Burkittsville walking tour

Click here for a downloadable map of the walking tour

Often described as a time capsule of the 19th century, the agricultural village of Burkittsville became the focus of a pivotal battle of the War Between the States in the late summer of 1862. Hidden away in its remote corner of the Catoctin Valley, it can be said that the towns role in this engagement largely placed it on the map, an obscure site made famous by the event of national upheaval.

Nearly 30,000 Union and Confederate troops passed through town during the 1862 Maryland Campaign and another 100,000 during the campaigns of 1863 and 1864, marching to and from Cramptons Gap in South Mountain. During the Battle for Cramptons Gap, its houses were shelled, used for cover, and were finally converted to field hospitals by surgeons of the victorious Union Sixth Army Corps. Most of its wartime homes are still standing.

Structures listed are well-documented examples of the battles impact, each a tale of endurance under extreme adversity. All are situated along Main Street. These structures appear much today as they did in 1862, offering a virtually untouched wartime townscape and adjoining farm fields.

Main Street was used as a battle conduit by the entire Second Division, Sixth Corps brigades of W.T.H. Brooks, W.S. Hancock and W.H. Irwin.

1. David Arnold House & Farm
David Arnolds "Gavers Recovery" farm dominates the west entrance to town. The original portion of the house was built in 1798. A substantial two-story addition was built in 1873. Arnolds property was used to deploy Gen. William T.H. Brooks Vermont Brigade. They charged the Confederate battle line through the field beyond. At the same time Arnolds northern fields were the scene of a charge by the First New Jersey Brigade of Col. Alfred T.A. Torbert.

2. Resurrection German Reformed Church (1829-30)
It served as Sixth Corps Hospital "D" until January 1863. Mostly Union wounded were treated here filling the church to capacity. Confederate wounded were laid out overnight in the front yard, many of whom were moved the next day to homes of local Southern sympathizers.

3. German Reformed Parsonage
This three-story frame building of unknown date most likely served as Hospital "C", taking the patient overflow from the Reformed Church, though records do not exist. It may have furnished more private quarters for treatment of wounded officers. The parsonage was torn down in the 1960s to make way for the parking lot situated between the churches.

4. St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church (1859)
Saint Pauls steeple was a town landmark mentioned by soldiers after the battle. This church too was given over to the treatment of Federal wounded, probably as Hospital "B". Adjacent to the church on its east side stands the Burkittsville School, now Saint Pauls dining hall.

5. Union Cemetery
Henry Burkitt, the town namesake, donated the land for this burial ground in 1831. The name derives from joint use by Reformed and Lutheran congregations. Confederate patients treated in the two churches who died of wounds were temporarily buried here, in the older section nearest Middletown Road (Md. Rt. 17) immediately behind the Reformed Church. They were removed in 1868. From the cemeterys summit one has an excellent view of the upper Catoctin Valley and Burkitts Ravine through which troops of the First Div. Sixth Corps, advanced undetected toward the mountains.

6.Dr. John E. Garrott House
Both home and office to Doctor Garrott, this house undoubtedly sheltered many wounded. Dr. Geo. Stevens, 77th New York Inf., assisted Dr. Garrott at the church next door where they found the surgeons had gone to bed leaving a sea of wounded Federal soldiers. the two labored far into early Monday morning to stabilize the wounded.

7. Dr. Tilghman Biser House
There is no evidence that Doctor Biser assisted army surgeons. Living with him was his nephew, Lewis Lamar who was reading medicine with Dr. Biser in preparation for medical school. Lewis was a distant cousin to tow high-ranking Confederate officers that were mortally wounded at Cramptons Gap, Col. John B.Lamar (aide to Gen. Howell Cobb) and Lt. Col. Jefferson M. Lamar (commanding the Cobb Legion).Lewis Lamar was apparently unaware of the two cousins death that occurred so near to his residence.

8.Dr. John D. Garrott House (Original Burkitt House)
By 1862, John D. Garrott, father of Dr. John E. Garrott had retired from medical practice to devote his time to cultivating "Friends Good Will" farm. Garrotts farm on the north side of town was the principal approach for Union troops moving on Cramptons Gap.

9. Otho F. Harley House (Built circa 1849)
This was home to the grandson of town founder Joshua Harley. In 1824 the town was known as "Harleys Store" or "Harleys Post Office". It changed to Burkittsville after Harleys death in 1828. Otho Harleys residence marks the battles start when officers of the 96th Pennsylvania, while under shell fire from Brownsville Pass,summoned Harley from hiding to learn where the Rebel battle line was located.The 96th took position on Distillery Lane opposite the house.

Click here for a downloadable map of the walking tour


[scroll up] [scroll down] Click here for a downloadable map of the walking tour Often described as a time capsule of the 19th century, the agricultural village of Burkittsville became the focus of a pivotal battle of the War Between the States in the late summer of 1862. Hidden away in its remote corner of the Catoctin Valley, it can be said that the towns role in this engagement largely placed it on the map, an obscure site made famous by the event of national upheaval. Nearly 30,000 Union and Confederate troops passed through town during the 1862 Maryland Campaign and another 100,000 during the campaigns of 1863 and 1864, marching to and from Cramptons Gap in South Mountain. During the Battle for Cramptons Gap, its houses were shelled, used for cover, and were finally converted to field hospitals by surgeons of the victorious Union Sixth Army Corps. Most of its wartime homes are still standing. Structures listed are well-documented examples of the battles impact, each a tale of endurance under extreme adversity. All are situated along Main Street. These structures appear much today as they did in 1862, offering a virtually untouched wartime townscape and adjoining farm fields. Main Street was used as a battle conduit by the entire Second Division, Sixth Corps brigades of W.T.H. Brooks, W.S. Hancock and W.H. Irwin. 1. David Arnold House & Farm David Arnolds "Gavers Recovery" farm dominates the west entrance to town. The original portion of the house was built in 1798. A substantial two-story addition was built in 1873. Arnolds property was used to deploy Gen. William T.H. Brooks Vermont Brigade. They charged the Confederate battle line through the field beyond. At the same time Arnolds northern fields were the scene of a charge by the First New Jersey Brigade of Col. Alfred T.A. Torbert. 2. Resurrection German Reformed Church (1829-30) It served as Sixth Corps Hospital "D" until January 1863. Mostly Union wounded were treated here filling the church to capacity. Confederate wounded were laid out overnight in the front yard, many of whom were moved the next day to homes of local Southern sympathizers. 3. German Reformed Parsonage This three-story frame building of unknown date most likely served as Hospital "C", taking the patient overflow from the Reformed Church, though records do not exist. It may have furnished more private quarters for treatment of wounded officers. The parsonage was torn down in the 1960s to make way for the parking lot situated between the churches. 4. St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church (1859) Saint Pauls steeple was a town landmark mentioned by soldiers after the battle. This church too was given over to the treatment of Federal wounded, probably as Hospital "B". Adjacent to the church on its east side stands the Burkittsville School, now Saint Pauls dining hall. 5. Union Cemetery Henry Burkitt, the town namesake, donated the land for this burial ground in 1831. The name derives from joint use by Reformed and Lutheran congregations. Confederate patients treated in the two churches who died of wounds were temporarily buried here, in the older section nearest Middletown Road (Md. Rt. 17) immediately behind the Reformed Church. They were removed in 1868. From the cemeterys summit one has an excellent view of the upper Catoctin Valley and Burkitts Ravine through which troops of the First Div. Sixth Corps, advanced undetected toward the mountains. 6.Dr. John E. Garrott House Both home and office to Doctor Garrott, this house undoubtedly sheltered many wounded. Dr. Geo. Stevens, 77th New York Inf., assisted Dr. Garrott at the church next door where they found the surgeons had gone to bed leaving a sea of wounded Federal soldiers. the two labored far into early Monday morning to stabilize the wounded. 7. Dr. Tilghman Biser House There is no evidence that Doctor Biser assisted army surgeons. Living with him was his nephew, Lewis Lamar who was reading medicine with Dr. Biser in preparation for medical school. Lewis was a distant cousin to tow high-ranking Confederate officers that were mortally wounded at Cramptons Gap, Col. John B.Lamar (aide to Gen. Howell Cobb) and Lt. Col. Jefferson M. Lamar (commanding the Cobb Legion).Lewis Lamar was apparently unaware of the two cousins death that occurred so near to his residence. 8.Dr. John D. Garrott House (Original Burkitt House) By 1862, John D. Garrott, father of Dr. John E. Garrott had retired from medical practice to devote his time to cultivating "Friends Good Will" farm. Garrotts farm on the north side of town was the principal approach for Union troops moving on Cramptons Gap. 9. Otho F. Harley House (Built circa 1849) This was home to the grandson of town founder Joshua Harley. In 1824 the town was known as "Harleys Store" or "Harleys Post Office". It changed to Burkittsville after Harleys death in 1828. Otho Harleys residence marks the battles start when officers of the 96th Pennsylvania, while under shell fire from Brownsville Pass,summoned Harley from hiding to learn where the Rebel battle line was located.The 96th took position on Distillery Lane opposite the house. Click here for a downloadable map of the walking tour