Point of Rocks in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Point of Rocks
Point of Rocks During the War
Photographed by Tom Fuchs, November 4, 2006
1. Point of Rocks During the War Marker
In May 1861, Col. Thomas J. (later Gen. “Stonewall”) Jackson convinced the railroad to consolidate its coal shipments at a specific time period. He then captured 56 locomotives and more than 300 rail cars by halting all train traffic east of Point of Rocks. In 1864, Confederate Lt. Col. John S. Mosby, in what became known as the “Calico Raid” or the “Crinoline Raid,” attacked the Union garrison here. Throughout the war, pro-Union families living in Loudoun County, Va., crossed the river here to shop.
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Location. 39° 16.434′ N, 77° 32.021′ W. Marker is in Point of Rocks, Maryland, in Frederick County. It is on Clay Street (Maryland Route 28) east of Catoctin Mountain Road (U.S. 15). It is in the parking lot of the Point of Rocks railroad station. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Point of Rocks MD 21777, 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 5 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Point of Rocks (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Point of Rocks (approx. Ό mile away); a different marker also named Point of Rocks (approx.
Regarding Point of Rocks. The B&O Railroad met and parallelled the C&O Canal a few hundred feet west of here, separated—by 1832 court order—by a high wall to prevent trains from spooking the mules that towed boats on the canal. Eventually the railroad dug a tunnel through Catoctin Mountain to separate itself from the canal.
Also see . . .
1. Impossible Challenge: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Maryland. (Submitted on May 2, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
2. Impossible Challenge II: Baltimore to Washington and Harpers Ferry from 1828 to 1994. (Submitted on May 2, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
3. The Met: A History of the Metropolitan Branch of the B&O Railroad, Its Stations and Towns. (Submitted on May 2, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
4. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (Railroad Color History). (Submitted on May 2, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
5. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the Potomac Valley (Golden Years of Railroading). (Submitted on May 2, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
6. Baltimore and Ohio in the Civil War. (Submitted on May 2, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
7. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (MBI Railroad Color History). (Submitted on May 2, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
8. Baltimore and Ohio's Capitol Limited and National Limited (Great Passenger Trains). (Submitted on May 2, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
9. Route of the Capitol Limited (Baltimore and Ohio Passenger Service Volume 2). (Submitted on May 2, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
10. The Great Road: The Building of the Baltimore and Ohio, the Nation's First Railroad 1828 - 1853
Photographed by Tom Fuchs, November 4, 2006
3. Point of Rocks Station Today
This station, designed by E. Francis Baldwin and completed in 1876 by the B&O Railroad, was built at the junction where the Metropolitan Branch from Washington (behind station) joins the Old Main Line from Baltimore (between the markers and the station), which continues west (towards the right). The Metropolitan Branch opened in 1873.
This station continues to serve passengers on the MARC Brunswick Line. Amtrak's Capitol Limited (trains 29 to Chicago and 30 to Washington) pass through here but do not stop.
This station continues to serve passengers on the MARC Brunswick Line. Amtrak's Capitol Limited (trains 29 to Chicago and 30 to Washington) pass through here but do not stop.
11. Route of the National Limited (Baltimore and Ohio Passenger Service Volume 1). (Submitted on May 2, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
12. Chessie System (MBI Railroad Color History). (Submitted on October 14, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
13. CSX (MBI Railroad Color History). (Submitted on October 14, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
Photographed by Tom Fuchs, November 4, 2006
4. Point of Rocks Junction, Viewed from the Station
During the Civil War the tracks on the left were not present and the station was probably a few blocks west, near the present-day US 15 bridge across the Potomac.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 8,657 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 8, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 2. submitted on March 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on December 8, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
