Battle of Monocacy • Tour the Battlefield • Monuments & Markers • Armies
The “Gordon’s Decisive Attack” wayside marker is in the treeline bordering Interstate 270 on the east side of the National Park service road to the Worthington Farm north of Baker Valley Road. (see map below) Neither freeway nor trees were here during the battle. In 1864 there would have been an unobstructed view to the nearby Thomas farm.
From the marker:
Gordon’s Decisive Attack
3:00-4:30 p.m. July 9, 1864
So profuse was the flow of blood from the killed and wounded of both sides of these forces that it reddened the stream [on the Thomas Farm] for more than 100 yards below.
Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon
The first Confederate troops to cross the Monocacy River had been repulsed by the Federals massing across the Thomas farm. Then Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon’s infantry emerged over the crest of Brooks Hill and with rebel yells and flying banners, swept down the hill toward the farm.
Gordon ordered his three brigades to attack sequentially from right to left. Union volleys ravaged the first brigade and bloodied the second. But the third brigade and other Confederate units drove the Federals off the Thomas farm and forced them into a general retreat toward Gambrill Mill.
From the caption to the photo on the left:
Georgia’s John B. Gordon was a gallant, determined, and inspiring leader – just what the Confederates needed at the critical point in the Battle of Monocacy.
From the caption to the photo on the right:
Union Brig. Gen. James B. Ricketts moved quickly across the Thomas farm to confront Gordon’s flanking movement. The division suffered heavy losses but did stall the Confederates.
Location
The marker is on the east side of the National Park service road to the Worthington Farm about 0.2 mile north of Baker Valley Road. The gravel service road runs north from Baker Valley Road immediately west of the Interstate 270 underpass. (39°21’20.4″N 77°23’43.2″W)