During the Civil War, White's Ford on the Potomac River was used by Confederate troops on three separate occasions. Lee's troops crossed here in their invasion of Maryland from September 4-7, 1862. After an abortive attack on Washington's defenses, General Jubal A. Early's II Corps returned to Virginia by this ford on July 14, 1864. Major General J.E.B. Stuart also crossed here into Virginia on October 12, 1862, after his raid to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Federal cavalry under Brigadier General Alfred Pleasonton, expecting Stuart to recross the Potomac near the mouth of the Monocacy, rushed his troops and those of Brigadier General George Stoneman to try to intercept him. Stuart was guided by Captain B.S. White of Poolesville, Maryland, to White's Ford, which was defended by 200 men of the 99th Pennsylvania Infantry under Lieutenant Colonel E.R. Biles. Colonel W.H.F. Lee bluffed them out of their strong position. Stuart was alarmed to learn that his rear guard, 400 men under Colonel Matthew C. Butler, was in danger of being left behind. After Stuart sent an aide, Captain William W. Blackford, to find Butler, his position became precarious as Stoneman and Pleasonton closed in. Major John Pelham, posted on the towpath of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal near the present Lock #26, held off the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry with one gun. Hearing Pelham's fire, Butler's troopers knew the ford was still open and raced toward it with drawn sabers, ready to cut their way out if necessary. They reached the ford with less than ten minutes to spare from certain disaster. Stuart returned to Virginia with much booty, including 5,000 small arms and 1,200 horses, while losing only two men and two horses.
