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Boonesborough Days For this 38th anniversary year, the Boonsboro Historical Society will feature more than 150 early American art, crafts, antiques and food vendors. Rain or shine, the event will be held September 12 & 13, from 9am to 5pm in Boonsboro’s Shafer Memorial Park. Proceeds from the festival are the Society’s main source for maintaining the Bowman House on Main Street and providing donations throughout the community. Please visit nearby attractions including the Washington Monument State Park (see the renovated museum at the park!) and South Mountain State Battlefield. Local artists will showcase their talents in various media with area landscapes, still life and other art works. Antique vendors will have a variety of quality collectibles, postcards, glassware and other memorabilia. Activities for children include pony rides and the Shafer Park playground. Civil War enthusiasts and history buffs will be treated to historic demonstrations including colonial candle making as well as the age old skills of blacksmithing, chair caning, basket weaving, broom, soap and pottery making, and a display of artifacts and relic collections. Visit historic craft demonstrations, antique car displays, and hear from the strolling “Banjo Man!” ADMISSION IS FREE! COME OUT AND JOIN US! |
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History of the Civil War Battles in Boonsboro 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. Boonsboro is Revived! 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/. |
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Visit Washington Monument State Park and South Mountain State Battlefield! 147th Anniversary of the Battle of South Mountain Special Events – Come Visit! The public is welcome to witness the 147th anniversary of the Battle of South Mountain from September 12th though 14th. The events on September 12th and 13th will take place at Washington Monument State Park, and the tours on September 14th will meet at the locations indicated below. There is a $2 per vehicle entrance fee for Washington Monument State Park. All the programs are free. For more information, call Washington Monument State Park at 301-432-8065. Saturday, September 12th
Sunday, September 13th
Monday, September 14th
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