Brunswick in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Brunswick
Formerly Berlin
— Gettysburg Campaign —
Photographed By Craig Swain, June 3, 2007
1. Brunswick Marker
Union troops pursuing the Confederate army to Virginia after the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 crossed the Potomac River here. Called Berlin at the time of the Civil War, this town truly experienced the challenges of life on the border. Both the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad here were military targets. The town would be relocated, grow and gain its new name as the railroad achieved greater commercial influence after the war. Still, it was an important military communications link during the conflict. Frequent Confederate track-wrecking incursions required Union troops and railroad crews to repair ruined bridges rapidly. Wartime interruptions to canal traffic brought financial hardship to many local citizens. The wooden covered bridge here, completed a few years before the war, was destroyed at the onset of hostilities in 1861 along with bridges at Point of Rocks and Harpers Ferry. In October 1862, a pontoon bridge was constructed near the ruins of the destroyed bridge to allow Gen. George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac to pursue Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of
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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, and the Maryland Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1863.
Location. 39° 18.734′ N, 77° 37.669′ W. Marker is in Brunswick, Maryland, in Frederick County. Marker is on Railroad Square, on the right when traveling east. Marker located beside the Brunswick Train Station at 100 South Maple Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 South Maple Street, Brunswick MD 21716, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Train No. 286 Bell Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Brunswick (within shouting distance of this marker); Iraq / Afghanistan Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Brunswick River Mural (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); One Time Rivals
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 21, 2007
2. Marker in the Center of the Park next to Train Station
More about this marker. The marker features three photographs. The left-most displays Pinkerton detectives in a Union camp, captioned “The Union army relied on sources such as these Pinkerton detectives, photographed at Berlin in 1862, as well as railroad agents and crews to gather intelligence along the border during the Civil War.”
A smaller photo shows the 1862 pontoon bridge, “Viewed from Virginia, this pontoon bridge was constructed in 1862 as one of several crossing points as the Army of the Potomac pursued the Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of Antietam. The piers from Berlin’s covered bridge burned in 1861 are seen nearby.”
The last picture shows the 1863 pontoon bridge, “Looking across to Virginia, dual pontoon bridges were erected at Berlin in July 1863, A Union wagon train is forming up to pursue Lee into Virginia.
Also see . . . Civil War Pontoon Bridges. (Submitted on July 25, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Craig Swain, January 6, 2007
3. Modern Day Bridge at Brunswick
The modern day bridge is close to the location of the pontoon bridge and wooden cover bridge sites. In the foreground is the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,498 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 25, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
