Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-18

" oeSs.oy eneW, suu men 70 cross the Poto-
mac at Leesburg or Harper's Ferry and
threaten Washington. This order to proceed
against Washington was afterward recalled and
1t was left to the option Of Gen. Early to move
against Washington or not Gen. Early deter.
", Tss m 70 carry ; out ais orieinal plan
ton was begun on the 18th Of June
with five days rations in the wagons and
two days rations In he hsvsrSsshH
After some destructive work ON the baltimore
the 9th Of July. At tbs Monocsey hs vaS con.
| fronted by Gen. Wallace With . email force.
battle was fought, in which, a. vas Inevitable
tne federal troops were defeated, but they %.
comphshed their purpose, which was 10 delay
the confederate advance The DELAY of twenty.
four hours there was Of inestimabls value e
| the defense of Washington.
AT Rockwell. on the 10th, there was o brisl
engagement between Early's men and detach.
ment OF Lowelrs cavalry, under Major Fry
tne latter retreating to the anfsntry picket line
TWO miles from Tenlsytown.
| APPROACHING TIE cfrY.
Of his further progress toward the Capitol
General Early says;
I'VE moved at daylight on the 18th, McCaus-
iano moving on the Georgetown pike, while the
infantry, preceded by Imboden' . cavalry, under
Col Smith, turned to the left at Rock vile % az
to reach the 7th street pike, which runs by
silver Springs into Warrington. jackson
|
| day had been very warm and the roads were ex-
| ceedlngly dusty, as there had been no rain for
several weeks. The heat during the night had
peen very oppressive and but little rest had
been obtained.
while marching the men were en- veioped in q
suffocating cloud Of dust, and many OF them
fell by the way from exhaustion. Our progress
was therefore very much impeded, but
pushed on as rapidly as possible hoping to get
INTO the fortifications around Washington be-
fore they could be mannsd. Smith drove a
small body OF cavalry before him into the
works on the 18th street pike and dismounted
ms men and depl0yed them as rkirmishers
rode ahead of the infantry ana arrived in sight
OF Fort stevens, on this road. . short time after
noon, when l discovered that the works we're
but feebly manned.
WARN RECEPTION.
"Rodes, whose division was In front, was i'm
mediateiy ordered to bring it into line ~ rap
idly as possible, throw out skirmishsrs and
move into the works if he could. NV whole
the only practicable mode of marching ON
the road we were on, and before Rodes' diyi-
sion could be brought up we saw cloud Of
dust In the rear of the works toward Washing
ton, and soon a column OF the enemy filed into
them on the right and left, and skirmishsrs
were thrown out in front, while an ARTILLERY
nre was opened on US from number OF bat
teries. This defeated our hopes of getting DOS
session Of the works by surprise and it became
necessary to reconnoiter.
"Rodes skirmishers were thrown to the
front. driving those Of the enemy to the cover
Of the works, and we proceeded to examine the
fortihcations in order to ascertain il ii were
practicable to carry them BY assault They
we're found to be exceedingly strong and con-
sisted OF what appeared to be unclosed forts
Tor heavy artillery, with tier of lower works
In front OF each piece for an immense number
OF guns, the whole being connected by curtains
with bitches In front ana streng thened by psli-
sades and abattis. The timber had been felled
within cannon range all around and left on the
ground, making a formidable obstacle, and
every possible approach was raked by artil-
lery. On the right was Rock creek running
through a deep ravine. which had been rem
dered Impassable By the Telling Of the timber
on each side, and beyond we're the works on
the Georgetown pike, which had been reported
TO be the strongest OF all On the left. as far as
the eye could reach, the works appeared to be
OF the same impregnable character The posi-
ton was naturally strong for defense, and ex-
psrience, showed what might have been ex-
Pected, that every appliance Of science and un-
limited means had been used tc render the
fortihcatIons around Washington as strong as
possible"
WHY HE MARCHED AWAY.
Gen. Early says that his men were in bad
condition and that his infantry was reduced 10
o,Voo men, not more than one-third Of whom
we're effective for service when he arrived in
sight OF the Notifications. His artillery, he
says, was defective in size and strength
The federal signal station at Soldiers Home
Kept the defense informed ss to every move he
made and he thought that the city had been
strongly reinforced from Grants army, having
taken some OF Ricketts, men and some of the
sixth corps at the Monacacy.
r, ne believed that delay would give time for
hunter TO get to Harper's Ferry and cut him
OH from the main body OF the Confederate
army. After consulting with his officers he
d deeaaed to make an assault upon the
unless some information should be
received before that time showing the
lmpracsicabillty of such a move During the
night he got word from Gen. Bradley johnson.
from near Baltimore, that two corps had
arrived In Washington from Grants army,
ana the whoie army was probably in motion
Daylight showed the parapets lined with
soldiers and Early reluctantly abandoned the
hope OF capturing Washington.
lhe force Of Early Is yariously estimated.
Inc confederate estimate is 13, 500 men. By
80, 600 men.
THE AvERrED EVIL
Within the federal lines. conscious of their
own weakness, Of the inability Of Gen. Hunter
to divert Early from his advance on Washing
ton or to get any considerable reinforcement
from elsewhere, the situation a appeared periIous
in the extreme. Picketts division. detached
from the lines before Petersburg, arrived in
time to take part in the battle Of the Monocscy
but three other divisions did not arrive until
lste-not in time to be Of service had Early
acted more promptly.
Maj Gen. McCoOk was assigned to command
OF the reserve corps near Piney branch. be-
tween Washington and Fort Stevens, where the
second District of Columbia volunteers. ninth
regiment Of veteran reserve corps and Gibbs
and Bradiey's batteries reported to him during
the night. Several additional regiments of dis.
mounted cavalry were ordered to Fort Stevens
In the morning.
Gen. Hardin. then commanding the defenses
OF Washington north of the Potomac, took no
bis headquarters at Fort Reno. There he found
the best possible distribution had been made of
the forces. Troops were at once concentrated
and the guns and rifle trenches were mounted
from Fort hearney on the right to Fort Sim
mons on the left.
THE FIoHrrS0.
Snyder's battalion of ninth New York heavy
artillery assisted in this work. Lowell second
Massachusetts, cavalry. with three souadrous of
his own cavalry and two Of the eighth Illinois.
met Early in cavalry skirmish q short dis
lance beyond the infantry picket, forced them
back on their reserve and then was himself
forced back. Some firing was done between
Fort Simmons and the confederate light ar
tillery.
Gen. McCook was in command in person at
Fort Stevens at the approach Of the enemy
July IL. The picket line In front Of Fort Stevens
was ordered to retire slowly, contestinp the
ground as they retired. The gums from Forts