The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Geotrail
Monocacy National Battlefield - Thomas Farm
This cache will be archived the week of August 25 - thank you to everyone who found it! Keep an eye out for the Heritage Area's new GeoTour, launching Sept. 19, 2025 and we hope you can attend our kickoff event in Westminster, more information about the event at https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCBB7KD.
The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Geotrail was first launched in the fall of 2016 with geocaches hidden within Maryland's Carroll, Frederick, and Washington Counties. In the spring of 2021, the Geotrail was updated with five additional geocaches and an Adventure Lab.
The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area (HCWHA) is an area rich in history, covering portions of Maryland’s Carroll, Frederick and Washington Counties. It is located just below the Mason-Dixon Line, generally viewed as the dividing line between North and South, and above the Potomac River. With one foot in the north, and one foot in the south, the story of the Civil War can be told nowhere better than in this part of Maryland.
Between 1861 and 1865, the Civil War impacted every Maryland resident, many directly as a result of the war that was waged within the state’s borders. Some families faced financial ruin after troops ravaged their land. Thousands of fathers, sons and brothers became casualties of war. For enslaved Marylanders, the conflict ultimately brought about freedom as the new state constitution of November 1864 abolished slavery.
This region witnessed three major military movements during the Civil War: the Maryland (also known as Antietam) Campaign in the fall of 1862, the Gettysburg Campaign in the summer of 1863, and the march to Washington led by Jubal Early in the summer of 1864.Geocachers can visit significant sites from each of these three operations on the Heart of the Civil War GeoTrail.
The mission of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area is to promote the stewardship of our historic, cultural, and natural Civil War resources; encourage superior visitor experiences; and stimulate tourism, economic prosperity, and educational development, thereby improving the quality of life in our community for the benefit of both residents and visitors.
Geocachers who find the locations of at least 13 HCWHA caches are eligible for a free prize and may purchase a Geocoin (while supplies last of both). To record and redeem the finds, Geocachers must download a passport from the Heart of the Civil War website and record the code word from at least 13 HCWHA geocaches. Geocachers may have their passports validated in person at the Newcomer House at Antietam National Battlefield or at the Visitor Centers in Westminster or Frederick. See the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area’s website for details on Geocoin and free prize availability.
Participating in the HCWHA geotrail is fun and we hope that many people join in. However, it is not a requirement for logging your find on this cache once you find the container.
The Battle of Monocacy, fought on July 9, 1864, is remembered today as the "Battle that Saved Washington." A National Battlefield since 1934, this park, less than two miles from downtown Frederick, includes 1,647 acres of well-preserved landscapes.
The Thomas Farm’s historic brick mansion is believed to have been constructed ca. 1780, In 1860, Christian Keefer Thomas, a retired Baltimore dry goods merchant, purchased the farm and moved to Frederick County with his family in hopes of avoiding the tumult of war that had already come to Baltimore. However, his new property would soon become a battlefield.
July 9, 1864, the Thomas Farm was the site of some of the most fierce fighting during the Battle of Monocacy. Caught between the battle lines, the property was captured and recaptured by both the Union and Confederate armies several times. Confederate artillery, positioned at the nearby Worthington House, bombarded the Thomas home, targeting Union sharpshooters. The family spent the battle sheltered in their cellar and when they emerged, they found their home severely damaged. Read quotes from eyewitnesses on the battle and its aftermath on the Monocacy Battlefield website.
The Battle of Monocacy was part of the final Confederate attempt to invade the North. Earlier in the summer, Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early and his troops entered Maryland and ransomed Hagerstown, Middletown, and Frederick, collecting funds as they advanced on Washington. General Ulysses S. Grant sent Union reinforcements to guard the capitol; meanwhile, Union Major General Lew Wallace met Early’s men around Monocacy Junction. His 6,600 Union soldiers held off 15,000 Confederates for eight hours. The battle ended with a Confederate victory but the time it bought allowed Union reinforcements to man D.C. 's fortifications.
Despite the damage of the Civil War, the Thomas Farm soon became prosperous again. The farm remained in the Thomas family until 1910. It was acquired by the National Park Service in 2001 and today the Thomas House is home to the park headquarters and you can explore the farm by public trails.
The history of the Thomas Farm and the other properties on Monocacy Battlefield stretches far beyond the events of July 9, 1864: learn more here.
This cache has been approved by the National Park Service with permit 21-3.
Thanks to the following members of the Maryland Geocaching Society in placing the hides for this Geotrail Refresh: deepdish23, hunterKat, lpyankeefan, and tazscouter.