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Boonsboro was impacted several times by battles,
skirmishes, and troop movements during the Civil War.
During the fall of 1862, Confederate General Robert E. Lee found
himself with his Army of Northern Virginia poised along the banks of
the Potomac River ready to make an offensive thrust into northern
territory. The Federal Army had just suffered yet another defeat at
the hands of his army and had retreated towards Washington. Lee felt
that the time was ripe to carry the war to the northern people, to
let them see what it is like. On September 4th, 1862, he crossed the
Potomac near White’s Ford beginning what we now know as the Maryland
Campaign. Over the next two weeks, General Lee and Federal General
George B. McClellan carried on a huge chess match across many miles
of the Maryland countryside involving tens of thousands of men, both
blue and gray, resulting in two major battles, South Mountain and
Antietam.
While many people are familiar with the Battle of
Antietam, which is the single bloodiest day of the war, fewer
are aware of the details of the Battle of South Mountain. Yet the
two battles are inextricably connected. South Mountain was fought on
September 14, 1862, and as such, was the first major battle of the
Civil War fought on Federal soil, as well as the first fought in
Maryland. The battle becomes the point at which the Maryland
Campaign turned, General Lee had controlled things prior to the
battle, and McClellan had to react to him. But after the battle, the
roles were reversed. Lee was on the defensive with McClellan being
the aggressor. In fact, after the battle, Lee issued orders to his
subordinates that the army would cross the Potomac back into
Virginia, ending the campaign. It is only with the surrender of the
Federal Garrison at Harper’s Ferry that Lee decided to stay and
fight, which resulted in the bloody Battle of Antietam.
Boonsboro was touched by conflict again in 1863 during
the Retreat from Gettysburg, a significant cavalry battle
was fought here. The Battle of Boonsboro was fought on July 8, 1863.
It was the largest cavalry engagement on Northern Soil, and the
second largest sustained cavalry battle in the entire Civil War. Two
U.S. Cavalry divisions repulsed five rebel cavalry brigades in a
day-long fight along the National Road. The South Mountain passes
remained open to the Federal Army in pursuit of the Confederates
retreating from Gettysburg via Hagerstown to Williamsport.
The Town of Boonsboro suffered a devastating fire on
February 22, 2008 (Washington’s Birthday). Lost were
several businesses, apartments and stores. The main project totally
destroyed was the multi-million dollar renovation project of Nora
Roberts’ Inn BoonsBoro. However, not to be defeated, Nora and her
husband and family started over. Inn BoonsBoro was rebuilt, and
opened in February of 2009. Other new stores and businesses are new
in 2009, including the new Gifts in Boonsboro, the South Mountain
Day Spa, and a delightful candle shop on Main Street.
On Saturday at 6pm, come to the special ceremonies on
Main Street at the Boonsboro Trolley Station. Dignitaries
and community leaders will be present at the event. The trolley
station was the last one operating in Washington County. The trolley
served Boonsboro from 1902 until 1938. Now, the station is a living
history center, and is moving forward as an attraction for
Boonsboro.
Parking for Boonesborough Days is by the high
school, and a trolley is available to transport visitors to
and from Shafer Park.
Please visit the Boonsborough Museum of History on Main Street,
the Bowman House, Washington Monument State Park, South Mountain
State Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield, Crystal Grottoes
Caverns, Gathland State Park and the War Correspondents Arch and
Memorial, Sharpsburg, and many other wonderful local attractions in
Washington County. For more information, see: http://www.marylandmemories.com/. |