Monocacy National Battlefield

Known as the "Battle That Saved Washington", Monocacy is marked as the last battle attempt by the Confederacy to seize Washington, D.C. and move the war north.

The battle of Monocacy occurred on July 9, 1864 between 18,000 Confederate forces under General Jubal Early, and 5,800 Union forces under General Lew Wallace. One of the primary 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.