Battle of Monocacy • Tour the Battlefield • Monuments & Markers • Armies
The monument to the Tenth Vermont Infantry Regiment is on Araby Church Road on the Monocacy Battlefield. (see map below)
At the time of the battle and when the monument was dedicated the Urbana Pike had not been built. Araby Church Road was the main road to Washington, known as the Washington Pike, and was the main objective of the Confederate attack.
About the monument
The simple granite monument was dedicated in 1915. It was erected on land purchased from William G. Baker, and marks the 10th Vermont’s main position on the left flank of the Union position in the afternoon fighting. A detachment of 75 men helped defend the road and rail bridges across the Monocacy.
On its front is a bronze Greek cross, the symbol of the Union Sixth Army Corps.
Two men of the 10th Vermont were awarded the Medal of honor
First Lieutenant George E. Davis and Corporal Alexander Scott, both of Company D, were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroism during the battle.
Lieutenant Davis’ commendation reads, “While in command of a small force, held the approaches to the 2 bridges against repeated assaults of superior numbers, thereby materially delaying Early’s advance on Washington.”
Corporal Scott was commended for “at Monacacy July 9, 1864 this soldier, a corporal in Co. D, 10th Vermont Volunteers and carrying the State Flag while his regiment was withdrawing under very heavy fire of the enemy saw the color sergeant bearing the national colors fall out of line exhausted and drop to the rear which meant inevitable capture. Corporal Scott, then nearly overpowered by the heat and fatigue, picked up the national flag and carried both colors during the remainder of the action.”
The 10th Vermont monument at Monocacy with the Thomas farm in the distance.
Text from the bronze cross on the front of the monument:
This monument
was erected by the
State of Vermont
to designate the position of
the
10th Vermont Infantry
during the battle fought here
on the ninth day of July 1864
to save Washington, “and we saved it.”
Seven companies occupied the Washington
Pike, while three companies occupied
the Buckeystown
Road opposite the
Thomas House.
1915
Location of the monument
The monument to the 10th Vermont Infantry is on the corner of Araby Church Road and Baker Valley Road. From the Nationa Park Visitor Center take the Urbana Pike south 0.9 mile, turn soutwest on Araby Church Road 0.45 mile to the intersection with Baker Valley Road; the monument is on the northwest corner of the intersection. (39°21’37.4″N 77°23’14.1″W)