Near Frederick in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Burning of the Bridge
12:00 noon July 9, 1864
— Monocacy National Battlefield —
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 9, 2007
1. Burning of the Bridge Marker
Confederates wearing captured blue uniforms had killed or wounded several Union skirmishers who had been sent across the Monocacy River to hold the Georgetown Turnpike and B&O Railroad bridges "at all hazards."
The two sides traded shots all morning, but about noon Union Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace could see that the Confederates were about to overwhelm his troops. He ordered the wooden covered bridge set ablaze. Wallace had delayed the enemy, but he also had trapped his own men across the river.
Previously, men of the company had gathered sheaves of wheat from the nearby field, and had stacked them under the bridge's southeast corner. The combustibles were fired ...and the bridge was soon engulfed in flames.
Pvt. Alfred S. Roe, New York Heavy Artillery
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 9, 1864.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 9, 2007
2. Trail Stop Overlooking the River
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Burning the Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Desperate Escape (within shouting distance of this marker); CPL Kirk J Bosselmann (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Retreat (about 800 feet away); A Bold Plan (approx. 0.2 miles away); Edgewood (approx. 0.2 miles away); Caring for the River (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named A Bold Plan (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frederick.
More about this marker. A background painting depicts the burning of the Wooden Bridge.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This marker is among several describing the battle of Monocacy, to "tour" the battlefield using the related HMBd markers sites.
Also see . . . Battle of Monocacy. National Parks Service website entry (Submitted on November 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 9, 2007
3. The Marker and the Modern Bridge
This photo was taken close to the anniversary of the battle (compared to the photo below of the bridge as seen in the winter).
Photographed By Craig Swain, January 29, 2007
4. Present Day Urbana Pike Bridge
The modern truss bridge crosses the river near where the wooden bridge stood at the time of the battle.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 1, 2017
5. Burning the Bridge
The “Burning of the Bridge” marker has been replaced by this “Burning the Bridge” marker.
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,780 times since then and 46 times this year. Last updated on March 28, 2022, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on May 31, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
