The Maryland Town That Became One Big Civil War Hospital

In September 1862, the battle descended on Frederick, Md., en masse, as troops from each side tramped by its streets en path to take part within the Maryland Marketing campaign. After the bloody battles of South Mountain on September 14, and the Battle of Antietam on September 17, the sick and wounded from each clashes stuffed dozens of church buildings and buildings, prompting The Philadelphia Inquirer to notice, the “metropolis is one huge hospital, and but a whole bunch of poor fellows proceed to reach….” By September 24, the Frederick Examiner reported that the wounded already stuffed 17 buildings and “the 1000’s of victims, thrown by the emergency of battle upon this group, is a grievous tax upon the residents….”

Between September and January 1863, practically 10,000 wounded troopers handed by Frederick’s hospitals.

The Union Military would once more march by Frederick on its technique to the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, and a yr later, Accomplice Basic Jubal Early would drive the town to pay a ransom of $200,000 or be burned. Native banks paid the payment with money in buckets on the former Metropolis Corridor, which nonetheless stands right now and homes a favourite native restaurant and brewpub. In truth, the streets of Frederick are nonetheless lined with lots of the historic church buildings and brick buildings that quickly housed the battle-scarred. Strolling excursions and Civil Warfare Trails indicators are supplied to information guests to them. A stroll down Market Avenue consists of a fascinating assortment of retailers and eateries to peruse. No go to to Frederick could be full and not using a journey to the Nationwide Museum of Civil Warfare Drugs, the place guests can study rather more concerning the therapy of the battle’s sick and wounded and the way wartime medical improvements developed on this very city are nonetheless in apply right now. 

Evangelical Lutheran Church
31 E. Church St.

Following the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam, the Evangelical Lutheran Church served as a army hospital for 4 months. Sergeant Henry Tisdale of the thirty fifth Massachusetts, handled right here after being wounded at South Mountain, later wrote: “A tough board ground was laid over the tops of the pews. Folding iron bedsteads with mattresses, clear white sheets, pillows, blankets, and clear underclothing, hospital dressing robes, slippers, and many others. have been furnished us freely. The residents got here in twice a day with a number of luxuries, cordials, and many others. for our consolation. The church finely completed off inside, effectively ventilated and our scenario as nice and cozy as may very well be made.”

Nationwide Museum of Civil Warfare Drugs
48 E. Patrick St.

This 7,000-square-foot museum homes a powerful assortment of Civil Warfare–period medical artifacts, together with an unique surgeon’s tent, a makeshift working desk from the Cedar Creek battlefield, and medical improvements corresponding to a Lincoln synthetic arm. 5 immersive displays re-create points of Civil Warfare medical points: life in a military camp, evacuation of the wounded from the battlefront, a subject dressing station, a subject hospital, and a army hospital ward. Thurs.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. civilwarmed.org

Lincoln’s Go to
79 S. Market St.

On October 4, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln spoke right here from the railroad platform to residents gathering within the streets. Having returned from viewing the battlefields of South Mountain and Antietam, the president was heard to say, “I return due to our troopers for the nice service they’ve rendered, for the energies they’ve proven, the hardships they’ve endured, and the blood they’ve so nobly shed for this expensive Union of ours; and I additionally return thanks not solely to the troopers, however to the nice residents of Maryland, and to all the nice women and men on this land, for his or her devotion to our wonderful trigger.”

Kemp Corridor
52 N. Market St.

Kemp Corridor was the capitol constructing of Maryland throughout the spring and summer time of 1861, because the state got here perilously near leaving the Union. As a result of secession would have positioned the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., between the Accomplice states of Maryland and Virginia, President Abraham Lincoln couldn’t let it occur. In April 1861, Maryland Governor Thomas Hicks referred to as the Basic Meeting into particular session right here in Frederick, a strongly Unionist metropolis, to debate secession. The state capital, Annapolis, was seething with resentment over the latest Federal occupation of that metropolis. The legislature continued to fulfill at Kemp Corridor all through the summer time. Lastly, missing a quorum—primarily due to the arrest of so many secession-leaning senators and delegates—it adjourned in September with out ever contemplating a secession invoice.

Hessian Barracks
242 S. Market St.

In-built 1777, British and Loyalist prisoners have been housed right here throughout the Revolutionary Warfare. The barracks have been used for varied functions throughout the nineteenth century, together with as a state armory, silkworm-production web site, and a army hospital, treating greater than 30,000 sick and wounded Union and Accomplice troopers throughout the Civil Warfare. Union Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks opened the primary hospital right here for 3 weeks in August 1861. In June 1862, it grew to become U.S. Military Basic Hospital No. 1. On September 6, 1862, Basic Robert E. Lee captured the hospital and employees. Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan reoccupied Frederick every week later. The location continued to function a hospital all through the battle.

Barbara Fritchie Home
154 W. Patrick St.

Frederick resident Barbara Fritchie grew to become well-known because the heroine of an 1863 John Greenleaf Whittier poem during which she pleads with an occupying Accomplice normal, “Shoot should you should this previous grey head, however spare your nation’s flag,” as she waved the U.S. flag from the window of her house. The story has been debunked as folklore, however the home right here—a 1927 reconstruction primarily based on the unique—nonetheless attracts vacationers. At the moment it’s an Airbnb and you’ll e book a keep on-line at stayinfrederick.com.

Brewer’s Alley
124 N. Market St.

The primary residents of Frederick constructed a city corridor and market home on this location in 1765, which was accomplished in 1769. In 1864, Accomplice Basic Jubal A. Early pressured the town of Frederick to ransom itself for $200,000. Native banks paid the ransom right here utilizing bushel baskets full of money. It was July 9, 1864, and shortly thunder from close by Monocacy—“the battle that saved Washington”—lease the air. At the moment the constructing homes Frederick’s unique brewpub, serving upscale pub grub & house-label microbrews. brewers-alley.com

Battle of Monocacy
5201 Urbana Pike

Six miles from Frederick, on July 9, 1864, roughly 5,800 Federal troopers underneath Basic Lew Wallace clashed with 14,000 Confederates underneath Jubal Early alongside the Monocacy River, because the Confederates superior towards Washington, D.C. Wallace was outflanked and outnumbered and the battle ended with a Accomplice victory, but it surely purchased time for reinforcements to bolster the defenses of Washington, the place Early headed subsequent. The Monocacy Nationwide Battlefield preserves the location of the struggle. Interpretation within the customer heart particulars the battle and its strategic significance. nps.gov/mono

This text first appeared in America’s Civil Warfare journal

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