. . . both sides had taken substantial losses. Robert E. Lee’s 50,000 remaining troops of the Army of Northern Virginia needed to withdraw from 80,000 remaining Union troops in George Meade’s Army of the Potomac. Where did they go?
Monterey Pass was the site of a battle that would determine whether Lee would be able to retreat and fight another day. 60 miles of wagons, loaded with supplies needed to sustain Lee’s army, headed for the river crossing at Williamsport MD and escape to Virginia. 20 miles of those wagons made their way via Monterey Pass. During the night of July 4th, 5000 Union troops, including George Armstrong Custer, attacked this retreating wagon train in the middle of a raging thunderstorm.
The Monterey Pass Battlefield Park and Museum is a 125 acre natural, cultural & historical park located in Washington Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The park and museum preserves a portion of Pennsylvania’s second largest Civil War battle.
The Battle included the Toll House, site of the fiercest part of the battle where the Union broke the Confederate line. The Toll House which still stands is currently privately owned and occupied, though negotiations are underway to bring it into the Park. The Park currently includes miles of trails with magnificent views of the area, and a Boy Scout encampment area. Adjacent to the Park is Happel’s Meadow Wetlands, Monterey Park picnic area and Pavilion (which can be reserved through Washington Township) and a playground. The Museum and its immediate grounds include maps and artifacts of the battle. Parking suitable for cars and busses is located just across Charmain Road, at the starting point of the trails and within a short walk over the pedestrian bridge of the Museum.
Join us for a wonderful Civil War and nature experience. Take a look around the park with this video. See many enhancements described in the video which were completed in late 2020, and the 2021 Program here.
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For more Scheduled Activities, see our Activities Calendar at left. For current events, review the following posts from our Facebook page, or visit our Facebook page using the link at the bottom of this page.
The Living history events for today (Sunday) have been cancelled, but the Museum will be open from 10-4.
Living History Weekend at Monterey Pass Battlefield.
This Saturday and Sunday, July 6 and 7, there will be two parts to the THUNDER and MUD Living History Weekend at Monterey.
First, around 7:00am Saturday, about 50 reenactors will follow the original Confederate retreat route from the Fairfield Fire Dept, along 116 to Iron Springs-Gum Springs-Furnace Roads, then cut off on the original Maria Furnace Road (trail) on Monterey Pass Park Property. They should be on this trail around 11:30am-1:00pm, and we encourage you to see them here anywhere along this trail on Park property.
Also, on Saturday July 6 from 9:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday from 9:00am to 2:00pm reenactors will be available to offer interpretations of military camp life, medicine and local civilian life, and to answer any questions.
-Saturday July 6will feature Infantry Demonstrations and Drills at 10:30am and 3:30pm
-Sunday July 7 will feature Military Camp Life Discussions with the 10th. Mass.
Hope to see you there!
We have trail maps for Park property at the museum, which will be open today through Sunday 10-4, but not for the route from Fairfield. They will leave the Fairfield FD around 7am Saturday, head down Rt116 to Iron Springs Rd, to Gum Springs/Furnace Rd. then cut off on the old Maria Furnace Road. The first part of Maria Furnace is on private property, but you can access the Park part of MF road from the Battlefield Park. They should be on Maria Furnace around 11-1pm.
Wish had seen this sooner
will you have a map of the trail so we can follow it?
Mike Reed
An 8 mile march in recent temps can be a challenge for those who do it for a living. Be safe and drink lot of water beforehand.
Where do they depart from in Fairfield?
Ray Hendrickson
Rebekah Taylor