. . . 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.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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.
Though the planned events are cancelled this weekend, the museum at Monterey will still be open Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2pm!
UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO INCLIMATE WEATHER ALL EVENTS AT MONTEREY ARE CANCELLED THIS WEEKEND.
This weekend we will have some changes to the Units at our encampment. The Artillery demonstrates will be done by the 1st North Carolina Artillery, Battery C. They have a Williams Gun late War cannon and a Mountain howitzer. There will be a Civil War Medical display along with the 1st Maryland Cav company A, 43 VA Cav, 69th Pennsylvania infantry, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry. The schedule will still be per the flyer below. See you there!
While the 2nd Maryland Artillery and the field surgeon display will not be attending we will have another Artillery unit there with demonstrations at the posted times, so come on out this weekend, tour the camps set up at the museum and hike our trails. See you there!
NOTE: due to the potential for bad weather we may be re-arranging some of the activities this weekend: stay tuned for updates!