Local Research Report

In preparation for the 140th anniversary commemoration (in 2003) of JEB Stuart's visit to Rockville (in 1863), Peerless Member, Beth Rodgers prepared the following report.  She is a descendant of the Dawson family.  Lawrence Dawson was one of the Unionist citizens of town, arrested by Confederates on that day.  One aspect here is who were the citizens in Rockville in 1863, and what were their loyalties for the war.

 

Research Report

Author: Beth Rodgers

The tension in Rockville was increasing as both the Union and Confederate forces prepared for battle in Gettysburg at the end of June 1863. Confederate troops, invigorated by their victory in Chancellorsville, were heading north and cavalry skirmishes occurred frequently. As prominent families fled Washington with their servants, carriages were stopped and trunks were searched due to heightened suspicions. Relationships between neighbors on opposing sides were growing strained.

Recent heavy rains had ended the drought and raised the level of the Potomac by two feet when General J.E.B. Stuart decided cross to cross at Rowser´s Ford near Edward´s Ferry. No moon illuminated the night as the horses followed single file in water that covered their saddles. The Cavalrymen carried the ammunition by hand and dragged supplies up slippery slopes while careful not to alert the neighbors. According to Major Henry McClellan, "No more difficult achievement was accomplished by the cavalry during the war," as eight thousand troops arrived in Montgomery County. (McClellan324)

General Stuart had received his orders from Robert E. Lee a few days earlier to join the Confederate forces near York, Pennsylvania while keeping an eye on General Hooker (who was replaced on June 28 by Meade as commander of the Army of the Potomac). In Centreville, Virginia, Stuart discovered Hancock´s Federal forces following the road he had intended to take so the eastern crossing was necessary to avoid detection, but his messenger never reached Lee with that information. Stuart had sent an advance brigade under Wade Hampton which captured a small Union force in Poolesville before arriving in Rockville early in the morning of June 28 with the intent of destroying the telegraph lines which connected Washington D.C. with the Federal forces. The advance guard of Fitz Lee´s brigade encountered some members of the second New York Cavalry, but they quickly retreated and Rockville was then secured by Confederate forces.

As they prepared for church the townspeople of Rockville noticed a wagon train with a Federal guard moving from Washington. While some troops spread out at the Spates Farm, JEB Stuart halted his cavalry detachment and entered Elijah Prettyman´s house on Jefferson Street. Stuart was admiring the youngest child when he learned of a wagon train carrying Union supplies down the Rockville Pike. The wagons were attempting to return to Washington when Lieutenant Thomas Lee of the 2nd South Carolina under Wade Hampton took possession of 125 wagons which stretched eight miles from Bethesda to Rockville. Many more broken wagons were burned as Chambliss showed up with the third brigade. (McClellan325)

Some of the first Rebel troops in Rockville went directly to the house of John and Dora Higgins, merchants and Unionists in Rockville. As they became distracted with the wagon train Dora had the opportunity to warn her husband as well as Judge Richard Johns Bowie and Lawrence Dawson, commissioner of the Union draft, to remain in Christ Episcopal Church and even bury $1300 from Higgins and Bowie. While they hid, 400 other people were captured including Mr. Bailey the postmaster and Mr. Moulden who was appointed provost marshal after President Lincoln used his war powers to suspend due process. Captain John Vinson was taken although he was reportedly too ill to stand alone. Eblen, a young Union soldier who was nursed back to health by Dora Higgins, was also taken prisoner. George Peter, a staunch Confederate and neighbor of the Higgins, argued for fair treatment. Captain James C. Duane, chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac, was also captured. He later reported that JEB Stuart had bragged to him, "But for his jaded horses - he would have marched down the 7 Street Road - and took Abe and the Cabinet prisoners." All of the prisoners from Rockville were paroled that night or the next day. They had to walk home without food or water. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Moulden carried Eblen. Two black men were shot and killed when they tried to get water while crossing a stream.

JEB Stuart, in hindsight, may have seized on the wrong opportunity. He reached Gettysburg Pennsylvania on July 2 and arrived too late to be of much use to the Confederates who lost the battle. If he had not stopped in Rockville, could the battle and ultimately the war have ended differently?

 

Unionists

Black Citizens

Confederates

Others