Hancock in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Witness to War
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 12, 2022
1. St. Thomas Episcopal Church Marker
Inscription.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Witness to War. On January 5, 1862, artillery shells screamed overhead from hills across the Potomac River behind you and crashed into an idyllic scene: this snow-covered town on a hilly riverbank. Up the street, Union troops took cover behind St. Thomas Episcopal Church, as well as behind Hancock Presbyterian Church down Main Street to your right. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson had returned having already shelled the town the previous afternoon in retaliation for the earlier Federal shelling of Shepherdstown. Jackson had led his forces north out of Winchester to capture or drive Union garrisons from towns like Bath (Berkeley Springs) and Hancock, to destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad bridges and depots, and cut telegraph wires. Having shelled Hancock for three hours on January 4, the next day he called on the Union commander there, Gen. Frederick R. Lander, to surrender. When Lander refused, Jackson opened fire again for an hour. He lacked the manpower necessary to defeat the Federals and take the town, however, especially after Union reinforcements arrived on January 6, so Jackson marched away, sparing Hancock further bombardments. Beginning after the September 1862 Battle of Antietam and continuing long after the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg St. Thomas Episcopal Church served as a hospital for wounded Union soldiers.
On January 5, 1862, artillery shells screamed overhead from hills across the Potomac River behind you and crashed into an idyllic scene: this snow-covered town on a hilly riverbank. Up the street, Union troops took cover behind St. Thomas Episcopal Church, as well as behind Hancock Presbyterian Church down Main Street to your right. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson had returned having already shelled the town the previous afternoon in retaliation for the earlier Federal shelling of Shepherdstown. Jackson had led his forces north out of Winchester to capture or drive Union garrisons from towns like Bath (Berkeley Springs) and Hancock, to destroy the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bridges and depots, and cut telegraph wires. Having shelled Hancock for three hours on January 4, the next day he called on the Union commander there, Gen. Frederick R. Lander, to surrender. When Lander refused, Jackson opened fire again for an hour. He lacked the manpower necessary to defeat the Federals and take the town, however, especially after Union reinforcements arrived on January 6, so Jackson marched away, sparing Hancock further bombardments. Beginning after the September 1862 Battle of Antietam and continuing long after the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg St. Thomas Episcopal Church served as a hospital for wounded Union soldiers.
Location. 39° 41.896′ N, 78° 10.675′ W. Marker is in Hancock, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of North Church Street and Western Maryland Rail Trail, on the left when traveling south on North Church Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13 E Church St, Hancock MD 21750, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 12, 2022
2. St. Thomas Episcopal Church Marker
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker, which had a different inscription.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 774 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
