The Battle of Monterey Pass
During the morning hours of July 4th 1863, General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army began its withdrawal from Gettysburg. General Lee ordered two key mountain passes at Monterey and Fairfield to be secured for the Confederate retreat. These two passes provided the shortest distance back to the Potomac River. The main portion of the Confederate Army would cross over South Mountain at Monterey Pass marching toward Williamsport, Maryland.
With concerns of the wagon train being attacked by Federal cavalry, Confederate General Grumble Jones volunteered his command to escort it back into Virginia. Through the driving rain, General Ewell's wagon train rumbled out of Fairfield taking a portion of modern day Iron Springs Road to Fairfield Gap, then through Monterey Pass via Maria Furnace Road.
Here is the spot Confederate Captain William Tanner saw the eastern slope of Monterey was left unprotected. He ordered one Napoleon cannon and its limber to be deployed near the Clermont house where the Emmitsburg and Waynesboro Turnpike begins to descend down the eastern slope of the South Mountain.
At around 9 p.m. the 5th Michigan Cavalry came in contact with Confederate pickets of Captain George Emack's company of the 1st Maryland Cavalry that was positioned near the Clermont House. As the weather conditions worsened, the Federal soldiers failed to recognize the Confederate pickets who were wearing black gum blankets over their uniforms. Without making any demonstration, using their bodies to shield the gun, Captain Tanner ordered the cannon to fire.
The 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry dismounted and began to advance on the Emack's position. Seeing that he might be out flanked, Captain Emack withdrew his force about 200 yards past the Monterey House. Captain Tanner then ordered to have the cannon be redeployed from its current position and reinforce Captain Emack where his troopers were. The maneuver was carried out in such a hurry that Captain Tanner's men were forced to leave their limber behind and members of the 8th Pennsylvania took possession of it.
During the Civil War, David Miller was the formal Monterey Inn manager. In 1861, he began to build the Clermont House which was opened to the public in 1864. Among the attendees to stay was Union General Ulysses S. Grant.
Marker is on Charmain Road, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
