Thomas Farm-Monocacy National Battlefield - MD
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 39° 21.436 W 077° 23.468
18S E 293981 N 4359151
Col. C. Keefer Thomas, a businessman, should have stayed in Baltimore. He was so sure a war eventually would rage around that city that he moved his family to this 240-acre farm, called Araby.
Waymark Code: WM136JD
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 09/27/2020
Views: 3
Thomas Farm-Monocacy National Battlefield--Col. C. Keefer Thomas, a businessman, should have stayed in Baltimore. He was so sure a war eventually would rage around that city that he moved his family to this 240-acre farm, called Araby. Soon troops were marching through or camping here in the fields where the Thomases raised corn, wheat, and other crops with slave labor. During the Battle of Monocacy, the family fled to the cellar as artillery shells and rifle shots tore up the house.
There was not a moment for four years when there were not from 4,000 to 14,000 soldiers camped on or near my farm. At the end of the war I had hardly a fence on my place, but I was glad to get a little of the quiet for which I had left the city.
C. Keefer Thomas
(Sidebar): A Meeting Place
In June 1863, a year before the battle, Union Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock established his headquarters here at the Thomas farm for three days while his troops were heading north to Gettysburg.
In August 1864, a month after the battle, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant met with Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan and other military leaders at Araby to map plans for the Shenandoah Valley campaign.
LOCATION: Marker is near Frederick, Maryland, in Frederick County. Marker is on Baker Valley Road, on the right when traveling south. Located at stop four of the auto-tour of Monocacy Battlefield. This marker set is at the trail head for the Thomas Farm walking tour. Marker is in this post office area: Frederick MD 21704, United States of America
Visit Instructions:
To post a log for this waymark a photo of you, the sign at the waymark with your GPS in view must be uploaded.