In June 1864, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee sent Gen. Jubal A. Early's corps from the Richmond battlefields to the Shenandoah Valley to counter Union Gen. David Hunter's army. After driving Hunter into West Virginia, Early invaded Maryland to attack Washington, D.C., draw Union troops from Richmond, and release Confederate prisoners held at Point Lookout. On July 9, Early ordered Gen. Bradley T. Johnson's cavalry brigade eastward to free the prisoners, and the next day Johnson sent Maj. Harry Gilmor's regiment to raid the Baltimore area. The same day, as Early's cannons sounded at Monocacy Junction, Frederick County native Johnson led his brigade of mounted men, many of them Marylanders, from the mountains northwest of Frederick toward Worman's Mill on the old Frederick Road, then on rapidly to Libertytown, the New Windsor road intersection, and New Windsor. There Johnson took the Stouffer house on Main Street for headquarters after recognizing Nettie Stouffer as an old classmate. His men began looting the Stouffer store but stopped when Stouffer complained to Johnson; elsewhere Confederates broke in and took clothing and food, and soldiers lingered near the hotel Louis Dielman had recently acquired, wearing looted clothing and eating. Johnson then ordered Baltimore County native Maj. Harry Gilmor forward six miles with twenty hand-picked men to capture Westminster. Union Gen. Lew Wallace delayed Early at the Battle of Monocacy, Federal reinforcements strengthened Washington's defenses, and after attacking near Fort Stevens on July 11-12, Early withdrew to the Shenandoah Valley with Federals in pursuit. Although he failed to take Washington or free the prisoners, he succeeded in diverting Federal resources.