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Securing the Capital

In 1861, Washington DC, the capital of the United States, or at least those states remaining in the Union, lay in a precarious strategic circumstance. This capital was in the south (below the Mason-Dixon line) and southern states were progressively seceding. Whether Maryland would remain loyal to the Union cause was not clear. If Maryland seceded and became militarily active in the Confederate cause, Washington would be surrounded by hostile territory and be untenable to hold for the Union. The Union cause might lose its capital at the outset of this conflict. The first hostilities showed in Baltimore where secessionist crowds openly defied Union government authority, street fighting with troops and closing rail and telegraph links between Washington and points north and west. As all practical rail and telegraph connections ran through Baltimore, Washington was isolated by lack of this main transportation mode and by quick communication. A first move for Union forces was the military seizure and occupation of Baltimore to open these rail and telegraph lines and to assert control over the most fervid secessionist hot spot of the state. For this move, the new Lincoln administration declared military law and suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus, enabling the quick summary arrest of secessionist leaders. Opening the rail lines brought a flood of reinforcements to Washington. And controlling Baltimore largely subverted overt secessionism in Maryland, so officially it remained a loyal Union state.

Purpose of the Expedition

With the capital reinforced and apparently secure in its territorial connection to other northern states, the matter of assuring its safety could be pursued. The next desirable area to secure lay to the northwest. This was the parts of Maryland adjacent to Washington, and especially those astride the National Road and the C&O canal, which were the major non-rail transportation connection between Washington and all points west in the country. In addition to this desirable westward connection, this road could also be a ready invasion route (as Jubal Early's Confederate army subsequently proved in 1864). So the best defensive recourse for the capital city amounted to an offensive campaign to control the nearby countryside. Further incentive came from doubtful loyalty of this same area, as it was known for southern sympathies. Any trouble arising from this could also be nipped in the bud.

Troops Arrive

Therefore, the "Rockville Expedition" was ordered by Secretary of War, Winfield Scott to secure the Maryland environs of the capital to the northwest and assure road and canal functioning. A large military force marched from Washington on June 10, 1861 with Rockville as its first objective. The Union forces arrived the next day and occupied the town. They a military camp on the open spaces of the fairgrounds just south of town (today the Richard Montgomery High School fields). This camp was subsequently named "Camp Lincoln" and essentially was used by Union troops for the duration of the war. As the county seat and being centrally located at the hub of connecting roads, Rockville was established as the command post for this force which broke into detachments that proceeded to occupy the rest of Montgomery County over the next month. Particular attention was given to covering the various fords across the Potomac and protecting and repairing the C&O canal. Here some skirmishing occurred with mostly irregular Confederate forces intent on disrupting the same and pushing back Union outposts from ready access to their territory across the river. With nearer areas secured, these troops continued to expand along the river eventually reaching Harpers Ferry and then Martinsburg, West Virginia. While the expedition officially ended on July 7, the presence of Union troops in Rockville and throughout Montgomery County was set for the duration of the war by this initiative.