Community Celebrates a Forgotten Civil War Battle
Published in the Catoctin Banner
By Alicia & John Miller
From Left to Right Rick Mummard, John
Shildledecker, John Miller, Brian Woodyard, and John Horner.
On February 5th, the battle of Monterey Pass, near Blue Ridge
Summit was remembered as the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails kicked off
its Civil War Discovery Weekend. The towns of Blue Ridge Summit,
Waynesboro, Chambersburg, Mercersburg, Greencastle and Shippensburg
celebrated their Civil War history by hosting events such as lectures,
living histories, and small social activities for the public. A Civil
War period church service delivered by the Rev. Col. William Hammann
and Sunday social was held at the Hawley Memorial Church near Blue
Ridge Summit. The Sunday social featured lectures about the battle and
was hosted by the One Mountain Foundation led by Gary Muller. About 80
to 100 people attended and were educated on the importance of
preserving this forgotten battle, the only battle of the Civil War to
be fought on both sides of the Mason Dixon Line.
Re-enactors who had knowledge of the Civil War history in the
Monterey area were on hand to give presentations and answer questions.
Captain George Emack of the Confederate 1st Maryland Cavalry was
portrayed by Mr. Brian Woodyard. Mr. Woodyard quoted parts of Emack’s
letter that described the battle “As soon as the Federal Cavalry had
passed, I ordered the cannon to fire directly into the head of the
column. I charged with my little party, in all only eight mounted men
and succeeded in driving them back for more than a mile.”
John Horner, a member of the Emmitsburg Historical Society and
direct descendant of Captain John Horner, who fought with the Federal
unit of Cole’s Cavalry during the Civil War, portrayed a Federal
soldier. Mr. Horner read excerpts from Union soldiers that described
weather conditions during this midnight battle. “The darkness was so
intense that the guns could be of little use, except to make the night
terribly hideous. It poured, making every mountain stream a raging
flood. Many rebels gave themselves up being heartily tired of this
war.”
John Miller, Emmitsburg’s Civil War Historian and Historical
Advisor to the One Mountain Foundation portrayed Private Charles
McVicar of Chew’s Confederate Artillery. He quoted McVicar stating
that “The Road was littered with wagons and the dead from the battle
the day before. We could hear the roar of the cannon at Monterey in
the distance about 2 miles away. It was a night of horror that I ever
spent and would never forget.”
Rick Mummard told stories that were passed on to him by his
Grandfather, who up until the 1920’s saw wreckages of wagons and
caissons that fell from the mountain road. John Shindledecker, a local
storyteller shared tales regarding the Civil War in the area,
including an interesting and humorous story of how the Confederate
Army took his Grandma Cook's Cow and how she marched into their camp a
demanded it back. Alicia Miller and Lindsay Hoover mingled with the
guests dressed as Civil War civilians, answering questions they had
regarding the battle and surrounding areas.
Mr. Miller worked with the One Mountain Foundation under the
leadership of Gary Muller, whose organization helped bring the history
of a once forgotten battle to life. Miller said “Our main objective
was to raise awareness and educate the public about the historical
significance the battle of Monterey Pass had during the Gettysburg
Campaign. The Battle of Monterey is often overshadowed by the battle
of Gettysburg.” One of the goals of the One Mountain Foundation and
Mr. Miller will come to life in 2006 when a historical roadside marker
will be dedicated as part of the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails
honoring the battle of Monterey Pass.
