More than 500 visitors are expected in Carroll County this weekend to commemorate the 141st anniversary of a Civil War battle, known locally as Corbit's Charge or the Battle of Westminster, that historians say may have changed the outcome of the war.
The event, organized by the Historical Society of Carroll County, the city of Westminster and other area groups, will include an overnight encampment, a wreath-laying ceremony and visit to a local cemetery.
The first commemorative service was held last year after residents approached the city council with ideas to observe the anniversary of the battle that took place at what is now the intersection of Washington Road and Main Street.
"We pulled together a bunch of people from the Historical Society and put on the first one last year on short notice," said Westminster Councilman Robert P. Wack, who is involved with planning. "We decided to make it an annual event, and widened the circle of people involved. It's going to be a much more elaborate affair this year."
The overnight encampment, on North Center Street, is being coordinated by the Pipe Creek Civil War Round Table. About 25 to 40 Confederate and Union re-enactors will exhibit traditional aspects of Civil War camp life such as drilling, tactics and weaponry, and will be available to answer questions and talk with visitors, said Ron Kuehne, president of the Pipe Creek group.
Barbara Lilly, executive director of the Historical Society, said citizens were concerned about how to commemorate the anniversary of a battle that may have helped turn the tide of the Civil War and caused many casualties.
"We wanted to make sure it was an appropriate tone, something that honored the sacrifice of life and limb as well as the energy and efforts of our forebears, that looked at the total picture of what took place in Westminster in 1863," Lilly said.
On the afternoon of June 29 that year, news reached the 1st Delaware Cavalry that Confederate troops were advancing on Westminster. Maj. Napoleon B. Knight was in his headquarters in a hotel away from his men, and was, by some accounts, ill or drunk when the news arrived.
Capt. Charles Corbit was encamped with Union troops where McDaniel College now stands. He led Companies C and D, comprising about 100 men, against 400 to 500 Confederate troops from Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry division of 6,000.
In a battle that lasted about 45 minutes before the remaining Union troops retreated to Baltimore, 55 percent of the 1st Delaware Cavalry were wounded, captured or killed. Those who died included 4th Virginia Cavalry Lt. John W. Murray and Lt. St. Pierre Gibson, and Pvts. William Vandergrift and Daniel Welch from the 1st Delaware Cavalry.
The brief but bloody Battle of Westminster delayed Stuart's arrival in Gettysburg, where he was to join Gen. Robert E. Lee's army. Many historians consider this a factor in the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg.
"The main mission [Stuart] had was to rendezvous with Lee, who was already in Pennsylvania with the main body of the cavalry," said Thomas LeGore, local historian and co-author of Just South of Gettysburg.
"The man that was [Lee's] ears and eyes was nowhere in the battlefield to help him out," LeGore said. "Lee always depended on Stuart to bring him information."
After Corbit's Charge, Stuart spent the night in Westminster to rest and take care of wounded soldiers. Because of that delay, he ran into the Union army in Hanover, Pa., the next day. He arrived in Gettysburg on July 2, late on the second day of fighting there.
The commemoration begins tomorrow with the encampment, which will be set up about 11 a.m., and a free showing of the movie Shenandoah in the renovated Carroll Theater at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Carroll County Arts Council.
From noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, there will be live music provided by McDaniel College's Common Ground on the Hill as well as exhibitions from regional museums and groups. At 12:30, re-enactors will break camp and march to the courthouse.
Richard M. Gibison, a descendant of a Union soldier in the Battle of Westminster, will read a proclamation on behalf of Delaware Rep. Wayne A. Smith. The keynote speaker will be LeGore.
The event will end with a wreath-laying ceremony at the graves of two Civil War soldiers at the Ascension Episcopal Church and a visit to the Westminster Cemetery, where several civilian graves were restored with the help of donors in preparation for the commemoration.
