July 9-11, 1864 - Early's Invasion: Johnson's Raid; Maryland Governor's Home Burned

July 9, 1864

Confederate General Jubal Early's Attack on Washington > Gen Bradley T. Johnson's Raid > Major Harry Gilmor's Raid 

Baltimore County and throughout central, Maryland

"In June 1864, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee sent Gen. Jubal A. Early's corps from the Richmond battlefields to the Shenandoah Valley to counter Union Gen. David Hunter's army. After driving Hunter into West Virginia, Early invaded Maryland to attack Washington, D.C., draw Union troops from Richmond, and release Confederate prisoners held at Point Lookout. On July 9, Early ordered Gen. Bradley T. Johnson's cavalry brigade eastward to free the prisoners. The next day, Johnson sent Maj. Harry Gilmor's regiment to raid the Baltimore area. Union Gen. Lew Wallace delayed Early at the Battle of Monocacy on July 9. Federal reinforcements soon strengthened the capital's defenses. Early attacked there near Fort Stevens on July 11-12 and then withdrew to the Shenandoah Valley with the Federals in pursuit. He stopped them at Cool Spring on July 17-18. Despite failing to take Washington or free prisoners, Early succeeded in diverting Federal resources."



"On July 9, 1864, a typical Maryland summer morning, overnight thunderstorms had steamed the unstable air wafting over the mountains and valleys northwest of Frederick. Frederick County native Confederate Gen. Bradley T. Johnson led his brigade of mounted men, many of them fellow Marylanders, from those mountains toward Worman's Mill on the old Frederick Road. They halted just long enough to hear Gen. Jubal A. Early's cannons belching out destruction at Monocacy Junction. The column then moved rapidly along the road to Libertytown and through it for another mile to the intersection with the New Windsor road. In New Windsor, shopkeepers had already locked their doors and fled. Johnson commandeered the Stouffer house on Main Street for his headquarters, as he recognized Nettie Stouffer as an old Frederick County classmate. His men began looting the Stouffer store across the street but stopped when Stouffer complained to Johnson. Elsewhere, the Confederates broke in and helped themselves to precious clothing and food staples. Scores of giddy soldiers loitered near the hotel that Louis Dielman had recently acquired, "modeling" their newly looted wardrobes and eating. Johnson then ordered Baltimore County native Maj. Harry Gilmor forward six miles with twenty hand-picked men to capture Westminster."


So, here in New Windsor, MD is technically where Gilmore's Raid begins, though I might count it as from Westminster, where he first arrives on his own. See also July 29, 1863 when Gregg's Division passed through her hunting JEB Stuart before Gettysburg. 







July 11, 1864

Johnson's Raid > Confederate Major Harry Gilmor's Raid 

Baltimore County, Maryland 

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=115243


"The home of Governor Augustus W. Bradford, which stood on this site was burned July 11, 1864 by Confederate Troops “to retaliate the burning of Governor Letcher’s Home” in Virginia by Federal troops. This was the closest point to Baltimore reached during the war by Confederate Troops."

And doesn't that just sum up the Confederacy in 1864?  Spiteful, doomed, and pointless. 

Now it's a country club



Another site with no parking


* "This was the closest point to Baltimore reached during the war by Confederate troops"


Here's Bradford's grave in Baltimore's Greenmount Cemetery. 




************************************************

They passed through Rockville and Gaithersburg on the way, just like they did on the way to Gettysburg last summer.

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=1709


"In the last Confederate invasion in 1864, Gen. Jubal A. Early’s army camped here the night before attacking Ft. Stevens on July 11-12. Early commandeered the house for his headquarters, and DeSellum lost his remaining livestock, crops, and fencing. When he protested, Early left him two barrels of corn. Soldiers searching the house for weapons missed $3,000 hurriedly concealed under his sister Sarah’s voluminous skirts. DeSellum, Sarah, and their parents are buried nearby."


https://retrobaltimore.tumblr.com/post/91476296434/confederate-troops-burned-governors-mansion-150


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