Evening star., 1934-05-27

lowed, would quite likely have resulted in the
election Of Gen. Mcclellan. Increased prestige
of the Southern States. in Europe, would have
followed, and the seeding States almost GER
tainly would have been lost to the Union for
ever. The situation at least critical one.
Gen. Jubal Early knew only too well what
his capturing and burning Of Washington
would mean-more financial assistance and
more men hocdng to the support Of the Stars
and Bars, and more encouragement to the
North, then almost at the breaking point.
Early was eager, Lee was cautious and not so
optimistic and only consented to permit the
attempt to be made should 1t be found perfectly
feasible. which did not prove to be the case
when the final test came; but there are still
many people living who recall Just how fright
ened everybody in Washington was at the time,
and how every bit of news of the approaching
army was read the minute it came OF the
press.
Early undoubtedly had Washington as his
objective from the start of his campaign in the
valley and the military authorities and high
officials at the Capital were. no doubt, aware
OF his intentions. Especially was this true
after Gen. Early's successes In Western Mary
land, where he exacted a tribute Of $4,000
from Hagerstown and 10 times as much from
Frederick, and. all things considered, why
should not the attempt be made?
Early's legions were naturally intoxicated
determined to push on toward Washington.
IRON Richmond Grant sent assistance to
protect the Capital The 9th Army Corps
was divided and that part under Ricketts, joined
Lew Wallace at the Monocacy on July Q, where
the latter was instructed to retard Gen. Early.
which he did with perfection.
Figures are not always reliable, but from
,fv1rlx a,,kI, VTyoII
ALL at this engagement, $3.50 men. incidental
ly this is the same Lew Wallace who after
ward wrote that stirring masterpiece, BEN
Hur," which many of us saw at the National
Theater 80 years ago, with William Farnum in
the title role, and the same general, too who
served on the military court before whom were
tried and convicted the conspirators in the
Lincoln assassination.
Early's force at the Monocacy is estimated
at as high as 10000, but with this over
whelming force Wallace kept him there from
about am. to $3.50 pm. when the latter fell
back to cover Baltimore as he had been di-
rected to do. his reported casualties being 123
killed and 603 wounded.
The road to Washington now being open,
Gen. Early began his march on the Capital at
daylight on the morning of July TO- and some
OF his force at least reached a point four miles
north OF Rockville that same night, after
strenuous march of about 29 miles. From here,
at dawn on the morning of July II, the march
was continued to Silver Spring. where the ad-
vance arrived shortly after noon, greatly IA
tigued from the dusty roads and the unusually
warm weather then prevailing.
The Star of July II, 1864, carries this ref
erence to Gen. Early's raid
Last evening force of from 800 to 1000
rebels entered Rockville and passed through to
a point few miles this side of that village.
Hating there for a brief while, they retraced
k1avyh oIraG
for the night"
Things began to get exciting, and The Star