Monocacy, outside of Frederick, Maryland, has been
one of those neglected battlefields. Like those two battlefields, a lot of the
land within the park boundaries remained in private hands until recently when
the Civil War Preservation Trust stepped up to preserve the land and open it to
the public for interpretation.
Monocacy, much like Manassas, is surrounded by urban
sprawl. Two very busy major highways cut through the main field – Interstate
270 and Maryland 355 – complicating historical interpretation and making
visiting parts of the field a bit hazardous. Interstate 270 cuts right through
the Worthington and Thomas farms, obliterating historic fencerows and the
original Worthington farm lane. Route 355, which the visitor has to cross to
reach the Best Farm on one side and then
recross to go to Gambrill’s Mill. The 14th New jersey monument is well worth
visiting but not with a bus nor a car that is not running well. The entrance is
on the reverse slope of a hill on the south side of 355 with a very limited
line of sight toward Frederick. Turing right onto Araby Church Road to get to
the Worthington or left to go to the mill can also be intimidating because of
drivers shooting over the ridge toward Frederick. Despite these challenges, the
field is well worth visiting.
The Visitor Center on 355 is one of the best I have
ever seen. Located on the second floor, it contains great walkthrough exhibits,
an excellent electric map, and an overlook. The walking trails, while in need
of more historical markers, will give the visitor a great view of the field as
the soldiers saw it.
The ground is surprisingly rough and steep on both
sides of the field. The trail up Brooks Hill on the right of the Confederate
line is literally breathtaking and not for anyone with breathing or heart
problems but well worth the view of Baker Valley on the other side. The trails,
while designed for nature lovers and hikers, put the Civil War student on the
ground over which the men fought.
The bookstore has a nice selection of interpretive brochures and books about the battle, mine being Benjamin Franklin Cooling's, The Battle That Saved Washington. Tour this near pristine battlefield. The experience is simply remarkable.
The bookstore has a nice selection of interpretive brochures and books about the battle, mine being Benjamin Franklin Cooling's, The Battle That Saved Washington. Tour this near pristine battlefield. The experience is simply remarkable.
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