Edward’s Ferry was a major crossing of the Potomac River guarded by Union troops throughout the Civil War. In October 1861 a Union unit crossed during the Battle of Ball’s Bluff but did not participate. From December 1861 to March 1862, the base of Thaddeus Lowe’s balloon operations was located here. In June 1863 the Union Army crossed here over twin pontoon bridges on the way to Gettysburg. Rebel raiders crossed here in August 1863, July 1864, and February 1865, damaging the canal and Union equipment.