monocacy unopposed... Lincoln might have easily lost to McClellan. This victory for the Confederates, was all the VI Corps needed to get into position to defend Washington. Thanks for sharing this video!

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

I was there a year before you and I did not see this board with all it's lights, this is so much better, and with the audio, thanks.

[@mannyfox8089]

what a wonderful display! Very informative too!

[@davidtirschman6288]

Good job in the video visually covering the main points of the battle of the monocacy. The best points were that union general Lew Wallace was in command in Baltimore and took the initiative to send his forces to monocacy. The monocacy rivers left bank was the extreme left of Wallace's command authority and he placed his troops there to contest the rebels. On the extreme left of the Union line where the majority of the attacks took place was the union regulars of the 6th Corps. To the middle and right were the Maryland and I believe Ohio troops who had only been called up recently and were the most inexperienced Union forces. The only union battery there was HQs in Baltimore and this was the only time they fired their peices in the war. The division of the 6th Corps were the regulars who took the brunt of the multiple attacks first of Confederate cavalry who fought dismounted. The cavalry's big mistake was to attack as if marching on parade and walked right into devastating union fire from behind the fence line which offered the union regulars good cover. Plus it didn't help that dismounted cavalry was only 75 percent was involved in the 1st attack while every 4th trooper had to hold onto the reigns of the other 3 troopers horses. Eventually after a number of attacks the Confederate attacks built up in greater numbers of both infantry and some remaining cavalry forcing the Union forces back 2 times. It is believed that the smaller union forces were never sent to win a battle here but slow down and delay the Confederates. In the late afternoon the union forces were driven back and retreated while the Confederates held the field. After the battle early's rebels spent a lot of precious time to get moving again. Before leaving the area Confederates even had their artillery try to destroy the B and O's railroad bridge across the monocacy but the iron railroad bridge could not be destroyed. When they got near Washington and outside of fort Stephens it was filled with union defenders. A few days before the fort was so lightly defended that an earlier attack might have taken it. With the B and O railroad no very far away reinforcements were sent there.

[@johnnylawrence.]

Thanks for the upload. I live about 10mins from this battlefield, visited it once and had no idea this was a Rebel victory. Off to learn more...

[@barryrickert6544]

Rebel victory? lost as many troops as the Union and lost a chance to attack Washington. In actuality it was a Union tactical win.

[@jldlott]

@@barryrickert6544, a Pyrrhic victory: the Confederates won the battle but at such a cost, they lost the war.

[@Stiglr]

This was a most enjoyable battlefield to visit and tour. I, too, started in the Visitor's Center, walked the area nearest the railroad junction, and then took the car to four different spots, from which I walked hikes that took me to most of the highlights of the field. Was really nice to head down to the river behind the Worthington farm and see the fords the Rebels discovered and used to their advantage during the battle. Learned something new, too, along the way: I did not realize previously that Best farm was the very place where Lee's fateful, cigar-wrapped Special Order 191 was found prior to the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam two years prior!!!

[@billstanton9446]

The orders were written nearby while Lee had his HQ nearby, where exactly they were found is still not confirmed

[@Stiglr]

@@billstanton9446 Indeed, but interpretive signage at the Best farm makes the claim that the cigar wrapped intelligence boon was found *there*. So, I suppose, take it with a grain of salt (or a plug o' tobacckey)!

[@jaymcgann6637]

Wallace was at Shiloh with Grant. When the Union disembarked Wallaces Brigade was several miles down river from the main union force. When the attack came Wallace had to move his brigade to the battlefield. However he was stopped by a washed out brdge and had to turn around to find another crossing so he didn't arrive until after dark. Grantnever trusted Wallace again.

[@mattmuller3756]

interesting 3rd major campaign near by me. Have read a book on it and been there once during the pandemic and wasn't into the visitors center. Thanks for posting have a 2nd book written by a young man that was a witness to the fight from his basement on the Worthington farm. Is supposed to be the best and most in depth description of the fight there. Think he became a judge in Fredrick in his time in the area. it is Fighting for time The Batt. of Monocacy by G. H. Worthington.

[@jesuisravi]

that is quite a clear description of the battle.

[@mannyfox8089]

best I've seen yet!

[@time2161]

Very cool. Thank you for quality upload

[@joeelliott2157]

Excellent camera work. I think some thought was given ahead of time as to when to pan the camera to where during the narration. It appears that the U. S. Military did a better job at defending the Capital in 1864 then they did at defending the Capitol in 2021. General Lew Wallace was arguably not the best tactician. Why have part of your army defending on the far side of the Monocacy Creek when you know a whole enemy corps is coming at you? But he was willing to stretch his authority to the max, moving his force away from Baltimore, which he was tasked with keeping order to the limit and just beyond where he was authorized to go in order to cover the approach to both Baltimore and Washington D. C. Stretched his authority even more in convincing units passing through but not under his command to serve under him in the current emergency. Not the least concerned with “Bad Optics”. Napoleon once said that you can always recover from bad optics but never lost time. Or something to that effect. In any case Lew Wallace saved Washington D. C., and later wrote Ben Hur. What a guy. We could have used a Lew Wallace on January 6.

[@joesabolek524]

The distance between the Ford and bridges are considerable, too considerable for several brigades to effectively cover the distance. I thought Wallace performed extremely well here. He is also a bad ass

[@joeelliott2157]

@@joesabolek524 Agreed. Lew Wallace did very well and his initiative, stretching his authority to the max likely saved the Union. Losing Washington D. C., even for a day, would have a disastrous affect on Northern opinion which was wavering on giving up the war.

[@Renovegas6109]

Amazing

[@MrAuk929]

Go Jube!

[@JohnRebCSA]

We should of took DC in the first campaign of the war. That would of made them yankees surrender for sure

[@tugboat2030]

Thank you for your treasonous comments

[@kaletovhangar]

Both sides were too tired after Bull Run to do anything even resembling offensive onto enemy's capital.Also,half of original Union army was still capable of fighting both offensively and defensively.

[@BULL.173]

Would you southern boys mind trying again? We have a dictator in the White House that needs to be ousted

[@Stiglr]

@@tugboat2030 Not to mention that horrible "English". It's "should HAVE/should've", and "would HAVE/would've," Einstein!! 😆

[@switchbladeporter]

It’s crazy because now there’s a target and pet smart on the north side of the battle field.