Battle of Monocacy

The Battle of Monocacy, fought on July 9, 1864, near Frederick, Maryland, was a key engagement during the American Civil War. Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early defeated Union troops led by Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace. Despite the Union loss, the battle delayed Early’s advance toward Washington, D.C., allowing Union reinforcements to strengthen the capital’s defenses.

Early had been ordered by Gen. Robert E. Lee to threaten Washington and divert Union forces from Petersburg, Virginia. His troops crossed the Potomac River into Maryland on July 5, 1864, and engaged Wallace’s forces along the Monocacy River. Though outnumbered, Wallace’s men put up stiff resistance before retreating to Baltimore. The delay proved crucial—Union reinforcements arrived in Washington just in time to repel Early’s attack at the Battle of Fort Stevens on July 12.

The battle is remembered as the "Battle That Saved Washington" because it bought time for Union defenses.