July 10, 1863- Battle of Funkstown

July 10, 1863

Battle of Funkstown (AKA the Second Battle of Funkstown)

Funkstown, MD

John Buford's Cavalry Division and one infantry brigade (Col. Thomas C. Devin’s dismounted Union cavalry brigade, then Col. Lewis A. Grant’s First Vermont Brigade of infantry)

VS.

JEB Stuart's cavalry and his one infantry brigade too (Preston Chew’s horse artillery and the 34th Virginia Battalion’s dismounted cavalry; Gen. George T. Anderson’s Confederate brigade)

* The "first" Battle of Funkstown was a much smaller engagement on July 7th.

* The Feds trying to catch up with the Rebels' retreating rear-guard; blocked by Stuart's occupation of the town. 

* Allegedly the first time opposing infantries faced each other since the Battle of Gettysburg. OK. 

* Also, "Stuart's first defensive battle since reentering Maryland." OK. (I like "firsts," but these are getting ridiculous!)

* Ends with a Union withdrawal; Stuart buys Lee more time to escape. But the Federals used the time to consolidate their Corps for attack elsewhere too.

The Funkstown Battlefield is remarkably well preserved. However, this is the only signage actually at the battlefield. 

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=388

After Gettysburg, in order to mask entrenching operations along the Potomac river by General R. E. Lee, Confederate troops, led by General J.E.B. Stuart, engaged Union forces under General John Buford. The day-long battle east of the road resulted in 479 casualties. The Chaney house served s a hospital and at the Keller home Major H.D. McDaniel, later Governor of Georgia, survived his wounds.

Same sign, heading into town

Don't worry- that marker is about the National Road, not the Civil War. 

The aforementioned home where a future governor of Georgia survived his wounds. 

Definitely served as a hospital during the war - trust me on this one. 

The second of two bridges over Antietam Creek in Funkstown 

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=2009

This bridge over Antietam Creek at Funkstown was built in 1833 by George Weaver for $1,800. At this site was Shafer’s Mill where flour was ground. The most notable feature of this bridge is the graduated size of its three arches, growing larger from the east to the west as it rises from low ground to high on the western bank. The spans of the bridge are 20', 31' and 35'; and the bridge is 109' in length.

And there's the other (first) one! And a great story about avenging Irish...

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=2010

“The turnpike bridge at Funkstown is the only one...which seems to belong to a town” —Helen Ashe Hays, The Antietam and its Bridges

This bridge, finished in 1823, is perhaps the oldest one over Antietam Creek. Irish immigrant laborers made up the construction crew. Many worked on the road to pay off the cost of their passage from the old country, what they called “working to pay off the dead horse.” The “great brigade” of Irish leveling the roadway and breaking rocks caused one traveler to comment that they were "building a roadway good enough for any emperor to travel over…”

Workers at a local dye factory regularly taunted the immigrants. One St. Patrick’s Day, the Irish workers marched into town to avenge the insults. Local militia from Hagerstown and Funkstown arrived to keep the peace. The worst injury was “a wound by the kick of a horse.”

The Bridge was widened in 1931 with the addition of a concrete façade on the side that faces you. The original stone facing remains on the opposite side.

Before moving onto Hagerstown, here's an incredible map I found online that is for sale for $300 from here. As it includes not just Funkstown but also Falling Waters and Williamsport, it is essentially a good map of the Confederate retreat after Gettysburg.

Not a ton of online sources devoted exclusively to the Battle of Funkstown; it's a pretty small and obscure battle. The good folks of Funkstown, MD, however, are more enthusiastic than most when it comes to re-enacting their battle. They do it every year with much fanfare! The soldiers even go through town for "the foraging," in an ancient sounding ritual that still happens. I missed it by just a couple days in 2024. Maybe in 2025. I need to return anyway because I somehow missed the MD Civil Wars Trails marker outside of town. 

https://www.funkstown.com/special-events/day-in-the-park/

https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/news/local/2019/07/15/he-story-behind-the-battle-of-funkstow/44277687/

and 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Funkstown