Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-07-27
The Monocacy River.

The Monocacy River is stream of
about fifty miles in length, rising IN Penn
sylyania, a few miles north of Gettysburg
and running thence southwark to the
Potomac, which it enters near Edward's
Ferry. At the place where it Is crossed
by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad the
river is from fifty to one hundred feet
wide, and about sixty feet below the
railroad bridge. AT this season it Is
fordable at almost every point, and of
itself would constitute q very imperfect
means of defense against a superior force
The Eastern or Baltimore bank Of the.
Monocacy is for the most part steep and
wooded, but with frequent slopes and
openings, which would enable an army
on the defensive to be hanked without
much difficulty. The western or Frede-
rick bank is comparatively smooth and
even. Neither of them at this season OF
the year is anything like so formidable a.
those of the Antietsm, from Keadysville
to its mouth on the Potomac. Otherwise
The two rivers have aconsiderable resem.
hlance to each other.
West of the Monocacy to Frederick
and thence to the base Of the Catoctin
mountain, and even half way up its slope
the country is comparatively smooth and
well cultivated, looking in many respect
like the valleys of Orange county, OF
which it is prolongation geographically.
Four years ago no person could travel
through it without being struck by theap-
parent contentment and order which
prsyailedamongits population, which bore
no resemblance to the ordinary type of the
Southerners Frederick city, situated
in this valley, looks then and still looks
the very picture of neatness and COM
fort, as it was of prosperity and loyalty.
On the eastern side of the bridge the
country looks differently, being more
hilly and heavily wooded. The hills
rise into range of mountains which traV
erse the earth from north to south, be-
ing the continuation of the chain which
leaves the Hudson st Westpoint, and
passes through New Jersey and Pennsyl
vania into Maryland. Most of it would
be found exceedingly dificult of passage
by an army in the face of an enemy of
half its strenght-the hills, rayines, and
woods forming so many natural means of
defense for a distance of fifty miles, un
til the open country is reached near Bal
timore.
The railroad bridge, about three huu-
dred feet long, has had an interesting
history. In September, 1862, although
constructed with iron only, it was blown
up by the rebels to check the arrival of
reinforeements from Baltimore to Me-
Clellan's army, the man who fired it pay
ing the penalty with his life. Subse-
quently the garrison which surrendered
at Harper's Ferry, upon being paroled,
encamped there for time; and if we are
not mistaken a small garrison has been
maintained in that neighborhood ever
since.
On the western side of the river the
railroad forks, branch of three miles
passing up on the right to Frederick,
while the main stem bends to the left to-
ward Point of Rocks on the Potomac
The Catoetin mountains is a range run
ming parallel with the Blue Ridge, about
an average distance of ten miles on this
side. The villages of Middletown and
Burkettsville are in the valley between
the two, the former on the western slope
of the Catoetin, and the latter at the base
of the Blue Ridge, near the battlefield OF
Crompton's Pass. The turnpike, ma
tionai road bridge, is lower down on the
Monocaey than the railroad bridge. the
distance between the two ranging about
half mile. s