Monocacy National Battlefield

Known as the "Battle That Saved Washington", the battle of Monocacy on July 9, 1864 between 18,000 Confederate forces under General Jubal Early, and 5,800 Union forces under General Lew Wallace, marked the last campaign of the Confederacy to carry the war into the north. One of the objectives of this campaign was to capture Washington, D.C.

Although this battle was a military victory for the Confederates, it was also a defeat. Time spent for battle cost the Confederates a day"s delay in marching on the federal capital. General Lew Wallace"s defense along the Monocacy bought critical time to allow Washington to be reinforced. Early"s raid would be thwarted and the war would be taken to the south for the rest of the war.