Taneytown in Carroll County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

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"Mount and Spur for Gettysburg"

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 5, 2013

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Inscription. Whitelaw Reid, a Civil War correspondent, began reporting for The Cincinnati Gazette in 1862. On June 30, 1863, Reid took the train from Washington, D.C, and traveled to General George Gordon Meade’s headquarters just outside of Taneytown on the following day. While in the General’s company, Reid interviewed him about his battle plans. Reid also observed the soldiers as they prepared for battle, and his report conveyed the urgency they felt. Reid was able to send his July 1 dispatch by courier from a Taneytown tavern to the Frederick telegraph office. From a nearby road later that day, Reid watched the soldiers march from Taneytown to Gettysburg, noting the “masses of blue coats toiling forward.” Besides watching the fighting from Cemetery Hill on July 2 and 3, Reid also traveled the battlefield to speak to four Union commanders to learn about the fighting on July 1. The place of the battle caused him to write feverously scratched notes describing the sounds and sights of the battle. On July 8, his story about the Battle of Gettysburg appeared on the front page of The Cincinnati Gazette under the byline “Agate.” (Inscription

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of the photo in the upper left side of the marker) After the Civil War Whitelaw Reid had his portrait taken by Mathew Brady. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress. (Inscription of the photo in the center of the marker) The telegraph pictured here is similar to the one used to send Whitelaw Reid’s stories to the Cincinnati Gazette in 1863. Courtesy of the Monocacy National Battlefield, National Park Service.

Erected by Maryland State Highway Administration.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1868.

Location. 39° 39.367′ N, 77° 10.333′ W. Marker is in Taneytown, Maryland, in Carroll County. It is on East Baltimore Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Taneytown MD 21787, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Baltimore Metro Region

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

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 5, 2013

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Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Painting the Town Red (approx. 0.2 miles away); Everything from Bags of Flour to the President's Shoes (approx. 0.2 miles away); Zile's Ice Cream (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Heart of Our Town (approx. 0.3 miles away); Adam Good Tavern (approx. 0.3 miles away); Everyone is Welcome (approx. 0.4 miles away); "Steps of the Sisters" (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1st Lieutenant John E. Buffington (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Taneytown.

Also see . . . Whitelaw Reid. Wikipedia. (Submitted on January 25, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 5, 2013

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(Inscription regarding the map photo) General Meade’s initial battle plan centered on troops stationed south of Taneytown. When the battle began in Gettysburg, instead, he ordered his troops to join the fight there. Courtesy of Historical Society of Carroll County

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2015

4. Telegraph

The telegraph pictured here is similar to the one used to send Whitelaw Reid's stories to the Cincinnati Gazette in 1863.Close-up of photo on marker

Whitelaw Reid image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2015

5. Whitelaw Reid

After the Civil War Whitelaw Reid had his portrait taken by Mathew Brady. Close-up of Brady photo on marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,209 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 6, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 4, 5. submitted on January 25, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.