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Maryland Scroll facts for kids

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Maryland Scroll
Maryland Scroll

The Maryland Scroll is a special drawing from the American Civil War. It was made on March 16, 1863. Unknown soldiers from James Breathed's Battery drew it. They drew it on a wall inside the Graffiti House in Brandy Station, Virginia.

What the Scroll Shows

The drawing has two main parts. There is a banner at the top. It looks like it is unfurling, or unrolling.

The Banner's Message

This banner says:

  • "Rifle Gun"
  • "No. 1, Stuart Horse Artillery / Breathed's Battery / On Picket - March 16, 1863"

This tells us who made the drawing and when. It also shows they were on "picket duty," which means they were on guard.

Names on the Main Scroll

The main part of the drawing is a long, vertical scroll. It lists the names of fourteen soldiers. It also includes two officers. They were Sgt. Henry Thomas and Cpl. F. Gibson.

The other soldiers listed are:

  • George W. McCabe
  • H. Hopkins
  • S. Owens
  • H. Greenwell
  • H. Wagner
  • E. Russell
  • W. Hopkins
  • F. Yates
  • A. Muth
  • B. Evans
  • H. Wickes
  • W. Evans
  • U. Haller
  • H. Boyd

The day after the scroll was drawn, these soldiers fought. They took part in the Battle of Kelly's Ford on March 17, 1863.

The Scroll's Journey

The Graffiti House was very important during the Civil War. Both Union and Confederate armies used it. It was a hospital and a meeting place.

Saving the Scroll

In 1993, the house was almost torn down. During efforts to save things from it, amazing drawings were found. These drawings, called graffiti, were on the upper floor walls. The Maryland Scroll was one of them. It was carefully removed from the wall. Then, it was placed in a private collection. This collection held many items from the Civil War.

Returning Home

People from nearby Culpeper, Virginia, wanted the scroll back. They wanted it to return to the Graffiti House. This finally happened in January 2004. The Brandy Station Foundation bought the scroll. Now, the Maryland Scroll is safe. It sits in a glass case in the house's "South Room." A photo on the wall shows where it used to be.

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