The town that served as a fortress for a 'small' army

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: During the Civil War, the residents of Towson were so fiercely sympathetic to the Confederacy that the Union Army had to seize the town by force. Local papers mocked the defense as a joke, but the reality of the skirmishes shaped the town's identity for decades.

In June 1861, the Union Army moved to occupy Towson because of the local population's overt support for the Southern cause. The town's primary hub, Ady's Hotel (later the Towson Hotel), even flew the Southern flag. The Union forces seized weapons from citizens during the raid, an event the local press satirized by calling the town a 'strongly fortified and almost impregnable city' that was conquered by only 250 men.

The town saw further military activity in July 1864 during Gilmor's Raid. Confederate cavalry, led by Baltimore native Harry W. Gilmor, used Towson as an overnight encampment. Despite being outnumbered more than two to one, Gilmor's forces managed to break a federal unit and retreat toward the west. This period of conflict highlighted Towson's strategic position and the deep internal divisions of Maryland's residents during the war.

Beyond its military history, Towson's development was defined by massive land ownership and complex social structures. The Ridgely family owned one of the largest slave plantations in the country, influencing the region's unique African-American history. While the town eventually became a major residential and educational hub—hosting Towson University and the Baltimore County Courthouse—it was also shaped by racially restrictive covenants used to exclude minorities until the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

The town's administrative importance was solidified in 1854, when it was chosen by popular vote as the county seat of Baltimore County. This transition involved 'tortured' negotiations to divide assets from the city of Baltimore, including the jail and courthouse. Today, it stands as a primary center for the county's public schools and police, balancing its rural roots with its role as a major suburban corridor.

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