The Confederacy’s Ice Cream Social

On July 12, 1864, the Confederate cavalry under the command of General Bradley T. Johnson rode south from Frederick, Maryland, through Baltimore County, on their way to threaten Washington, D.C. As they passed through Owings Mills, then known as Owens Mill, they stumbled upon an unexpected delight.

Owings Mills was home to an ice cream factory, a rarity in those days. As the Confederate soldiers arrived, they found the factory employees loading a shipment onto the Western Maryland Railway for delivery to Baltimore. With their rations running low, the soldiers seized the opportunity and took the shipment for themselves.

Many of Johnson’s men were from the mountains of southwest Virginia and had never seen ice cream before. The soldiers eagerly helped themselves to the frozen treat, eating it straight out of the ten-gallon freezers for breakfast or putting it in their hats to eat while riding along. Others placed the ice cream into their canteens to let it melt because it was too cold to consume directly.

The sight of the Confederate soldiers, enjoying this rare luxury, must have been a memorable one. The men used every available container—cups, pails, tin cups, and even their hats—to savor the frosty confection. This impromptu ice cream social provided a moment of joy and respite from the harsh realities of war.

On the morning of July 12th, upon receiving word that Federal reinforcements were on their way, General Johnson decided to return to Virginia. However, before leaving, his men relished this unexpected treat, creating a unique and memorable episode in the annals of Civil War history.

This event, though not widely documented, remains a fascinating story of how a simple pleasure like ice cream could bring a moment of happiness and camaraderie, even amidst the turmoil of war. The Confederacy’s Ice Cream Social is a testament to the small, human moments that punctuated the larger narrative of the Civil War.

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