On July 8th and 9th, 1989, over 2,000 Civil War re-enactors encamped near the Monocacy River and recreated the middle stages of the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign and the Battle of Monocacy. This video documents the historic portrayal of these events by the participating infantry, cavalry, artillery and civilians.
The production follows Jubal Early’s Army of the Valley, as they move down the Shenandoah Valley into Maryland, threatening the U.S. Capitol. General Lew Wallace pulls together an ad hoc force at the Monocacy River that halts Early’s progress just long enough to allow U.S. Grant to reinforce Washington, D.C., averting capture of the nation’s capitol. This large scale living history commemoration was staged on private land adjacent to the Monocacy Battlefield. Additional living history sequences were taped at Ford Ward Historic Site, in Alexandria, VA; in Lexington, VA; New Market, VA; Boonsboro, MD; and near Gettysburg, PA.
With the aid of historic narrative and stereo battle audio, this reenactment brings to life the Battle of Monocacy, 125 years after the rattle of musketry and the boom of artillery has faded from the hallowed ground near the Monocacy River.
About the Monocacy Battle:
Fought on July 9, 1864, the battle was confederate victory but bought time for Union forces to fortify Washington. After marching north through the Shenandoah Valley from Lynchburg, the Confederate army of Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early sidestepped the Federal garrison at Harpers Ferry and crossed the Potomac River at Shepherdstown into Maryland on July 5-6. On July 9, 1864, a crude Union force under Major General Lew Wallace attempted to arrest Early's invading Confederate divisions along the Monocacy River, just east of Frederick. Wallace was outflanked by Gordon's Division and defeated after putting up firm resistance. Upon hearing of Early's incursion into Maryland, Grant embarked the rest of the VI Corps on transports at City Point, sending it with all dispatch to Washington. Wallace's defeat at Monocacy bought time for these veteran troops to arrive to strengthen the defenses of Washington. Early's advance arrived at the outer reaches of Washington on the afternoon of July 11, and the remaining divisions of the VI Corps began disembarking that evening. Estimated Casualties: 2,359 total.
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