On July 29, 1864, elements of Cole's Maryland Cavalry fought Brigadier General John C. Vaughn's cavalry brigade of Early's command for three hours in the streets of Hagerstown. By late afternoon, the Marylanders retreated north to Greencastle. That evening, Confederates struck the Franklin Railroad Yards in Hagerstown's West End, broke into the shops, looted and burned the warehouses, and captured and destroyed a train filled with supplies intended for Union forces. These actions on July 29 were diversionary movements directed by Early to cover General John McCausland's raid on Chambersburg. Confederate diversions continued for the next week. On August 5, 1864, elements of General Early's command occupied Washington County and Hagerstown in the last substantial Confederate incursion north of the Potomac River.
