Evening star., 1936-07-05
CYBATTLESAVEDCAPITA Observation-Disclosures
MADE HISTORY FOR DISTRICT
Point of Dramatic Contact Between North and South Center
of Thrilling Events Involving Both Nation and Families
Now Known to Washington.
By John CIasett Proctor.

By John Clagen Proctor.
-IGHT1NG is bad business at
l. its best, but fighting under q
sweltering Summers sun, OF
i marching 80 miles to battle
over dusty pike, in a temperature
Of 100 degrees in the shade, would be
likely, 1t seems, to take the enthusi-
asm for combat out Of most any one,
and yet, this is what Gen. Early's
men did on July 10, just prior to
engaging in the Battle of Fort Stevens,
July IL and IL, 1864. And this march
began, too, the morning following the
Battle of Monocacy. which occurred
July 9, some say between the hours
of 2 and pm, while the Records
of the Rebellion tell us 1t occurred
between am. and $3.50 pm.
There are three principal events
that stand out above all others IN
the District of Columbia. The first
of these was the laying of the corner
stone of the District, at Jones Point,
near Alexandria, April Is, 1871. The
second was the invasion of the city
by the British, August "a, 1914, and
the third, what has been called Early's
Raid on the Capital, resulting in the
Battle Of Fort Stevens, and for once,
in this latter instance, Gen. Grant
came within an eyelaSh of making a
colossal and critical miscalculation,
the extent of which might have lost
the war. Indeed, only Lew Wallace.
and contributing fortunate circum-
stances, saved the Nations Capital,
upon that occasion, from capture
and probably its obstruction by the
invading Confederate forces.
IT HAS been 70 years since the
Battle of the Monocacy took place,
and few visitors to that part OF Fred
erick County, Md, where this en-
gagement occurred, have any knowl-
edge of the sacred ground over which
they tread-precious to those OF the
North, equally precious to those OF
the South, but hallowed by all. for
here, and in the cemeteries hereabout
sleep the $50 men who died fighting
for what they thought was right.
However, there are so many con-
flicting statements as to the casualties
at this battle and at Fort Stevens
which took place a few days later,
that the figures do not always agree
The Union Army is said to have LOST
100 in killed, $50 wounded and tc
have lost 700 prisoners, while the
Confederate loss was $50 killed, CSC
wounded The greater loss, sustained
by the Confederate forces, was due
to the fact that they were the at
tacking party. One writer calls at
tention to a statement made, that a
one time there was stone in Mount
Olivet Cemetery, in Frederick, Md.
upon which were inscribed words tc
the effect that 408 Confederate SOL
diers, who gave their lives in the
Battle of Monocacy, were buried there
Perhaps the greatest point OF inter
est attached to this battle is that II
undoubtedly saved Washington from
being captured, and Gen. Lew Wal
lace is certainly entitled to the larges
share of credit in holding Gen. Early
back long enough to allow for the
arrival of Federal troops adequately tt
man the forts to the north of Wash
lngton, particularly Fort stevens
where the main attack was later made
That every available soldier was sent
to Grant at Richmond is a known
fact, and that this course was taken
at that generals demand is also
known, though it was not altogether
according to Lincoln's best judgment,
and he only gave his consent when he
was assured by his ranking general
that he would keep steamers with
banked fires in readiness to move
troops from City Point, $50 miles from
Washington, in case there was an at
tempt on the Capital, and as it trans
pired, they just arrived in the nick
of time-due solely to Wallace, who,
with a greatly inferior force, held
back Jubal Early, otherwise Grant
could not have effectively made good
his promise.
. WALLACE had at the Monocacy,
wv all told, about $500 troops,
which included the $500 men under
/ him before he was reinforced by
I Ricketts, and the Sd Division of the
, 9Th Army Corps. The latter, we are
told, was not supposed to report to
Wallace, but had orders to report else
where, and heSitated to take instruc-
tions from him until made acquainted
with the reasons why Wallace would
risk fight with knowingly superior
force, the exact number of which was
not known and which there could be
no prospect Of defeating.
To Ricketts, inquiry for reasons,
Wallace said; First, I want to know
for sure whether he is on his way
to Washington or Baltimore. Second,
I want to push aside the curtain Of
mystery as to his numbers. Here he
has marched all the way from Lynch
burg and no one knows what his
forces consist of. Third, if Early's
objective is Washington, want to
'detain him here SO or 40 hours. That
will give Gen. Grant ample time to
get corps or two into Washington
and make it safe. Gen. Grant is the
only hope and we must give him notice
and time" Whereupon Ricketts, agreed
to stay and asked for orders.
Jpn this occasion Early levied a
tribute Of 100000 upon Frederick in
retaliation, he said. for the devastation
of the Shenandoah Valley by the Fed
eral forces, and the money was raised
and turned over within a few hours.
He also exacted $4,000 from Hagers-
town, and on July 80 Ear Us cavalry,
under Gen. John McCausland. upon
failure to receive 100000 in gold,
burned Chambersburg, Pa.
While all this was going on, the
people of Washington were quite in
the dark as to the approach Of the
confederates, who were then so close
: at hand, and 1t was not until the
first edition of The Star was published,
On. July II, that they realized the
Imminent danger, This is The Stars