Thurmont in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Thurmont

War's Crossroads

— Gettysburg Campaign —

Thurmont Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, November 5, 2024

1. Thurmont Marker

Inscription.

Thurmont. War's Crossroads. Imagine the more than 12,000 soldiers of the Army of the Potomac's 1st Corps clogging the streets of this small town on June 29, 1863. War was in the air, and local farmers hurried to hide horses and personal belongings. To guard the Federal rear, Gen. John Buford posted his reserve cavalry brigade in this town of 600 people as the dusty troops of Gen. John F. Reynolds command marched on to Emmitsburg and then to Pennsylvania. There, at Gettysburg, the 1st Corps went into battle on July 1 and Reynolds would meet his death., Elements of the armies returned to Thurmont after the Union victory at Gettysburg. On July 5, Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart rested his cavalrymen for an hour outside of Thurmont to feed and water tired horses. Stuart learned of Union cavalry posted here to guard the pass over Catoctin Mountain to Cavetown, on present-day Rte. 77. The Confederates decided to bypass Thurmont on mountain paths and trails, but rumors spread widely that the Confederates had briefly occupied the town., (captions) , Thurmont was known as Mechanicstown during the Civil War. Its current name means "Gateway to the Mountains," and came in use in 1894. Courtesy Thurmont Historical Society, Gen. John F. Reynolds . Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, DATELINE, MECHANICSTOWN , After the Battle of Gettysburg, a large portion of the Army of the Potomac passed through Thurmont in pursuit of the Army of Northern Virginia.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD CORPS, Mechanicstown, July 7, 1863-6.20 p. m. , Major-General SEDGWICK, , Commanding Right Wing, Army of the Potomac: GENERAL: I have the honor to state that this corps moved from its position at Gettysburg this morning at 3 o'clock, and reached Saint Joseph's College at 10 a. m., and found the Sixth Corps halted. and has followed the train to this place. It was detained there until 1 p.m. by the Sixth Corps and its train, and has followed the train to this place. , The head of my column has just reached here, and I have determined to halt and bivouac, starting at an early hour in the morning, as my artillery horses are reported very jaded for want of rest and forage. , The citizens report a force of 2,000 cavalry (Jenkins) on the ountain Road to Cavetown, Md. He was here Sunday, and took off much plunder. , Position of the Union Army of the Potomac June 29, 1863 (midday) How Union commander Gen. George G. Meade orders his army north with two objectives: Engage the Confederate army under the best possible conditions while protecting Washington, D.C. Learning that the Union army was close and getting closer, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee orders his army to consolidate somewhere near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border.

Imagine the more than 12,000 soldiers of the Army of the Potomac's 1st Corps clogging the streets of this small town on June 29, 1863. War was in the air, and local farmers hurried to hide horses and personal belongings. To guard the Federal rear, Gen. John Buford posted his reserve cavalry brigade in this town of 600 people as the dusty troops of Gen. John F. Reynolds command marched on to Emmitsburg and then to Pennsylvania. There, at Gettysburg, the 1st Corps went into battle on July 1 and Reynolds would meet his death.

Elements of the armies returned to Thurmont after the Union victory at Gettysburg. On July 5, Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart rested his cavalrymen for an hour outside of Thurmont to feed and water tired horses. Stuart learned of Union cavalry posted here to guard the pass over Catoctin Mountain to Cavetown, on present-day Rte. 77. The Confederates decided to bypass Thurmont on mountain paths and trails, but rumors spread widely that the Confederates had briefly occupied the town.

(captions)
Thurmont was known as Mechanicstown during the Civil War. Its current name means "Gateway to the Mountains," and came in use in 1894. Courtesy Thurmont Historical Society

Gen. John F. Reynolds • Gen. J.E.B. Stuart

DATELINE, MECHANICSTOWN
After the Battle of Gettysburg, a large portion of the Army of the Potomac passed through Thurmont in pursuit of the Army of Northern Virginia.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD CORPS, Mechanicstown, July 7, 1863-6.20 p. m.
Major-General SEDGWICK,
Commanding Right Wing, Army of the Potomac: GENERAL: I have the honor to state that this corps moved from its position at Gettysburg this morning at 3 o'clock, and reached Saint Joseph's College at 10 a. m., and found the Sixth Corps halted. and has followed the train to this place. It was detained there until 1 p.m. by the Sixth Corps and its train, and has followed the train to this place.
The head of my column has just reached here, and I have determined to halt and bivouac, starting at an early hour in the morning, as my artillery horses are reported very jaded for want of rest and forage.
The citizens report a force of 2,000 cavalry (Jenkins) on the ountain Road to Cavetown, Md. He was here Sunday, and took off much plunder. D. B. BIRNEY, Major-General, Commanding Third Corps.

Position of the Union Army of the Potomac June 29, 1863 (midday) How Union commander Gen. George G. Meade orders his army north with two objectives: Engage the Confederate army under the best possible conditions while protecting Washington, D.C. Learning that the Union army was close and getting closer, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee orders his army to consolidate somewhere near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border.

Erected by Maryland

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Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 29, 1863.

Location. 39° 37.436′ N, 77° 24.695′ W. Marker is in Thurmont, Maryland, in Frederick County. It is at the intersection of North Church Street and West Main Street (Maryland Route 77), on the left when traveling north on North Church Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 N Church St, Thurmont MD 21788, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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 marker: Creeger House (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles

Mechanicsburg Town Square Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 1, 2007

2. Mechanicsburg Town Square Park

away); Thurmont Memorial Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to The Thurmont Trolley Trail! (approx. 0.2 miles away); History of the Trolley Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Walk Along the Trolley Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock (approx. 0.2 miles away); Thurmont Rail History — The End of an Era (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thurmont.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Thurmont (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old CWT Marker At This Location also titled "Thurmont".

Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2024, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 341 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 5, 2024, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. submitted on July 4, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.