the village of Urbana he repeatedly repulsed the pursuing rebels, and in one bold charge, saber in hand, captured the battle-flag of the Seventeenth Virginia. The three regiments in Monrovia joined me at New Market and afterward served a good purpose in covering the march of the weary column, which bivouacked for the night about twelve miles from the battle-field. It would be a difficult task to say too much in praise of the veterans who made this fight. For their reputation and for the truth's sake, I wish it distinctly understood that, though the appearance of the enemy's fourth line of battle made their ultimate defeat certain, they were not whipped; on the contrary, they were fighting steadily in unbroken front when I ordered their retirement, all the shame of which, if shame there was, is mine, not theirs. The nine regiments enumerated as those participating in the action represented but 3,350 men, of whom over 1,600 were missing three days after, killed, wounded, or prisoners-lost on the field. The fact speaks for itself. Monocacy" on their flags cannot be a word of dishonor. As to General Ricketts, attention is respectfully called to the mention made of him in the telegraph report* subjoined. Every word of it is as deserved as it was bravely earned. If we had had intrenching tools in time no doubt the losses of the veterans would have been greatly lessened. Another deficiency existed in the want of ambulances and wagons, but this I designed remedying by the use of the cars. That the dead and so many of the wounded were left suffering on the field and in the hands of the enemy is justly attributable to the base desertion by the railroad agent. I will also add that my dispatches would have reached the War Office several hours sooner if the telegraph operator had remained at his post or within calling distance. My intention upon leaving the battle-field was to march the troops directly to Baltimore, which, by the concentration at Monocacy, had been left almost defenseless. Had this purpose been carried out they would have reached the city on the evening of the 10th in time to have driven off the marauders who, under Johnson, had moved by the Liberty road from Frederick City and taken post in the vicinity of Cockeysville. Such a result would very probably have saved the bridges on the Philadelphia railroad. But under an order received while en route to Ellicott's Mills, directing me to "rally my forces and make every possible effort to retard the enemy's march on Baltimore," I thought it my duty to halt Ricketts' division with the cavalry and battery at the Mills, that being the first point on the pike at which it was possible to resupply the men with rations and ammunition. In doing this, however, I was careful to leave General Ricketts trains sufficient to bring his whole force away at a moment's notice, and as soon as it was certainly known that the enemy had marched against Washington I ordered him to Baltimore. Before he arrived, however, I was temporarily superseded in the command of the troops by Major-General Ord. The evening of the 10th I returned to Baltimore, and found the city very naturally in a state of alarm, occasioned by the approach of Johnson's cavalry. Thanks, however, to the energy of Lieut. Col, S. B. Lawrence, assistant adjutant-general, and Lieut. Col. John Woolley, provost-marshal, every measure of safety had been taken that intelligence could suggest. The railroad communications north had been the subject of the former's special care. The means of defense for the city, as already remarked, were very meager, but the *See p. 191. direction of them had, as soon as intelligence of the result on the Monocacy was received, very properly been assumed by BrigadierGenerals Lockwood and Morris, whose military experience was of very great value. To the former I feel particularly grateful. Loyal citizens took up arms by the thousand, were organized, manned the works, and did soldier duty nobly. Besides the officers mentioned in my informal report of 10th of July, the following deserve similar notice for their excellent behavior in action, and the services they rendered: Lieut. Col. Lynde Catlin, assistant inspector-general; Maj. Max. V. Z. Woodhull, acting assistant adjutant-general; and Maj. James R. Ross, senior aide-decamp, all of my staff; also Capt. W. H. Wiegel, assistant adjutantgeneral to General Tyler; Capt. Adam E. King, assistant adjutantgeneral to General Ricketts; Captain Brown, First Maryland Potomac Home Brigade, and Capt. H. S. Allen, of the company serving as mounted infantry. General Ricketts has not yet forwarded his official report. When received I shall promptly transmit it to the War Office.* It will doubtless disclose many other officers properly entitled to special mention. At this time I can only speak of commandants of brigades and regiments whose names have been already given, and repeat the commendation they have won from commanding officers in many a former battle. They are of the soldiers whose skill and courage have ennobled not merely themselves, but the army they have belonged to so long. The subjoined report contains my opinion of the rebel strength forwarded by telegram the day after the battle. Information since obtained corroborates that opinion. It is now well assured that General Early attacked me with one whole corps, not less than 18,000 strong, while Breckinridge, with two divisions, remained during the battle in quiet occupancy of Frederick City. It is also certain, as one of the results, that notwithstanding the disparity of forces, the enemy was not able to move from the battle-field, in prosecution of his march upon Washington, until the next day about noon. As to the casualties, I regret that the speedy movement of some regiments of General Tyler's brigade made it impossible for him to perfect his report as he himself desired. The following table, however, embraces the returns from that officer and from General Ricketts as accurately as was possible under the circumstances: a Capt. Adam E. King, assistant adjutant-general, severely wounded. Ricketts' report not found. + See p. 191. Greatly in excess of the number reported by name. Many of the men here counted as missing probably returned to duty before the preparation of the nominal lists. Such disagreements cannot in any other way be explained. See p. 202. Aggregate. Officers. Men. Aggregate. Total. a Commanded by Capt. E, H. Leib, Fifth U. S. Cavalry. The aggregate shows a heavy loss, illustrating the obstinate valor of the command. I am satisfied, however, that the casualties of the rebels exceeded mine. To reach this conclusion one has only to make a calculation based upon the fact that the day after the battle over 400 men, too seriously wounded to be carried away, were captured in the hospital at Frederick City. Orders have been given to collect the bodies of our dead in one burial ground on the battle-field, suitable for a monument upon which I propose to write: "These men died to save the National Capital, and they did save it." Very respectfully, your obedient servant, LEW. WALLACE, Major-General, Commanding. Col. E. D. ToWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. WASHINGTON CITY, April 2, 1865. Brig. Gen. E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. SIR: In my official report of the battle of Monocacy, I omitted to make mention of the very great obligations I was under to Hon. John W. Garrett, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, for his personal exertions in forwarding to my support and assistance, promptly upon their arrival at Baltimore, the advance brigade of General Ricketts' division of troops. Please attach this so as to make it part of the report alluded to. Very respectfully, No. 64. LEW. WALLACE, Major-General, U. S. Army. ADDENDA. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. MIDDLE DEPT., 8TH ARMY CORPS, Baltimore, Md., August 19, 1864. The general commanding hereby expresses his high appreciation of the conduct of the sick and wounded officers and enlisted men who during the late threatened raid into this city by the rebels nobly volunteered to assist in its defense. For several days and nights they bravely awaited the approach of the enemy, apparently heedless of their wounds or feeble condition, in their desire to do all in their power to render service to their country. All of them deserve honorable mention, but it is not practicable to give the name of every soldier. The following-named commissioned officers and enlisted men were conspicuous for their efficiency and zeal : First Lieut. Frank P. Gross, Seventy-second Company, Second Battalion, U. S. Veteran Reserve Corps. First Lieut. V. K. Spear, Ninety-fifth Company, Second Battalion, U. S. Veteran Reserve Corps. First Lieut. Nelson Bronson, Eighty-ninth Company, Second Battalion, U. S. Veteran Reserve Corps. Second Lieut. R. J. Sutherland, One hundred and forty-third Company, Second Battalion, U. S. Veteran Reserve Corps. First Lieut. W. C. Coleman, Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. COMMANDING DETACHMENTS. First Sergt. W. W. Fitzpatrick, Company G, Fourteenth U. S. Infantry. Hospital Steward C. E. Tehon, U. S. Army. Sergt. Charles Ihle, Company E, Fifteenth New York Heavy Artillery. Private R. McDaniels, Company H, Ninth New York State Militia. Private W. T. Hosley, Company C, Second U. S. Sharpshooters. Private John L. Murray, Company A, Thirteenth Massachusetts. A copy of this order will be furnished to every soldier who volunteered to go from the hospital to the fortifications to assist in the defense of the city.. By command of Maj. Gen. L. Wallace: SAML. B. LAWRENCE, No. 7. Composition and losses of the Union forces in battle of the Mo |