The National tribune., 1903-03-19


than any other troops under his command.
.'Inadequately manned as the fortifica-
tions (Of Washington were, they COM
PEELED, at least, concentration on the part
of the assailants, and thus gave time for
the arrival of succor" The Third Divi-
sion of the Sixth Corps, which had been
detached by way of Baltimore, contribut-
ed. mainly, to the delay of Early's forces
at the MonOcacy, and that delay proved
important in connection with the timely
arrival of the other two Sixth Corps Divi-
sions. under the command of Wright. At
the battle of the MoDocacy, July 8, the
Third Division of the Sixth Corps, under
Maj .-Gen. James B. Ricketts,, fought, prac-
tically. as an outpost force, in aid Of the
First and Second Divisions of that Corps,
at the time on the way to Washington.
Therefore it is pertinent that the part per-
formed by the Third Division should be
noted, for it had much to do connected
with the march of Early.
THE BATTLE OF THE MoNocAcY.
Maj-Gen. Lewis Wallace, who COM
manded at the battle of the Monocacy,
and fought from 8 Il. m. to 5 p. M, tele-
graphed, July 8, to Gen. HaIleck:
II am retreating a foot-sore,
battered, and half demoralized column.
You will have to use every
exertion to save Baltimore and Wash
ington. l think that the troops
of the Sixth Corps fought magnifcently.
l was totally overwhelmed by a force
from the direction Of Harper's Ferry ar
irving during the battle. Two fresh regi-
ments of the Sixth Corps are covering
my retreat. l shall try to get to Balti-
more"
Wallace reported more fully from Eli
coff'S Mills on yn1v IN RI Can Hollacly
in part as follows:
'The column Of cavalry and
artillery Of the enemy worked rapidly
around to my left and crossed the river in
face of my guard and charged confidently
upon Gen. Ricketts's Third Division,
Sixth Corps. The General changed front
and repulsed them, and charged in turn
and drove them CALAMITY. The enemy
then advanced second line. This the
the enemy placed at least two batteries
in position, so that when he made his
final charge with four lines of infantry,
about 3:3O p. m, the resistance of Rick
etts's Division was under an enfilading
fire of shell really terrific. The moment
l saw the third rebel line advance l or
dered the General to make such prepare
ton as he could and retire his command
by a country road up the river to the Bal
timore pike. This was accomplished with
an extraordinary steadiness. The men
Of the Third Division were not whipped,
but retired reluctantly under my orders.
They bore the brunt of the battle with a
GOODNESS and steadiness which, l venture
to say, has not been exceeded in any
battle during the war. Too much credit
cannot be given Gen. Ricketts, for his skill
and courage. 50 Each one of his
(the enemy four lines Of attack presented
a front greater than that of Gen. Rick
etts's Division all deployed.
81 had three objects in view: first, to
keep open, if possible, the communication
with Harper's Ferry; second, to cover the
roads to Washington and Baltimore; the
last, to make the enemy develop his
force
.'The men of the Sixth Corps reached
this place Qllicott's Mills in perfect or
der, and covered the retreat"
SPLENDID CONDUCT OF RIcKETTss DIvI.
On July 10, Maj.-G Wright, from the
headquarters Of the Sixth Corps-then at
Fort Stevens with the First and Second
report from Gen. Wallace presenting the
part taken by Ricketts, Third Division
at the Monocacy, said: "The terms in
| which Gen. Wallace commends the con
duct of Gen. Ricketts, Division is nc
more than l expected, but is so compli
mentary that / take pleasure in bring
ing it to the notice Of the military autho
rifles"
In August, 1864, Gen. Wallace made his
| report in full of the operations of his
command in the vicinity of Frederick
| Nd, which resulted inthe battle of Monoc
acy, July 8; and to that report he ap
pended his informal report, July 10. from
Ellicott's Mills. On July 5, from informa.
| ton that he had received, he viewed that
the probable detectives Of Early's forces
were reduced to Washington, Baltimore
and Maryland flights; and, as to that sit
uation. he has said:
| with an enemy north Of the
Potomac, and approaching from the west
having in view any or all the objec
| tiyes mentioned, the importance OF
the position on which l ultimate
| " gave battle cannot be over
estimated. There, within the space OF
two miles converge the pixies to Washing
ton and Baltimore. and the Baltimore ant
| Ohio Railroad;. there also Is the iroi
| bridge over the Monocacy, upon which
| depends communication 10 Harper's Fer
ry. Moreover. as defensive position fol
an army seeking to cover the cities above