Evening star., 1945-07-08

NO uCtd1s O1
this progressing engagement have yet
been received here.
"The point where the fight was in
progress was in the vicinity of Rabbits
Greek Post Office, between Tennally-
town and Rockville.
Maj. Gen. Augur has returned from
a tour through the defenses of Wash
ington, on the north side of the Poto-
mac, made this morning. He found all
the works and troops defending them in
admirable condition, and ready to give
the rebels a fitting reception should
they approach within range"
Second edition, 2 o'clock pm)
Fighting on the Seventh street road.
Messengers just in report lively
skirmishing going on this morning in
the vicinity of Fort Massachusetts, (near
Clagett's place., some miles out.
'"The rebels did not show themselves
in large force then, however.
"The Rebel Force in Front of Us-Its
Strength and Purpose.
Reports concerning the numbers and
purpose of the rebel invading force are
confusingly conflicting . ="
President at the Front
THE President in the field.
"The President rode to the front in
the direction of Tennallytown at about
am. today, accompanied by Assistant
Adjt Gen. Hardie, and mounted escort.
Yesterday he paid similar visit of OBJ
servation and inspection. His presence
among our gallant troops will doubtless
do much to animate and encourage
them in the discharge of their duties"
"ARMING THE EMPLOYEES.
This morning arms were given out
to the employees of several of the de-
partments who have organized for the
defense of the city. This afternoon the
clerks of the Adjutant Generals Office
were drilling in front of Lafayette
Square fully armed and equipped.
"a number of the patients in the
hospitals, able to bear arms for
short time, have been sent out-about
$50 going from Campbell Hospital this
morning."
Early's first sight of Fort Stevens
convinced him that the works were
but feebly manned" In fact, this
opinion was justified, since the only
troops that were ready to defend Wash
ington at this time included mainly
convalescents from nearly every regi-
ment in the Army of the Potomac, a
few regulars and militia made up of
citizens and departmental employees.
However, there seemed to have been
no lack of officers, for it was facetiously
said that there were -four times as
many generals in Washington as pri-
Yates"
Why Early Failed
Here was Early's opportunity. That
he faltered and failed was fortunate for
the country, but it is probable he would
have succeeded had he taken the
chance then and there. Early's men
needed rest. He was willing to kill the
enemy but not his own soldiers. While
his army was resting the gallant 9Th
Corps was hitting only the high spots
on the Seventh Street pike, and when,
on the morning of the 18th, Early saw
through his glasses Gen. Wright's mag
nificent army manning the fort in front
of him he no doubt abandoned all in
tention of attempting to enter the
Capital.
One of the reasons assigned by some
for Early's decision not to enter Wash
ington was that his men came across
a perfectly good barrel of Bourbon
whisky in the cellar of the home of
Francis P. Blair at Silver Spring and
that they could not be induced to leave
it for fear it might spoil or evaporate
in their absence. Montgomery Blair,
then Lincoln's Postmaster General, and
Francis P's son, lived nearby and he
did not fare so well, for his home was
burned.
According to The Star of July II,
1854, it is stated that the Rebel pris-
oners brought in last night and this
morning concur in the statement that
Early's division passed through Rock
vile at daybreak yesterday morning
and that Breckinridge's followed at
9 am, other troops moving at the same
time from Rockville to the Baltimore
turnpike.
They state that the cavalry which
first made its appearance before Wash
ington was the main bodies of Bradley
T. Johnson's and Gilmore's commands.
Well-informed officers, they say, placed
the invading force at between 35 and
40 thousand men, of all branches of
arms"
A Skillful Retreat
Under the cover of darkness Gen.
Early, on the night of July II, with
drew his forces and crossed over into
Virginia at Whites Ford in Loudoun
County. The retreat was done with
skill and perfection and the Union
forces were not aware of his retreat
until he was too far away to be over
taken.
The authorities differ greatly as to
the casualties and the number of troops
engaged. However, official records give
the casualties in this engagement.
on the Union side, as killed, SO:
wounded, 319. The Confederate loss was
about 500 killed and wounded. The low
est apparent conservative estimate of
the number of troops with Gen. Early
is given as $4,000, while the general said
he had In all only about 5000 men.