History of Western Maryland. J. Thomas Scharf
I dispatched two staff-officers in succession to ask for a brigade to use on the enemy's flank. Ascertaining, however, that a considerable length of time must elapse before these could reach me, I at once ordered Brig.-Gen. Terry to change front, with his brigade to the right, and to attack the enemy's right. This movement, promptly executed, with a simultaneous attack from the front, resulted in the dislodging of this line and the complete rout of the enemy's forces.
" The battle though short was severe. I desire in this connection to state a fact of which I was an eyewitness, and which, for its rare occurrence and the evidence it affords of the sanguinary character of the struggle, I consider worthy of official mention. One portion of the enemy's second line extended along a branch, from which he was driven, leaving many dead and wounded in the water and upon its banks. This position was in turn occupied by a portion of Evans' brigade in the attack on the enemy's third line. So profuse was the flow of blood from the killed and wounded of both these forces, that it reddened the stream for more than a hundred yards below."
Gen. Gordon's loss was heavy in both officers and men, amounting in the aggregate, as shown by reports of brigade commanders, to six hundred and ninety-eight. Among the killed were Col. J. H. Lamar, and Lieut.-Col. Von Valkenburg, both of the Sixty-first Georgia Regiment, of Evans' brigade. Lieut.-Col. Hodges, of the Ninth Louisiana Regiment, Hays' brigade, and several other regimental commanders were severely wounded. The Federal loss was about sixteen hundred killed, wounded, and missing. The retreat soon became a perfect rout, and the Confederate cavalry, pursuing closely, secured a large number of prisoners. All the Federal wounded and killed in the latter part of the action were abandoned where they fell. A great number of men, principally slightly wounded, managed to reach the train stationed at New Market, and were immediately sent to Ellicott's Mills, the Confederate cavalry following: the retreating column to nearly the same point, at which Wallace made a stand with the remnant of his force the next morning. The following official reports of the battle show the part taken in this engagement by several of the Federal commands:
Report of Capt. F. W. Alexander.
" Camp No. 21, Balto, Batty. Lt. Arty,
"Near Baltimore, July 13, 1864.
" Samuel B. Lawrence,
" A. A. Ct., 8th Army Corps:
" Sir, — In pursuance of orders, I have the honor to make the following statement regarding the fight at Frederick and the battle of Monocacy.
" At 1 a.m. Thursday, 7th, I received an order to send a section to Frederick to report to Lieut.-Col. Clendenin, Eighth Illinois Cavalry. Lieut. Leary, of the battery, reported at 4.30 a.m. with his section at Frederick to Lieut.-Col. Clendenin, and advanced at 6 a.m. along the road leading westward to Middletown, The enemy were encountered two miles this side of Middletown, and the section gradually retired towards Frederick. At 11 A of the same day I received orders to go to Lieut. Leary's assistance with another gun and ammunition. I met them at 12. .30 p.m., and with Col. Clendenin formed a line of defense on the edge of the town. The enemy opened on us with three guns about 4 p.m. About 6 p.m. we dismounted one gun, and began to silence their artillery fire. Shortly before dark Col. Gilpin,, who on his arrival had assumed command, charged and forced back the rebels, and they appeared no more that night.
" On Friday, 8th, the battery was filled by the arrival of the. remaining three pieces at 9 a.m. No engagement took place, except slight skirmishing on the Middletown road, but the battery was constantly on the move until 4 a.m. Saturday, 9th, when it returned to the Monocacy, somewhat short of ammunition, as the fire on Thursday had been continuous all day. On Saturday, 9th, at 9 a.m., I was ordered to place three guns on the hill beyond Monocacy towards Frederick, and commenced firing on the enemy as they advanced on both sides of the pike from Frederick. They soon returned with artillery, but with little effect. Finding this they proceeded around towards the left of our position, where the ground gradually rose in the distance, while on our side it sloped away. The other three guns were then placed on the hill on this side of the Monocacy, so as to meet their movement to our left. The enemy brought, as nearly as I can judge, about sixteen guns to bear on us, but, owing to the advantage of the ground, and the infantry preventing them from gaining ground to our left, where they could have commanded the battery, did but little damage, though some of their guns were of heavier caliber. (The guns of the battery are three-inch rifle.) When more guns of the enemy began to appear on our left with infantry, I moved two more guns from the bill on the right to the hill on our left. Finally, about 3 p.m., our troops made a charge, and drove them back, and they then uncovered their forces, and came on in about three lines, and forced our troops to retreat. Our ammunition almost gave out about 4 p.m., but the guns were kept in position until the order was given from Gen. Ricketts to retire by the Baltimore road. We moved out along the road at a walk, which led to the Baltimore pike, and I was ordered by Gen. Wallace at New Market to proceed along the road to Baltimore. Two of the guns were left in the rear to assist in guarding the column, though with little ammunition left, and joined the battery at Ellicott's Mills at 11 a.m., Sunday, July 10th, when I moved to Baltimore, as ordered, for ammunition and supplies. I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the officers and men of the battery, viz.: Lieut. Evans, Lieut. Leary, and Lieut. Hall. Lieut. Alexander was absent as A. A. I. General on Gen. Kenly's staff. My loss was four men wounded and five horses killed, one caisson-body (empty), and the body of the battery-wagon left behind in order to attach a twenty-four-pounder howitzer, which did not belong to the battery, to the limber. I succeeded in bringing it safely to Baltimore, as also a mountain howitzer which had been used to defend the Monocacy bridge.
"I am, sir, very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
"F. W. Alexander,
" Comdg. Balto. Battery of Light Artillery,"
Report of Brig.-Gen. E. B. Tyler.
"Headquarters First Sep. Brig., Eighth A. C,
"Relay House, Mn., July 14, 1864.
" Lieut. -Col. Samuel B. Lawrence,
"Asst. Adjt. -General:
" Colonel, — I have the honor, sir, to submit the following report of the part taken by my command in the late engagements at Frederick City and Monocacy Junction.
" On Thursday the 7th inst., Lieut.-Col. Clendenin, of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, under the immediate orders of the major-general commanding, drew the enemy from the mountains west of Frederick City, and I reinforced him with three guns of Alexander's Maryland battery and the Third Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade, Maryland Volunteers, under Col. Charles Gilpin, then at Monocacy Junction. The promptness of these troops soon brought them in front of the enemy, who were occupying a commanding position a short distance west of the city. The action soon became warm and spirited, continuing some five hours, the enemy being handsomely repulsed just as darkness came upon us. The conduct of both officers and men was brave, gallant, and creditable. Col. Gilpin and Lieut. Col. Clendenin conducted themselves in the most gallant manner, deserving great credit for their skill and efficiency from first to last. These officers speak in very high terms of the officers and men under them, and they deserve it all. The three guns of Alexander's battery were served splendidly under the command of Capt. Alexander, and I do but simple justice when I say that the officers and men are entitled to high esteem and admiration for their skill and bravery exhibited in this action.
"Receiving information that the enemy were being heavily reinforced, I went forward with the regiment, composed of companies of the One Hundred and Forty-fourth and One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio National Guard, commanded by Col. Brown, who took possession of the enemy's deserted lines soon after daylight Friday morning. The most of Friday was spent in cavalry skirmishing with the enemy, under the personal