Williamsport in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Murder of Dewitt Clinton Rench (Rentch)

Photographed By F. Robby, June 29, 2016

1. Murder of Dewitt Clinton Rench (Rentch) Marker

Inscription. On June 5, 1861 Dewitt Clinton Rench came to Williamsport on business for his father, a local farmer. Angered at the presence of a Confederate sympathizer, a crowd of men demanded that he leave town. Rench refused until a prominent citizen advised him to leave. As he mounted his horse, Rench called those assembled "a set of damn cut-throats" and drew his pistol. Shots were fired and Rench was killed. His body was taken to the nearby Globe Hotel where he succumbed to his wounds.

Rench's murder angered the Confederates across the river in Virginia who wanted to burn Williamsport out of revenge, only to be stopped by their officers, according to the Sharpsburg native Henry Kyd Douglas, a member of the regiment.

[text with left image] Dewitt Clinton Rench in uniform of the Maryland Guard Battalion of Baltimore.

[text with right image] Current day image of what was the Globe Hotel where Dewitt Rench's body was brought after he was shot off his horse.

[text with lower middle image] Henry Kyd Douglas was Dewitt Rench's college roommate in law school. he was one of the many Confederates on the other side of the Potomac who were angered over the murder.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 5, 1861.

Location.

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39° 35.957′ N, 77° 49.285′ W. Marker is in Williamsport, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of Conococheague Street (Maryland Route 68) and Salisbury Street, on the right when traveling south on Conococheague Street. Marker is in front of the Williamsport Town Hall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Williamsport MD 21795, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Boys of Williamsport (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Confederate Hospitals in Williamsport (about 600 feet away); The John Brown Bell (about 600 feet away); Joseph Lewis Lemen, Jr. (about 700 feet away); River View Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Wagon Train of the Wounded and Williamsport (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Bowie List (approx. 0.2 miles away); Doubleday Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Williamsport.

Also see . . . Crossroads of War. According to this website, Dewitt Clinton Rench bragged that he was in Baltimore at the time of the 1861 riots, and killed one of the 6th Massachusetts Militiamen - the first casualties of the Civil War. Rench was murdered just a couple months later in Union-backed Williamsport. (Submitted on August 1, 2016, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland.)

Photographed By F. Robby, June 29, 2016

2. Murder of Dewitt Clinton Rench (Rentch) Marker

In front of the Williamsport Town Hall.

Dewitt Clinton Rench Gravesite image. Click for full size.

Photographed By John Rentch, October 25, 2009

3. Dewitt Clinton Rench Gravesite

Located in Rose Hill Cemetery in Hagerstown, Maryland. Photo from findagrave.com.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 19, 2017

4. Globe Hotel

Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2016, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 854 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 1, 2016, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on August 1, 2016, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. 4. submitted on April 8, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.