Battle of Folck's Mill

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Date	August 1, 1864
Location	Allegany County, Maryland
Result	Inconclusive

Belligerents

United States (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders

Benjamin F. Kelly

John McCausland

Strength

Casualties and losses

38 total

v • d • e Early's Raid and Operations Against the B&O Railroad

Monocacy – Fort Stevens – Heaton's Crossroads – Cool Spring – Rutherford's Farm – Kernstown II – Folck's Mill – Moorefield

The Battle of Folck's Mill, also known as the Battle of Cumberland, was a small cavalry battle fought August 1, 1864, in northern Maryland, as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 during the American Civil War.

After burning Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on July 30, Confederate Generals John McCausland and Bradley T. Johnson's cavalry set out for western Maryland towards Cumberland, to disrupt the B&O Railroad and demand a ransom from the town or torch it as well. At 3 p.m on August 1 the Confederates arrived at Folck's Mill east of Cumberland. There, Union Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Kelly with three divisions of untested "100-days" troops and six pieces of artillery met the Confederate advance. As the Confederates arrived at the outskirts of town Kelly's artillery fired on the cavalry. Unsure of what he was up against and being unfamiliar with the local terrain, McCausland decided against an assault and brought up his own artillery. The gunners from both armies dueled until about 8 p.m. at which point McCausland withdrew, heading southeast to Old Town on the Potomac.

The following day the Confederated prepared to cross the Potomac and head into West Virginia but found the bridges over the C&O Canal had been burned by Col. Israel Stough and his regiment of 100-days troops. Stough deployed his force on the spit of land between the canal and river to contest the Confederate advance towards the river. After repulsing a charge of cavalry, Stough was forced to retreat across the River when the 21st Virginia successfully constructed a bridge and crossed the canal on his left flank. On the south bank of the river the Federals took cover in a blockhouse on the B&O railroad and an armored ordinance train operated by the Potomac Home Brigade that was stopped on the line. In the face of rifle and artillery fire, John R. McNulty's artillery was brought across the canal and his best gunner employed to take out the train. After firing two well placed shot, one which hit the trains boiler and one that knocked the train's gun out, the Federals abandoned the train, most fleeing into the woods in terror. Those in the blockhouse remained to contest the Confederate crossing. McCausland briefly considered an all out charge on the blockhouse, but then thought it wise to first demand its surrender. The Federals in the blockhouse agreed to the terms of surrender and the Confederates crossed the river and headed to Springfield, West Virginia where they rested until the 4th.

Although the action around Cumberland was tactically in conclusive, Kelly's stand saved the town from likely being burned and greater damage being inflicted on the railroads. The stubborn resistance of Stough at the Potomac represented the first time McCausland' force had been contested since burning Chambersburg.