Engagement at Westminster Marker

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Westminster in Carroll County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Engagement at Westminster
War at the Almshouse
— Gettysburg Campaign —

Engagement at Westminster Marker Photo, Click for full size

November 24, 2008

1. Engagement at Westminster Marker

Inscription. On June 29, 1863, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s infantry was in Pennsylvania, and Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry arrived here on the outskirts of Westminster. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee’s division led the column, which numbered 6,000 including cavalrymen and two horse artillery batteries. Prisoners captured at the blacksmith shop on Main Street told Lee that a small Union cavalry force occupied the town. Anticipating little resistance, he deployed skirmishers and sent the 3rd Virginia Cavalry and an artillery piece across the almshouse fields here. Before the troopers could get into position on Main Street near the railroad, however, Capt. Charles Corbit’s Co. C and part of Co. D, 1st Delaware Cavalry, charged the Confederates near here on Washington Road. After sharp skirmishing, Stuart occupied Westminster.

A few days afterward, during the Battle of Gettysburg, a massive Union supply-wagon park filled the almshouse fields behind Green Street. Civilian Philip Fisher later wrote, “For a week, every hill and dale was covered with wagons in number perhaps five thousand. From seven to eight times as many mules and horses filled every pasture and meadow as far as the eye can reach from the Court House steeple.”

The almshouse, founded in 1852, served as the county home for the poor, disabled, and unwanted until the 1960s.

Marker at the Carroll County Farm Museum Photo, Click for full size

November 24, 2008

2. Marker at the Carroll County Farm Museum

The Carroll County Farm Museum was established here in 1965.

Erected by Maryland Civil War Trails.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Maryland Civil War Trails marker series.

Location. 39° 33.615′ N, 76° 59.571′ W. Marker is in Westminster, Maryland, in Carroll County. Marker is on South Center Street, on the right when traveling south. Click for map. The marker is at the entrance to the Carroll County Farm Museum - Farm Museum Road. Marker is in this post office area: Westminster MD 21157, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 1 mile of this marker, as the crow flies. Corbit’s Charge (approx. 0.5 miles away); Corbit's Charge (approx. 0.7 miles away); Army of the Potomac (approx. 0.8 miles away); Aftermath of Battle (approx. 0.8 miles away); a different marker also named Army of the Potomac (approx. 0.8 miles away); Divided Loyalties (approx. 0.8 miles away); The First Complete County Rural Free Delivery Service (approx. 0.9 miles away); Westminster Depot (approx. 1 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Westminster.

More about this marker. On the lower left of the marker is a photo of the Carroll County Almshouse. On upper middle of the marker is a sketch captioned Supply Train.

The marker also features map of the Gettysburg campaign with the caption, Position of the Union Army of the Potomac June 30, 1863 (midday). The Union army continues north on the eve of the battle. Meade hopes to fight a defensive battle along Pipe Creek and plans for that. But events at Gettysburg the next day will not allow it. Robert E. Lee’s army continues to concentrate and moves toward Gettysburg from several directions.