Washington Township near Blue Ridge Summit in Franklin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Battle of Monterey Pass
The Battle Begins
At this location, Confederate Captain Robert Tanner deployed one Napoleon cannon to guard the eastern summit of South Mountain.
At 9:00 p.m., the 5th Michigan Cavalry, leading the advance of Union General Judson Kilpatrick’s Cavalry Division, was fired upon by the Confederate cannon. Captain Tanner was supported by twenty-five cavalrymen of Captain George Emack’s Company B, 1st Maryland Cavalry.
After five rounds of canister had been fired, Emack’s men charged the 5th Michigan Cavalry and pushed them back past where the Claremont House once stood. After this brief engagement, Captain Emack ordered his men to fall back to the Monterey Inn.
Reorganizing, Kilpatrick ordered a squadron of the 18th Pennsylvania to dismount and advance on Tanner’s artillery position. As the artillerists were repositioning the cannon, the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry came out of the woods and captured the empty limber.
Seeing that he might be out flanked, Captain Emack withdrew his force from the Monterey Inn (Monterey Lane and Charmian Road intersection) and redeployed them along the banks of Red Run, near the road where the Confederate wagon train was moving on.
“After passing the Claremont, the rebels fired three or four shots with grape and canister, and then pulled up their battery and retreated. I don’t think they killed any of Kilpatrick’s men with the battery, as they fired too soon and the grape and canister went over our men’s heads; but it made some of our men retreat, and caused a great deal of confusion.”
Charles Buhrman
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1863.
Location. 39° 44.33′ N, 77° 28.133′ W. Marker is near Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, in Franklin County. It is in Washington Township. Marker is on Charmian Road west of Clermont Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14753 Charmian Rd, Blue Ridge Summit PA 17214, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named The Battle of Monterey Pass (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named The Battle of Monterey Pass (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Battle of Monterey Pass (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Battle of Monterey Pass (approx. 0.4 miles away); Monterey Academy (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Monterey Pass (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named The Battle of Monterey Pass (approx. half a mile away); 10,000 Soldiers Fight at Monterey Pass (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blue Ridge Summit.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker replaced an older one at this location also titled “The Battle of Monterey Pass”
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 403 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 16, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.