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

Revolutionary War Encampment

May 29 - 31, 1781

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 6, 2025

1. Revolutionary War Encampment Marker

Inscription.

Revolutionary War Encampment. May 29 - 31, 1781.

"Where this letter will meet you, I am not able to ascertain, But ardently wish it May Be Near this place where your presence is absolutely necessary." , Lafayette letter to Anthony Wayne, May 15, 1781, near Richmond, Virginia.

, Having crossed the Monocacy River above Ceresville, General Anthony Wayne and about 1,100 Pennsylvania Continental troops encamped near this spot on May 29-31, 1781. Wayne had left York in Pennsylvania on May 26, 1781, marched down the old Monocacy road (present-day Maryland Route 194), and stopped here for two nights. The Continentals were marching to Virginia to reinforce the Marquis de Lafayette, whose forces were insufficient to stop Lord Charles Cornwallis' campaign of destruction as British troops embarked on a rampage burning and destroying military and civilian supplies., On May 30, General Wayne and Maryland Governor Thomas Johnson reviewed the troops. Captain Benjamin Bartholomew wrote in his diary: "Wednesday May 30th,– this day devoted to washingt, cleaning of arms, and was review'd at 5 OClock –.", Ensign John Van Court confirms Bartholomew's account: "30th Lay by this day and Orders were Issued for the men to–wash their cloathes Burnish up their arms and be in readiness for review at 6 o'clock we were Reviewed Accordingly. A number of Spectatyors both Male and Female were present. Amongst the number Governor Johnson and his Lady....", On May 31, the troops left camp at sunrise. Marching through Fredericktown past the barracks where British officers were held as prisoners of war following their surrender at the Battle of Saratyoga in October 1777, Wayne and his troops continued on Old Carolina Road (Buckeystown Pike) to Noland's Ferry, where they crossed into Virginia. On June 10, they united with forces under Lafayette. They served under the French marquis until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.,

"The [troops] will be in Virginia tomorrow morning, when we shall move as light as possible by divesting ourselves of all the heavy baggage." , Anthony Wayne letter to Lafayette, May 31, 1781, Frederick County, Maryland

"Where this letter will meet you, I am not able to ascertain, But ardently wish it May Be Near this place where your presence is absolutely necessary."
Lafayette letter to Anthony Wayne, May 15, 1781, near Richmond, Virginia.

Having crossed the Monocacy River above Ceresville, General Anthony Wayne and about 1,100 Pennsylvania Continental troops encamped near this spot on May 29-31, 1781. Wayne had left York in Pennsylvania on May 26, 1781, marched down the old Monocacy road (present-day Maryland Route 194), and stopped here for two nights. The Continentals were marching to Virginia to reinforce the Marquis de Lafayette, whose forces were insufficient to stop Lord Charles Cornwallis' campaign of destruction as British troops embarked on a rampage burning and destroying military and civilian supplies.

On May 30, General Wayne and Maryland Governor Thomas Johnson reviewed the troops. Captain Benjamin Bartholomew wrote in his diary: "Wednesday May 30th,– this day devoted to washingt, cleaning of arms, & was review'd at 5 OClock –."

Ensign John Van Court confirms Bartholomew's account: "30th Lay by this day and Orders were Issued for the men to–wash their cloathes Burnish up their arms & be in readiness for review at 6 o'clock we were Reviewed Accordingly.
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A number of Spectatyors both Male & Female were present. Amongst the number Governor Johnson and his Lady...."

On May 31, the troops left camp at sunrise. Marching through Fredericktown past the barracks where British officers were held as prisoners of war following their surrender at the Battle of Saratyoga in October 1777, Wayne and his troops continued on Old Carolina Road (Buckeystown Pike) to Noland's Ferry, where they crossed into Virginia. On June 10, they united with forces under Lafayette. They served under the French marquis until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.

"The [troops] will be in Virginia tomorrow morning, when we shall move as light as possible by divesting ourselves of all the heavy baggage."
Anthony Wayne letter to Lafayette, May 31, 1781, Frederick County, Maryland

Erected 2025 by Sons of the American Revolution; Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 29, 1781.

Location. 39° 26.709′ N, 77° 22.971′ W. Marker is

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 6, 2025

2. Revolutionary War Encampment Marker

This is a photo of the marker during the unveiling ceremony. Pictured are representatives from local chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

in Frederick, Maryland, in Frederick County. It is in Riverside Park. It is on Monocacy Boulevard south of Laurel Wood Way, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1800 Monocacy Blvd, Frederick MD 21701, 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 the North Atlantic Region,

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rose Hill Manor (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Rose Hill Manor (approx. 1.4 miles away); PFC Larry F Brashears (approx. 1.4 miles away); George Washington (approx. 1.9 miles away); Richfield (approx. 1.9 miles away); a different marker also named Richfield (approx. 1.9 miles away); The Delaplaine Building (approx. 2 miles away); They Lie Here, Beneath Our Feet (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frederick.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This list shows various locations of Wayne's March in that started in York, Pennsylvania into Virginia to meet up with General Lafayette in the actions leading to the British surrender at the Battle of Yorktown.

Revolutionary War Encampment Marker being unveiled at the ceremony image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 6, 2025

3. Revolutionary War Encampment Marker being unveiled at the ceremony

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 190 times since then and 140 times this year. Last updated on June 19, 2026, by John Laycock of Sykesville, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 6, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.