The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-03
STATUE PROPOSED
TO GEN. RICKETTS,
How He and Wallace Saved
the Capital City.
MONUMENT TO BOTH HEROES
Major Shines Suggestion Regarding the
Memorial to Signify the Action Which
Fooled Early's Raid Upon the Capital
Ricketts, Brave Wife.

Major ]. H. Slime has added another
suggestion to the proposed commemora-
ton of the defence Of Washington dur
ing the civil war. Major Slime concurs in
the suggestion made by Mr.. W. II. Smith
to Senator Fairbanks for statue of Cen
Lew Wallace at Monocacy, but adds that.
rs Gen. J. B. Ricketts, shared equally the
honor OF the engagement which delayed
Early, he, too. should be remembered in
monument. Two statues, one to each
hero. would be. says Major Slime, taste
full and appropriate.
The monuments are designed to be
erected on the Monocacy battlefield where
Wallace and Ricketts, united in repelling
Early's intended invasion of Washington.
The career Of General Ricketts, is a sub
1ect upon which Major Slime appears
thoroughly posted. and upon which he is
able to discourse for hours at a time. He
recalls General (then Major) Ricketts,
conduct at the first battle OF Bull Run.
and of the romance connected with his
being wounded and captured by the
enemy
Ricketts, Heroic Wife.
When the news came that he was Sc
vereiy wounded and a prisoner OF war,
his young wife. then only twenty three
years OF age. went to General Scott and
requested pass through the Union lines
to join her husband. The excitement was
at such high state. and the undertaking
SO great. that General Scott hesitated, but
she pleaded SO hard that the general said
to her: You are a woman of good judg-
ment- l have known you from infancy,
and held you in my arms when you were
christened. l cannot we'll refuse YOU"
The pass was soon made out. and she
hastily bought light double team, and
started at once for the battlefield
The fight that saved Washington hap
pened in this wise Early made his raid
into the Shenandoah Valley with force
OF between 10000 and 10000. while Grant
lad all his troops around Petersburg.
leaving Washington practically defense
less. Sigel was at Winchester with about
10000 veterans. When Early approached
that place Sigel,I instead of trying to de-
lay him, moved off to Harpers Ferry and
then to Maryland Heights. leaving clean
road for Early.
He did. however. telegraph to HaIleck
at Washington and to Wallace. who was
In command at Baltimore. Halleck would
not believe him, ami declared that it was
only a raiding party The news got to
Grant. and he telegraphed to Hslleck that
he could send him an army corps, but
Halieck replied that 1t was not neces-
sary. and suggested that Grant might send
his dismounted cavalry To this Grant
replied that dismounted cavalry would do
no good, as 1t would take at least six
weeks to mount them. and II Washington
was threatened 1t would be lost long be-
fore that. Halleck replied that all was
safe and he need not send any troops.
Wallace Off for Monocacy.
Then 1t was that Wallace secretly left
Baltimore, taking with him no one but
a member of his staff. and went to Mo-
nocacy Junction. There he met Colonel
Clendenning with FIVE companies of the
Eighth Iowa Cavalry, who reported that
Early, with very large force. was NOV
ing on Frederick. Wallace had In all
about $500 men. when he was Joined by
a brigade of Ricketts, division of the Sixth
Corps bound for Harpers Ferry Wallace
enlisted the services of this brigade, and
during the night Ricketts, himself arrived
with his two other brigades.
Ricketts, agreed with Wallace in his |
plan for hindering Early's march on
Washington, which was to engage him |
with their joint forces at Monocacy. 1t
was reported from various sources that
Early had 10000, 1000, ~ 900 men, and
the two Union commanders determined to |
know his true force. Ricketts,. with his |
veterans, was placed to defend the bridge |
leading to this city. line of retreat be- |
ing also left open to Baltimore.
The Retreat.
The following morning Early opened the !
fight, but Ricketts, and Wallace held their |
own until about 5 o'clock in the after |
noon. when the commander at the Balti- |
more bridge notified Wallace that he |
could not hold out much longer
Ricketts, at once retired fighting Wal |
lace being said to be the last man to cross |
the bridge. Early had been delayed twen- |
ty- four hours; indeed, he did not resume |
his march toward this city until the next
making his delay thirty-six
hours.
The Confederate commander got to this
city in front of Fort Stevens garrisoned |
by only few MARINES and volunteers, |
Just as the Sixth Corps landed at the foot |
of Seventh Street and FASTENED out |
Early then abandoned his plan of captur-
inC the city. Had 1t not been for Wallace
and Ricketts, however. he would have
been here thirty-six hours sooner, when |
nothing would have prevented him from
capturing Washington. Had he accom-
plshed this. says Major Slime. the Con-
would have been recognized by
foreign Governments. and a new aspect
given to the war,