Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-22
REBELS DESTROYING THE c. AND O. CANAL.

Baltimore. This all appears to have been very
easy. but as q matter of fact Early was met in
most spirited manner and had hard fight
for his success.
Wallace furnishes us with a complete story
Of the battle, disagrceing. however in many
particulars with the confederate reports. lie
says the enemy forced crossing about n mile
below Ricketts, left, paying no attention to the
Union skIrmishers. Until 1890 nothing more
serious than some pretty warm diminishing
occurred, Early plainly demonstrating his
superiority in artillery. Col Brown at the
Baltimore pike stone bridge was warmly
assailed, but held his ground. Wallace changed
front with Ricketts, toward the south, as soon
as he learned of the rebel crossing below rest
ing his right On the river. This subjected
Rlcketts to heavy eufilading fire from across
the river. Gordon soon advanced in a long
line which greatly overapped and threatened
to envelop Ricketts,. compelling Wallace to
bring up all his reserves In this Wallace is
confirmed by his subordlnates but it is worthy
of note that Gordon asserts on tho other hand
that his lines were overlapped by the federals.
Wallace claims that Gordon's first attack was
repulscd and driven back by Ricketts, early in
the day. but Gordon reports no such disaster,
and am inclined to think this part OF Wallace's
report refers to q repulse of McCausand's
cavalry. Gordon says that his advance did not
occur until late III the afternoon; in fact he
was not ordered across the river until $50
p. IN. 1t is possible that he may have been
temporarily repuIsed once twice IN his
earlier efforts to break Ricketts, line 1t is
quite clear, however, from the reports OF both
sides that the veterans OF the old sixth corps
behaved magnihcently under a terrific eu6lad-
ing fire of shot and shell. About o'clock
Gordon made fual assault all along the line,
SO he says, and after fierce and continuous
struggle, lasting an hour, forced Ricketts, back.
Gen. Wallace says the reckless charges of the
enemy were only justified on the superstition
that they were attacking militia.
RETIRING FROM THE FIELD.
About the time Gordon was advancing TO his
last attack Wallace states that he had issued
orders for Ricketts, to retire, which were exc
cuscd with extraordinary GOODNESS and courage
One of the brigade commanders. however saws
there was considerable confusion at the rail-
road crossing. These citations will show how
difficult 1t is to reconcile the statements of the
Union and confederate reports of this affair
relating to time and some other particulars
Col. Brown had throughout courageously
maintained his hold on the Baltimore turnpike
bridge above, thus protecting Wallace's pro-
posed line of retreat resisting several serious
attacks. Gen. Tyler did very good work along
the river front. holding his lines until Ricketts,
had been safely withdrawn. Some of his raw
troops became shaky toward the last quite q
number taking to the woods. but the main
body retired in good order, following after
Ricketts,. The brunt Of the battle was borne
by Ricketts,, whose division sustained the bulk
OF the losses. These losses as well as those of
Gordon bear incontestable evidence to the
sinbbornness of the fight made by the federals.