Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-12

then turned directly north, marching
down the Shenandoah valley. Gen. Lee
wrote about this time June 29) to Jeffer-
son Davis, president of the Confederate
States. In the letter he expressed great
satisfaction at Earlys decision and a
confident hope that it would materially
aid the southern cause. He thought it
would accomplish one Of three things
force Grant to attack him behind his
strong Notifications. which would result
in great loss of life and almost certain
failure; compel Grant to withdraw his
troops for the defense of Washington and
so relieve his own stress. or, call Hunter
to the citys relief and thus remove all
danger from Lynchburg.
July 5. Early crossed the Potomac
river about ten miles above Harpers Fer
ry. 1t was his intention to move from
here directly on Washington. but Gen.
Sigel was strongly intrenched on Mary
land Heights high, rocky blur over
looking Harpers Ferry and the surround
for Early to circle back of the heights
and cross the Blue Ridge mountains sew
eral miles farther north. through the
passes Of South mountain. He had now
over fifty miles from Washington. The
reader will naturally wonder why he
did not move directly on Washington
from Lynchburg, a distance of only $50
miles, instead OF Taxing tNlS ClTCullOuS
route. The reason was that the country
between Lynchburg and Washington was
almost devoid of forage. while that in
the Shenandoah valley and in the coun-
try between Harpers Ferry and Wash
ington was excellent.
Up to this time it was thought by
Grant and by those in Washington that
Early had returned to Richmond. But
he and his army had not been long in
Maryland when the true situation was
thA nv
through which they went. and spread ter
ror among the farmers and the towns
folk. Men, women and children, with
their cattle and household goods, crowded
issued orders forbidding pillage. but they
were not needed. The situation became
alarming. and President Lincoln called
on the governors of Pennsylvania. New
York and Massachusetts for volunteers
to aid in repelling the invaders. Strange
to say. even at this late date, Early S
objective point was not known. Grant
feared that he would attack Baltimore.
and sent, July &. division of the famous
9th Corps to aid Wallace in the defense
of that city.
But Wallace did not wait for the ar
rival of these troops. He was anxious
to learn definitely of Early's plans and
the strength of his army, and so. with
less than 5000 inexperienced men, he
left Baltimore and marched in the direc-
ton of Frederick The next evening.
July 8, the troops sent by Grant reached
Baltimore, and they were at once rushed
to Wallace's aid. But even with them
his force numbered less than 5000 men.
and he could hope for no more than to
delay Early and to keep the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad in repair between Balti-
more and Harpers Ferry.
Quite early in the morning of July 8
the Confederates moved out of Frederick
and, meeting the Union army on the
banks of the Monocacy river. drew up in
line of battle All day long the battle
continued, and at sunset Wallace, out
numbered five to one. retreated toward
Baltimore with footsore, battered and
half demoralized army. The expected
had happened. The Union army was de-
feated, but in their defeat they had won
what later proved to be one of the great
est victories of the war-they had de-
layed the Confederate army a whole day.
Each army lost in killed and wounded
about 100 men, and Early took large
number of prisoners. After dark that
night Early crossed the Monocacy river
and prepared to resume his march to
Washington at dawn. He made no at
tempt to pursue Wallace.
wallace defeated at Monocacy after a