Beyond the Battle: New Narratives at Monocacy National Battlefield

Abstract

Long recognized as the site of an important Civil War battle, considerable energy has been invested in educating the public about Monocacy National Battlefield. In the past decade, archaeologists have pursued multiple research projects at Monocacy in order to expand interpretation of the site and provide broader context for the battle. Most recently, excavations were undertaken to explore the slave village associated with an 18th- and 19th-century plantation, L’Hermitage. Though the data have not yet been fully incorporated into Monocacy’s interpretive materials, they form the basis of an alternative to the traditional battlefield narrative.