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Visit a section of river between Monocacy and Great Falls Tavern...
Monocacy River
Whites Ferry, Md.
Balls Bluff National Cemetery
Riverbend Park
Great Falls Tavern
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The third largest tributary of the Potomac flows through parts of Pennsylvania and central Maryland. The Monocacy's watershed includes the town of Frederick, Md., 13 miles upstream from the Potomac. Where the Monocacy meets the Potomac, the Canal company built the Monocacy Aqueduct, which is now a beautiful picnic site and recreation area. The aqueduct was completed in 1833, and features seven arches. It is probably the second-most impressive structure on the canal, after the Paw Paw Tunnel. The aqueduct has been repaired in recent years, but still needs considerable restoration work. White and pink limestone were used to build the aqueduct. The stones were quarried at Sugarloaf Mountain and carried by wagon or a special wooden-rail tramway built for the project. A Civil War battle, the Battle of Monocacy, was fought in July 1864 farther upstream.
Known as the "Battle that saved Washington," the Battle of Monocacy was fought on July 9, 1864 between 18,000 Confederate forces under General Jubal Early, and 5,800 Union forces under General Lew Wallace. Fought on the road to Washington at the Monocacy River just south of Frederick, the battle marked the last campaign of the Confederacy to carry the war into the north. One of the Confederate objectives of this campaign was to capture Washington, D.C. Although the battle was a military victory for the Confederates, it cost them dearly. Time spent for the battle cost them a day's delay in marching on the federal capital. General Lew Wallace's defense along the Monocacy bought critical time to allow troops in Washington to be reinforced. After the battle, Early pushed through to Washington, but it was too late. Following a brief but futile encounter with federal troops at Fort Stevens, Early withdrew from the city and returned to Virginia by crossing the Potomac River at White's Ford near Leesburg.
Monocacy National Battlefield is located near Frederick on Route 355 just south of the Monocacy River bridge. The Gambrill Mill Visitor Center includes exhibits, an electric map orientation program, an interactive computer program, artifacts from the battle, and interpretive displays. The Gambrill Mill Visitor Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and Wednesday through Sunday from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.
Monocacy National Battlefield, 4801 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21701. Telephone: 301-662-3515.
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