Lee’s retreat from Gettysburg was plagued by thunderstorms and mud. With 50,000 troops to move to the safety of Virginia, and his 60 miles-long wagon train of wounded and supplies, his journey was arduous. There were two routes to Virginia. The longer route extended west from Gettysburg through Cashtown Gap to Chambersburg, and from there south to Greencastle and on to the Potomac River at Williamsport, Maryland. The shorter and more direct route extended west to Fairfield, and up the mountain through Fairfield Gap and Monterey Gap, and then on to Hagerstown and Williamsport.
40 miles of wagon trains and infantry marched the shorter route, on winding mountain roads, in pouring rain, with poor visibility and mud. The wagons across Monterey consisted of Lieut. General Richard Ewell’s Corps Train and the Reserve Train of Major John Harman.
In the late hours of July 4, 1863 and the early hours of July 5, the retreating Confederate forces were forced to fight on the precarious mountain roads. This engagement, now known as the Battle of Monterey Pass, is the second largest Civil War battle fought on Pennsylvania soil, involving 10,000 Union and Confederate forces.
Join members of The Friends of Monterey Pass Battlefield – Darwin Seiler, Lee Royer, and John Gorman – as they retell the story of the battle, and give you a video tour of the site today. Walk the mountain paths with your guide, enjoy the scenic views from visitor-friendly park trails, and explore the museum located on the site of the battle – all without leaving your comfortable armchair.
This presentation will run on the Facebook page of the Adams County Historical Society on April 1 at 7:00 pm. This link will take you directly to the ACHS Facebook page. It will not be posted until April 1.
ACHS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/achspa
Not able to watch live or want to watch it again? Visit the ACHS YouTube channel to view this or any of our past virtual programs.
ACHS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AdamsCountyHistoricalSociety