Monterey Pass

This article is about the geographic location. For the Civil War military engagement, see Fight at Monterey Pass.

Monterey Pass
aliases: Monterey,[1] Monterey Gap,[2] Monterey Springs[2]
South Mountain (Monterey Pass is at the top of the photo)
Elevation	~1300 ft
Traversed by	Old Pennsylvania Route 16
Location
Location	Washington Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Range	South Mountain
Coordinates	39°44′09″N 77°28′28″W / 39.73583°N 77.47444°W / 39.73583; -77.47444Coordinates: 39°44′09″N 77°28′28″W / 39.73583°N 77.47444°W / 39.73583; -77.47444
Topo map	USGS

Monterey Pass is a mountain pass near Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, and the Mason-Dixon Line. The saddle area lies near Happel's Meadow between Monterey Peak (1,663 ft) and Clermont Crag (1627 ft). It was the site of the July 1863 Fight at Monterey Pass during the Retreat from Gettysburg.

External media
Map of area military engagements

Gettysburg Campaign

The first military engagement at Monterey Pass was on June 22, 1863. Captain Robert B. Moorman, commanding Company D of the 14th Virginia Cavalry^[3] was dispatched eastward from the area between Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and Hagerstown, Maryland, to obtain horses reportedly available from local Southern sympathizers.^[4] After the company passed through Leitersburg, Maryland,^[5] and on to Caledonia Furnace; at Monterey the company encountered Bell's Adams County Cavalry^[1] and the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry,^{[citation needed]} both temporarily based in Gettysburg. After a very brief skirmish, the Confederate troops withdrew toward Hagerstown, joining General Richard S. Ewell, who was advancing with a larger force.^[6]

Previous combat in the area included a June 21 engagement at Fairfield, and subsequent engagements prior to the Battle of Gettysburg included the first combat of Adams County, Pennsylvania, during the Civil War.^[7] (Pennsylvania militia^[8] at Fountain Dale on June 28) and at Emmitsburg, Maryland, on June 24.

In addition to the July 4–5 Fight at Monterey Pass, July 4 combat in the area included the Skirmish at Fairfield Gap, Pennsylvania,^[9] and skirmishes near Emmitsburg MD (9.4 miles east), Zora, Pennsylvania, and Waynesboro, Pennsylvania (6.5 miles west).^[6] As late as July 8, Union forces such as Company D, 10th New York Cavalry, were still in the area.^[2]

Other Monterey PA Articles
Fight at Monterey Pass
Monterey Country Club

East Cemetery Hill
Tablet 6 of 9

Army of the Potomac
July 4, 1863

First and Second Brigade, First Cavalry Division marched from
Westminster The Reserve Brigade First Cavalry Division from
Gettysburg en route to Frederick Second Brigade Second Cavalry
Division from Westminster via Emmitsburg to Monterey The Third
Brigade Second Cavalry Division from Gettysburg to Hunterstown and the
Third Cavalry Division from Gettysburg via Emmitsburg to Monterey

Fight at Monterey Gap Pennsylvania
Skirmishes at Fairfield Gap Pennsylvania and near Emmitsburg Md

References and notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Nye, Wilbur Sturtevant (1988). Here come the Rebels!. Dayton OH: Press of Morningside Bookshop. pp. 243–44. ISBN 0890290807. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Part II --Record-- of Events Vol. 41. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot Publishing Company. p. 427,458. ISBN 1-56837-342-2. "July 8. – [Marched to] near Monterey Springs [Gap]." 
3. ^ Eastern Washington Cavalry Association
4. ^ Library of Congress
5. ^ Hughes' Iron Works
6. ^ ^{a b} Emmitsburg Area Historical Society
7. ^ Heritage Tour – 2008. Lindy Bumbaugh, guide. p. 6,12. 
8. ^ Dyer, Frederick H (1994). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot Publishing Company. p. 827. 
9. ^ Army of the Potomac [tablet 6 of 9], on East Cemetery Hill of Gettysburg Battlefield: National Park Service