The David Miller Monument

Stop 4 on the Monterey Pass Battlefield tour is the David Miller Monument. After pulling into the parking lot of the Hawley Memorial Church (located off of Charmian Road), you’ll want to walk toward the main road and walk due east down the road for a short distance. Using caution as the road is heavily used by tractor trailers and community residents. The monument stands near the hedge row on your right as you walk down the road a short distance from Hawley Memorial Church. As you walk down to see the monument look back up the hill from where you were to see where Captain Tanner deployed one cannon. As you walk along side the road, notice the landscape and how it descends very rapidly at that turn. The cannon was positioned near the sudden drop and is where the first shots of the Battle of Monterey Pass took place.

Once you get to a safe area to view the monument, here is a little history. David Miller was the formal manager of the Monterey House. At the onset of the Civil War he was in the process of building the Clermont House. As he was taken prisoner, he was held at the Monterey House. His expertise helped to guide General Kilpatrick’s cavalry during the confusing fight at Monterey Pass. This is also the area where the Clermont House once stood. The monument stands near the hedge row on your right as you walk down the road a short distance from Hawley Memorial Church. As you walk down to see the monument look back up the hill from where you were to see where Captain Tanner deployed one cannon.