The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-13
REBEL LOSS.

LOSS.
On the Confederate side, Maj. Gen. John B.
Gordon, in his report of the battle, says: " re-
greet TO state that my loss was heavy in both
officers and men, amounting in the aggregate,
as shown by tabular report of brigade COM
manders to be 698" The estimate of the Con-
federste killed and wounded. as made from in
formation on tho Union side, amounted to
about 275 killed and 49, wounded ard left in
hospital and private houses at Frederick City,
making 10 killed aud wounded, among whom
Col. J. H. Lamar and Lieut.-Col Van Ealken-
burg of the 6lst Ga, were killed, and Lieut.
Col. Hodges 9th La, Hays Brigade, was
severely wounded and left in the hospital in
Frederick City.
The following is list of the Union officers
killed or mortaly wounded: Capt. John V.
Morris, 9Th Iii. Cav; Lieut.. Charles $. Gilbert,
9Th Ill. Cav; Capt. Henry j. Conine, 18th y. j.;
Capt. Henry w. Stults, 14th n. j.; Capt. James
W. Conover. 14th n. j.; Lieut.. James II. Ellis,
9th H. A.: Capt Alfred j. Hooker, 1O6th ". Y;
Capt. Martin J. Camberlin. 106th \. Y; Lieut..
John Kingston, 106th n. Y; Capt William A.
Hathaway, 10th Ohio; Lieut.. George o. Ne
Milen, Lient Jefferson o. McEfiilen. 10th
Ohio; Lieut.. Anthony NJ. Martin, s7th Pa;
Lieut.. Charles F. Haack, S7th Pa; Lieut.
Daniel ID. Dieterich, s7th Pa; Lieut.. John +.
Spangler. S7th Pa.
i do not propose to criticise the conduct Of.
or charge with inefficiency, any officer on the
Confederate side, but it seems to me that OPP
portunites of securing for the Southern Con-
federacy the most important results sought 20
he accomplished by their invasion into Mary
land were entirely overlooked or By the bat
tie Of Monocacy prevented. For instance, IN
the engagement on the afternoon of July
southwest Of Frederick City, our line extended
only from the Harper's Ferry road near Pros
pect Hill to the Hagerstown road, thus lesv
ing open the road leading past Prospect Hill
on the south into the Harper's Ferry road be-
youd the left of our line; and beyond our
right, the roads running from the HageTstOwD
turnpike, by way of ShOokstOwn. into the
Almshouse road to Frederick City. Neither
of these roads could be closed by us with our
small force, and had tho enemy, whilst engae-
ing US in front with infantry aud artillery.
sent body of cavalry by way of the road
passing south of Prospect Hill, they could
have pushed across the fields to the south side
of Frederick City, near Mt. Olivet Cemetery,
almost unobserved, whilst another column,
moving via the Shookstown and Almshouse
roads, could have entered the city on the
northwest, passed down Market street and
forming junction with the column entering
by the south,
COULD HAVE ATTACKED Us IN THE REAR.
Thus surrounded and cut off from reinforce
ments from Monocacy junction, our Who'll
stroyed by an attack by superior numbers
both ia front and rear. Then by prompt
movement TO Monocacy Junction they could
have defeated Gen. Tyler with his little re
serve command of less, at that time, than LOO
men. Having done this they could have
plundered the city and country, and pushing
ON with little or no opposition have taken
Washington City beyond doubt. But, again. in
stead of stopping III Hagerstown day and ID
Frederick City part of day for plumber, II they
had pressed on and attacked us on Thursday OF
Friday at Monocacy, they could then have de-
feated ms much more easily than they did; be-
cause we were not so well prepared to meet
them or reinforced as we Saturday
They could then have reached Washington
City by Saturday morning or evening. and have
captured il, as it was not now properly pre-
pared for defense till troops from the Army oil
the Potomac arrived on the Sunday evening or
Monday morning. Had they not been delayed
and badly cut up at MonOcacy, and have hur-
ried ON to Washington even on Saturday after
noon, instead of remaining at Monocacy juno
ton and roaming over the country for plumber
after the fight until Sunday, and taken the
Capital large part of the Army of the
Potomac would most likely have been called
back for its reeaptnre and defense, the Treas
ury with all its stored-up wealth would have
been in their possession, and its money would
have lifted the COnfederacy out OF much OF ITS
poverty and distress. whilst the announcement
in Europe that they had possession OF the Ma
tional Capital would have secured recognition
for the Southern Confederacy in England, and
perhaps other countries. thus giving it a place
among the nations of the world and aid that
might at least have prolonged the war and
greatly increased its cost both in money and
human life.
1t is acknowledged by those who were in it
on both sides to have been one Of the hardest
fought and most sarguinary battles of the war,
considering the numbers engaged and the short
time it lasted, and for the mOmentOus results
secured by it, one of the most important.
In the light of these facts, and what might
have followed from different handling of the
rebel forces before and during the fight. have
always felt that the Importance of the battle OF
Monocacy has never been properly recognized,