The National tribune., 1888-06-21

town pike, close TO the Frederick Junction OF
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and about three
miles FROM Frederick City. But this old stone
bridge or the Baltimore pike played very i'm
portant part, for as long as it was held Wal
lace's retreat was secure, and it was held &C
COrdingly until the last moment. Gen. Grant
has done his subordinate the justice to admit
that his bold and timely stand on the MOnoc-
acy, against superior force, saved the National
Capital. 1t was impossible for Wallace or any
other General to have held the position longer
than few hours against the forces which Early
directed against him. With a fordable river
IL his front, and the necessity of extending his
lines over the wide interval between the two
pixies, it was inevitable that Wallace should
have that line pierced or his tanks turned. In
the engagement at the MoDOcacy the victory
WIS won by the movement which Gordon, Of
Early's command, carried out on the Union
Generals left flank at a point half a mile below
the bridge on the Georgetown pike
On the 5th Of July, 1861, Wallace obtained
information which led him to hasten TO the
Monocscy Greek. He found Gen. Z. B. Tyler
guarding the railway bridge with thousand
men. The fall force 1T his disposal did not ex-
coed 5000 men, many Of them Home Guards
and 100 days men. On tie night Of July 6
Wallace sent Co.. C]cnjennia with 100 cavalry
on q reconnaissance toward IidJletoTn, and q
3 rGuisu eusuCd between chat point and Fred
erick with heavy cavalry force under Gen.
Bradley I. Johnson, commanding tue rebel
advance. On the Sth brigade of Ricketts,
Division reinforced Tyler, and Wallace finding
the invaders pressing toward the Washington
pike IN heavy force, at once fell back from
Frederick To the position he had selected on
the MOnocacv.
His line covered about three miles in its full
est development, but though the greatest part
Of Ricketts, Division had now come up, it was
impossible for Wallace 10 DO more than keep
Eaily a. bay til the forces sent by Grant should
have reached Washington. The plan Of the
rebel commander was very simple: One por-
ton Of his force marched By the Baltimore pike
and made demonstrations against Tyler at the
stone bridge tAe cautcr, with heavy force CT
artillery, threatened Ricketts, at the railroad
bridge near the junction; while a Ganking
force, under Gen. John 3. Gordon, left the
Washington pike ~ the toh-gate, crossed the
1ioHocacy we'll below Waliace's left and struck
Ricketts, in fzak, rolling up his line after
struggle, Ia which lhc waters Of the Moaocacy
were dyed red witli tlogl for a hundred yards
be.o.. shc spog. The battle commenced at 8
a. IL. aad ia-.c5 Til . p ~, when the defense
Ct .le sJCIe bridge Sas "a ingushed and Rick
cts EctI-a.cd y HE B4!.iinorc pike to New
I&Fkst, his Iosr-Et being covered by three
reE.aeuts OK hicAetls's Division the 10th
OHIO. 8la Nj. a8d GstA Pa, which reached
that point aiilE the contest was over.
There are yet remaining traces Of this event
| fu. struggle. Close 10 tie covered bridge on
tas G3cors eto9a pike tie line Oh Wallace's in
f;cnchMcuts .-sy be traced foT about 100 yards
il q no-therly direction 4 number Of cannon
balls we're picked mp last Fail during the re-
building Of the railroad bridge near the juno
Ton