Monterey Pass is located in the southeastern
portion of Franklin, County Pennsylvania on South Mountain and is made
up of two geographical mountain peaks. Mount Dunlap is 1,760 feet
above sea level and Monterey Peak is 1,420 above sea level. The
Monterey Pass area extends into four counties and is divided by two
states along the Mason and Dixon Line. Franklin and Adams Counties
make up the Pennsylvania side while Frederick and Washington Counties
make up the Maryland side. Situated in the middle of Monterey Pass is
the community of Blue Ridge Summit.
Situated on the Maryland Line at PenMar, the scenery of
western portion of Monterey Pass has a breath taking view of the
Cumberland Valley. Seen in the background is Waynesboro, Ringgold, and Greencastle.
On the eastern side of Monterey Pass is
Pine
Mountain, Jacks Mountain and Raven Rock or Beard’s Hill as it was once
called located near Fountain Dale. You can see portions of
Harbaugh Valley, Gettysburg as well as Emmitsburg. Although being a
small community today,
Fountain Dale received its name because of the
thousands of springs that flow from the mountains near Monterey Pass
and flows into Toms Creek. Many spring houses can still be seen today.
Monterey Pass was a very important transportation
route. The Emmitsburg and Waynesboro Pike was a major road that
traveled over South Mountain and it intersected with several roads
that led into Smithsburg, Fairfield Pass, Waynesboro, Emmitsburg and
Mentzer Gap. The Emmitsburg and Waynesboro Turnpike was completed on
September 21, 1820 as part of the Waynesboro, Greencastle and
Mercersburg Turnpike Company.
Map of Military Operations
July 4th - 5th |
On the evening of July 4th, 1863, one of the
most confusing battles of the Civil War occurred during the retreat
from Gettysburg known as
the battle of Monterey Pass. General Robert
E. Lee had given the order to retreat from Gettysburg. Around 9:00
p.m. near Fountain Dale, Pa. the Union cavalry under the command of
General Kilpatrick came in contact with the Confederate 1st Maryland
cavalry under Captain George Emack, who had a small detail guarding
the approach to Monterey, re-enforced by one cannon.
Darkness set in during a blinding
rainstorm. The Confederates wearing gum blankets, were mistaken as
Union troops by Kilpatrick’s cavalry as they made their way from
Fountain Dale. Knowing that their identity was withheld, the order
came from Emack to fire the cannon. As the confusion subsided, the
Confederates charged, pushing the Federals back until they reached the
Federal artillery that was at Fountain Dale.
General Kilpatrick gained the
mountain summit of Monterey six hours later. During the battle,
General Kilpatrick sent a small force to
Fairfield
Gap, where they were beaten back by Confederate Cavalry. At the Monterey House, a
Union battery deployed and began shelling the enemy’s wagons. By 3:30
a.m. the Union Cavalry reached the road where Ewell’s wagon train was
located, capturing and destroying 9 miles worth of wagons, taking
1,360 prisoners and a large number of horses and mules as they moved
on to Rouzerville.
