The National tribune., 1898-10-27

one, and probably more and yet we Tough
them all these long hours simply obeyins
orders / shall never forget the advance o
the Confederates as they emerged from tht
woods in front of rs. We had a good view
of them, and could plainly see the fearful
odds against US Lieut.-Col Hall remarked
to me that we had hard work ahead Their
battle-fags were close together, showing they
were veteran regiments who had had theil
ranks thinned in the campaign from the Rapi
dan TO Petersburg
Over the ground stretching back from the
/ Washington road west i had often drilled
my company, and so had other Captains OF
| the regiment, during the months we lay at
Afonocacy Bridge, Md, guarding this bridge
against raiders. We knew the distances well
from practice, and every shot told.
Stubbornly we held our ground but against
hope. There came no relieving troops. The
regiments of our own brigade were being hard
pressed, and it looked as if they would turn
our left flank. We had been marching and
fighting all day the men began to show
signs of exhaustion, yet they stood like q
wall. For some unaccountable reason our
own Second Brigade had not come to our
support when most needed.
There was line held By regiments of 100
days men fresh from their homes in Ohiol,
north of our position along the east side of
the MOnocacy, and well they did their part,
or few, if any, of our brigade on the line
sonth of the railroad would have escaped
capture, wounds Or death.
Finally, as near as we can recollect, at
about 4:20 p. H., Gen. Ricketts, who had
witnessed the slaughter of his men of the
First Brigade, decided to retreat. He sent
staff officer to order us to fall back, every
man for HIMSELF. This officer did not
reach us, but was wounded; another officer
Jared no better. The third officer reached
us. The order was delivered, but 10 officer
repeated it as given; it would have been to
most of US death. Mutually we agreed to
fall back with our faces to the enemy, con-
testing the ground inch by inch as we went.
Moving back we were Joined by number
Of men or other regiments of our brigade, and
as we moved toward the stone mill we were
called upon TO surrender. We did not heed,
but moved on, trying To send rs good as we
received.
When we reached the old stone mill
(Gamble's) we made a stand, and for short
tine returned the enemy's fire with effect.
They soon forced Us from the mill. We re-
treated across the low grounds where the
Bash Creek. aad to the railroad beyond.
where. Oh the north side OF the track, slight
brcas work had been thrown up
Again we rallied, n few CT us returning
the iiie of The pursuiag Cenfedcrates. We
did not stay long here, for The discovery was
made that h2avy line of the enemy was
crossing tie railroad bridge over the Monocacy
Rive, only 4 few hundred yards away.
Again we were un2er WY. Sorae OF the
Other regiments Of our brigade had moved
directly east fioni tIieir positions in The last
line-of-battle gradually drawing toward the
Baltimore pike, TO the north cf us.
The most OF M own regiment that escaped
death, wounds or capture moved Sc-oss the
grounds of Old Camp Hooker and to the
northeast, hoping to be able 10 reach the
Baltimore pike before the rebels forced bac.,
the men Eho were So gallIntly holding the
line of the MoIocacy River, and especially
thc bridge over this river where tAe pike
crosses it.
large number barely escaped capture. L
was fortunate, in my sti1ened condition, t
reach the pike in safety. Quite number of
my regiment was captured Slowly the
troops moved on down the pike toward
Baltimore. Six miles from the battlefield a
stand was made and pursuit was ended
A sad night followed, and. the next morn
ing at roll-call only about % men out of the
800 that went into action answered to roll
call. My own 0rderly-Sergeant was killed;
ii fell to the lot of others to call the roll.
Many of the comrades with whom we had
tented, marched, bivoaaesed and fought had
gone to join The many thousands vino had
laid down their lives for coantry and flag.
How we missed them.
As near as we could learn of the losses of
the enemy we killed and wounded about
1 200 Of them, and by our stand, seemingly
hopeless and without purpose, had hindered
Early il his march To ard our Capital at
Ieast 43 hours, and no doubt this delay
allowed the First and SeebId Divisions Of
our OWN corps (Sixth) and "other troops To
reach the trenches around Washington City.
While there is little acc9unt made OF the
loss Of a few hundred men and OF the brave
stand made at aIoaocacy, Nd, July 8, 1864,
in obedience TO erieE5, yet We are not afraid
10 say, without fear of contradiction, that
the troops under Gen. Lew Wallace and his
brave suboriinatcs saved the Capital of
our Nation from capture by Early and his
veterans.