Middletown in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Christ Reformed Church
Just Before the Battle
| — | Antietam Campaign 1862 | — |
Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, October 22, 2006
1. Christ Reformed Church Marker
Eight thousand Confederates under Gen. Lafayette McLaws marched by this church on September 10-11, 1862, heading south to Harper’s Ferry. Since no Federals were in the area, McLaws expected no encounters with the enemy. Unknown to him, however, Union Gen. George B. McClellan had obtained a copy of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Special Order 191 containing the Confederate plans; soon the rear of McLaws’ column was in danger.
Most of McClellan’s Army of the Potomac marched west on the National Road (present-day Alt. U.S. Rte. 40) on September 14, en route to the gaps of South Mountain. The steeple of the Reformed Church served as a Union observation station during the battle that followed.
“Waking stiff and sore to a beautiful Sunday morning [September 14], the first thought was breakfast. Some cattle were driven up and killed in the neighboring field, and we tried broiling dollops of steaming fresh beef upon our ramrods. Some of the men visited the houses in the town [Middletown] in search of eatables, but with little success. The irrepressible Walsh returned with a tea kettle and cabbage…and set to work boiling the vegetable. While this was passing, artillery fire commenced, and white puffs of smoke began to rise between us and the range of blue hills, called South Mountain…Two o’clock in the afternooncame, and with it the order to ‘fall in.’ Walsh had not time to cook his cabbage, so he slung it, kettle and all, to his belt, in hopes of a chance to finish it.” - From the regimental history of the 35th Massachusetts Infantry.
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Erected by Maryland Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Civil War Trails, and the The Historic National Road series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1677.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 26.533′ N, 77° 32.724′ W. Marker was in Middletown, Maryland, in Frederick County. It was on South Church Street (Maryland Route 17) 0 miles south of Washington Street, on the left when traveling south. It is located in the parking lot of the Christ Reformed Church and Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 103 S Church St, Middletown MD 21769, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Central Maryland. It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Christ Reformed Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Stone Parsonage (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jefferson Street
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 21, 2007
2. The Marker Stands beside the Road in the Church Parking Lot
More about this marker. In the upper left is a portrait of General McLaws. A map on the upper right indicates key points involved with the Antietam Campaign, with other Civil War Trails sites pointed out with red stars. On the lower right is an etching by Edwin Forbes of soldiers around a campfire.
Regarding Christ Reformed Church. On Wikipedia, it is seen that McLaws commanded a division with this chain of command:
1st corps, James Longstreet
Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker. There are differences in the inscriptions.
Also see . . . Lafayette McLaws. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on March 8, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, October 22, 2006
3. Christ Reformed Church
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2006, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 2,655 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on February 14, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on December 27, 2006, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. 2. submitted on July 23, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on December 27, 2006, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
