The Washington herald., 1914-07-15

iantry ana cavalry NuiSh fiiau AoAAcH
back from before Washington on the
night of July y, was resting at Leesburg.
Va, thirty miles from the National
Capital. having safely crossed the Poto-
mac with the plunder of its raid into
Virginia.
Early was headed for Smokers Gap.
in the Blue Ridge range. by which he
purposed passing into the Shenandoah
Valley, but he was In no hurry, since
the Federals In pursuit OF him halted
on the other side Of the Potomac.
Early's exploits In his Maryland raid
| and his appearance before Washington
| had been OF a character to alarm the
North and add to the prestige of the
Confederate army. He had marched his
command more than 800 miles from near
| Richmond. via Lynchburg, and up the
Shenandoah Valley. to reach Maryland;
had passed the Federal stronghold at
Harpers Ferry: had defeated Federal
| force (under Gen Lew Wallace) at Mo-
| nocacy Junction. Nd. July 9; had nearly
succeeded in walking into Washington;
had sent his cavalry north OF Baltimore,
cutting OF that city and Washington
| from rafl and wire connection with the
North: had left a trail Of burning mills,
| storehouses and barns behind him, and
! had now escaped with great wagon
| train laden with goods taken from the
enemy, with about 1000 horses. with a
drove Of cattle estimated at 5000 head,
! and with $4,000 in cash collected as
tribute from the communities Of Hagers-
! town and Frederick.
No raid in the war had been more
productive of moral and material bene-
| nt to the Confederates. and none more
disconcerting to the Federals. Besides
| throwing Washington into a panic and
sending gold to the high-tide war pre-
MUM OF s2-S to the dollar at New York.
Early had shown that the defenses of
\ Washington though superb in their
strength. were commanded by men OF
straw. But for the timely arrival OF
troops sent from before Petersburg by
Grant, Early might have levied tribute
| of the Federal government at the door
Of the National Treasury Building.
EarIy's Long start.
The pursuit of Early was like the de-
fense that had been made against his
raid-disJointed and Ineffective. This was
\ not for want OF serious purpose and
abundant means. but rather for want Of
directing mind. Grant, to whom all
eyes were turned, and who alone. under
the President. had power 10 give orders
| to all the forces at Washington. was at
City Point. A telegraph message was
| from seven to thirteen hours reaching
! him-the nearest telegraph station being
at jamestown Island, far down the James
and a reply was as long in reaching
Washington.
To these delays was traCeabIe the first
| cause Of Early's safe retreat The next
was to be found in the situation among
the men in authority in Washington.
The President. constrained by his self
imposed resolve not to interfere with Gen.
Grant in military matters, refrained. even
at this moment OF great possibilities, to
retfff nf -ar1rs
w. HaIIeck. who served as Chief Of Staff,
knew what should be done, but would
do nothing without positive orders from
Grant Gen. II. G. Wright. commanding
the Sixth Corps. the timely arrival of
which had saved Washington. was the
abAAt soldier Of the many generals then
( in Washington. but he was serving under
| Gen. c. c. Augur. commanding the city.
Gen. Augur's authority stopped at the
| works and did not extend TO ordering a
pursuit. OF Early.
! In these distressing conditions Charles
A. Dana. Assistant Secretary Of War.
who had campaigned with Grant as the
governments representative, sought to
| keep Grant informed Of the situation.
At II 30, July u. when Early lay before
| Washington. Dana warned Grant that
there was no head" to the forces in
and near Washington. and that Il was
Grants duty to appoint one, as advice
and suggestions from you will not do"
Grant had responded by ordering that
Wright be put in command regardless
of the rank of the other generals. This
order was received at l:SO p. m. on July
! I3. having been thirteen hours on the
way. BY that time Early had eighteen
hours start on his retreat.
March of the sixth Corps.
| At AS p. m. on July II Gen. Wright
received his orders from the War De-
partment to pursue Early. In twenty
fve minutes the head OF his column was
filing out OF Fort Reno, on the north
! side of Washington, for Rockville, where
Early's rear guard OF cavalry had been
| posted.
But Wright was not ready to move with
all his force. He had about 1000 men
of his own corps. but only So Of the
! Nineteenth Corps, the whole Of which was
TO Join him. This corps had come from
| New Orleans, and receiving Grants
! orders at Fort Monroe. had proceed
! ed, still on its ocean transports, up the
! Potomac Some OF the transports had
grounded in the river.
The Nineteenth Corps was without
wagons or equipment for marching.
There was delay and confusion in out
/ fitting il. Three days were to pass be-
/
| Wright
At 5 p. m, July u, wright's cavalry,
about 80 men. under Col Charles Rus
sell Lowell jr., OF the Second Massachu-
setts, came upon Early's rear guard OF
cavalry at Rockville, ten miles from
Washington, and engaged it, losing thirty
men. killed and wounded. The enemy
slowly retired.
That night Gen. Wright's column halt
ed at Senaca Greek. eighteen miles from
| Washington. Gen. Wright reported that
in the intense heat his men struggled
badly" and that the wagons, owing to
green teams, were stretched out great
distance" in his rear. Next morning he
marched at 4:3O, and at ?. m. arrived
at Poolesville. twenty-siX miles from
! Washington, which the enemy had left
that morning. Here Gen. Wright report
| ed that the enemy had and kept twenty
! four hours the start of u.s."
Early Across Potomac.
! Early was now safely across the Po-
tomac with his infantry. numbering
about 1900 men. while his cavalry COW
! cred Whites Ford, three miles below
I optrrTTA,c cTATr