The Washington herald., 1914-07-09
THE WAR DAY BY DAY 7
Fifty Years Ago.
IS64Gen ubal Ea Force of Nearly 900 COnfsderates
Marching Upon Washington Defeated Bloody Battle Much Smaller
Wallace MOnoeaey Junction. T6vs Miles
from the Capital

he Washington Herald.)
ing and food were being distributed
among Early's men. the Confederate
general summoned before him the au-
thorities OF the town. and made a demand
upon them that caused them to gasp.
II was for $500. 600 in cash. to be paid on
the spot, on penalty of the town being
laid in ashes.
Early had judged shrewdly the re-
sources of Frederick. The money was
forthcoming.
With this rich booty the Confederates
marched out OF Frederick on the road
20 Washington. The Federals. drawn up
behind the Monocacy. were ready for
them. Not all the Sixth Corps men had
arrived, but more than 1900 We're lying
near the east bank Of the river. cover
ing the wooden bridge by which the
Washington pike spanned the tide.
This was the left of the Federal line
The right was held by the untried troops
from Baltimore-under Brig Gen. F. B.
TyIer-who covered the railroad crossing
and the stone bridge of the Baltimore
pike. The line was about two and half
miles long.
Gen. Wallace thus had in position about
$500 men to meet Early's infantry. which
numbered between $500 and 1000, and
was supported by about loo Of his cav
airy, the remainder having been sent of
by distant road toward Baltimore The
disparity extended also to guns. fON Wal
lace had but six thTee-inch rifles and two
small howitzers to oppose the fine artiI-
lery carried by Early. which aggregated
forty guns. chiefly I2-pounder Napoleons
Not all these were then in the column
advancing on Wallace. but there were
enough to overwhelm the Federal guns
in a fair fight
The Federals had the advantage Of po-
sition, as the east hank of the river was
high and wooded at intervals, and the
west bank was lower and open.
FederaIs' Stabborn stand.
The Confederates opened the battle
with skirmishing about a. m The de-
termined stand of the Federals caused
Gen. Early to eNaggerate their numbers
and the forenoon was spent in artillery
fire, skirmishing. and reconnaissance.
Having learned that the river could be
foried below the Federal left. Gen Early
IN the afternoon forced the battle in that
direction. and in the face Of stubborn
resistance from Ricketts, men, threw
across FIRST Gen. John McCaUsland's cav
airy. dismounted and next Gen. John B.
Gordon's division OF infantry
The fighting now became so severe
that. according to Gen. Gordon. a run, or
brook, along which IL ragged. was red
dened with blood for 1OO yards below -
At p. m. Ricketts,. his position having
been turned, fell back, in accordance
with orders. toward the Baltimore pike
The battle now centered at the stone
bridge over this road. Here had been
posted $50 men OF the I44th and lFs:h
Ohio Regiments. under Col. Allison l.
Brown Of the latter regiment. who was
ordered to hold the bridge at all haz-
ards. to insure a means OF retreat. This
he did. fighting calamity and using the
bayonet. until Gordons men. slowly
sweeping back Ricketts, and his hard
pressed command. who continued to fight
dOggedly. reached the pike in the rear
Of the bridge. about p. m.
The time for further resistance here
had passed. and the order was given for
the Federals to save themselves. Before
they could retire the enemy was upon
them, taking many prisoners Col. Brown
escaped with about 800 men. Gen Tyler
and his staff rode into the woods and
also escaped. The road and nearby
ground were strewn with dead and
wounded
The whole of WallaCs's command was
now in rapid retreat down the road to-
ward Baltimore. GIendennin with about
$50 men held the Confederates in check
on the road until the last three regi-
ments Of Ricketts, command % arrive
were met. These. taking positions. ef-
fectually covered the rear.
Losses and Fruits of battle.
Gen. Early made no further pursuit
The road was now open to Washington.
and believing that he might by rapid
marching surprise the city he prepared
to leave the scene OF battle next morn
ing. That night the wounded were gath
cred up and sent to Frederick.
The losses OF the day on the Federal
side had been very heavy in proportion
to the numbers engaged. agGregating
about 2.oO0 men. The official returns gave
the dead as ninety nine. wounded SO and
missing l.a9o; hut burial parties two days
later reported interring lH Federal
bodies.
The loss fell heaviest on Ricketts, di-
vision OF the Sixth Corps. which out Of
$3.50 men engaged lost 1919. of whom
eiGhty-four were killed and 579 wounded.
Gen. Early reported his losses as
about ZOO killed and wounded. As 100
Of his wounded. too badly hurt to be
moved with the column were found at
Frederick. the lost must have been
greater than reported.
History often describes Wallace'S stand
at the MonocaCy as "a disastrous de-
feat" without weighing its result. Gen.
wallace's report Of the action Is one of
the finest. in the official records, having
the vividness with which only natural
writer can present facts. He describes
eloquently the bravery of his men, fight-
ing only In the hope OF delaying Early's
march upon Washington, and closes with
these words:
Orders have been given to collect the
bodies OF the dead in one burial ground
on the battlefield, suitable for a monu-
ment on which propose to write: These
men died to save the National Capital,
and they did save it,
(EarIy's arrival before Washington, too
late to take its works by surprise, will
be described July IL
lCopvrirht lqlll