Second Battle of Hagerstown: Custer Captures the Town

History: Six days after the Federals had failed to seize Hagerstown, when they pursued the Confederate army retreating to Virginia, they made another attempt. The mission was assigned to Gen. George Armstrong Custer. His Michigan cavalry brigade scattered and captured stunned Confederates, seized nearly 100 prisoners, and set free almost 40 Federal soldiers. Gen. Oliver O. Howard climbed into a church steeple and viewed extensive Confederate fortifications west and south of town. Though the town was now held by the Union, difficult days remained ahead.

More to Explore: While in Hagerstown, expand your horizons and explore fine art, history, architecture and culture. The Jonathan Hager House offers guided tours of the early 18th-century home, built from uncut fieldstones and styled in the German tradition. The home is completely outfitted with authentic furnishings of the period. The Miller House Home & Garden is a federal-style brick townhouse in the downtown that dates to 1825 and was home to a Civil War surgeon's physician son. The Washington County Museum of Fine Art holds a collection of 6,000 objects, paintings, sculpture and decorative arts focusing on 19th century and early 20th century American Art.

Photo Credits:

1. "Hagerstown in 1867." Courtesy of the Washington County Historical Society.
2. "Photograph of Union General George A. Custer." Photo courtesy of Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.