Blackford’s Ford (Boteler’s Ford)

The ford near Shepherdstown,West Virginia, was a major crossing point on the Potomac Riverduring the Civil War, and was the scene of the 1862 Battle of Shepherdstown.

The ford near Shepherdstown, West Virginia—call Blackford’s, Boteler’s, Packhorse or Shepherdstown Ford—was originally used by Native Americans. It played an important role in colonialAmericaas a crossing point for early settlers, particularly in the Eighteenth Century. Swearingen’s Ferry, which was established in the mid-Eighteenth Century and which was acquired by John Blackford in the early Nineteenth Century, helped diminish the importance of the ford. The construction of a nearby covered turnpike bridge in 1849 put the ferry out of business.

With the arrival of the Civil War, turnpike bridges were destroyed and most ferries went out of operation for the duration of the war, which brought fords back into prominence. Botelor’s Ford was one of only four fords on the Potomac that could accommodate infantry, cavalry, artillery, and wagon trains. It was heavily used by the Confederates during their invasions of, and retreats from, Maryland. The Confederates retreated from Maryland at this ford following the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, and invaded Maryland at this point during the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign (in addition to crossing at Williamsport) and the 1864 Monocacy Campaign. FromSeptember 19–20, 1862the Battle of Shepherdstown, or Boteler’s Ford, was fought at this location. To end Union pursuit of its retreating columns, the Confederates sent a division back toward the Potomac, which swept Federal infantry across the ford and nearby mill dam to Maryland, which ended the battle. See “Battle of Shepherdstown” for details about this engagement.