Читать книгу History of Western Maryland - J. Thomas Scharf - Страница 5

While the Army of the Potomac lay on the north of the Rapidan, Maj.-Gen. U. S. Grant, who had been made lieutenant-general, was assigned by President Lincoln, on the 10th of March, 1864, to the command of all the " armies of the United States." Gen. Meade was selected as his second in command of the Army of the Potomac, and to him was entrusted the execution of his plans. This portion of the army was consolidated into three corps, the Second, Fifth, and Sixth, commanded respectively by Gens. Hancock, Warren, and Sedgwick, and numbering, with Burnside's independent corps, about one hundred and forty thousand men. The Confederates under Lee numbered about sixty thousand men. By the consolidation of the Army of the Potomac on the 23rd of March, 1864, into three corps, the Maryland Brigade, under Col. N. B. Dushane, of the First Maryland Regiment, became the Third Brigade in the Second Division of the Fifth Army Corps. Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson commanded the division, and Maj.-Gen. G. K. Warren the corps. Gen. Kenly, much to the regret of his command, was assigned a district in the Middle Department. During the temporary absence of Col. Dushane (afterwards killed at the battle of Weldon Railroad) the command of the brigade devolved upon Col. Andrew W. Denison, of the Eighth Maryland Regiment.

On the 3rd of May, 1864, Gen. Meade issued an address to his army, and on the following day it left Culpeper for the Rapidan. In the evening Meade reached that tangled forest where was fought, from the 5th to the 9th, the battle of the Wilderness, the most terrible and bloody of the war. In this series of bloody engagements, fought in a mass of tangled underwood, the Maryland Brigade took a conspicuous part in Warren's corps and met with severe loss. On Sunday, the 8th of May, with its division, they charged Longstreet's command, posted in a skirt of wood at Laurel Hill, near Spottsylvania Court-House, in the face of a galling fire of musketry and a storm of both canister and shell from both front and flank. The First, Seventh, and Eighth Maryland Regiments pushed on to within fifty yards of Longstreet's intrenchments, but the terrible fire poured into their depleted ranks forced them to retire, leaving the field covered with their dead and wounded. Gen. Robinson, their division commander, was wounded in the leg, and Col. Denison, who commanded the brigade, lost his arm. The command of the brigade then devolved upon Col. Charles E. Phelps, who had succeeded Col. E. H. Webster, elected to Congress. While gallantly leading his men into action, Col. Phelps was struck down within the Confederate line and was taken prisoner, but was afterwards recaptured by Custer's cavalry. Col. Richard M. Bowerman, of the Fourth Regiment, was then assigned command of the brigade. In consequence of the disabling wound of Gen. Robinson, his division was broken up, and the various regiments, with the exception of the Maryland Brigade, were assigned to other commands. The Maryland Brigade, as a light corps, was placed under the immediate command of Gen. Warren. It was employed in various duties until the 29th of May, when the old Second Division was reorganized, and the Maryland Brigade again became the Third Brigade, Second Division, Fifth Army Corps, which it retained until the 6th of June, when it was designated the Second Brigade of the same division and corps. Brig.-Gen. R. B. Ayres was assigned to the command of the division, and the Purnell Legion, Maryland Infantry, under Col. Samuel A. Graham, was joined to the brigade. In all the various battles in which their division was engaged, from Spottsylvania Court-House to the Chickahominy, which they crossed on the 14th of June, the Maryland Brigade bore a distinguished and active part, and suffered severe loss in killed and wounded. On the 16th, moving by way of Charles City Court-House, it crossed the James at Wilcox's Landing with the Second and Fifth Corps, and proceeded towards the lines near Petersburg, where it arrived early on the morning of the 17th.

While the Maryland Brigade was thus operating with Grant in his movements against Richmond, other Maryland commands were performing active service in other sections of the country. The Sixth Maryland Regiment of Infantry, under Col. Horn, was in the Sixth Corps, under the distinguished and lamented Gen. Sedgwick; and the Second and Third Regiments, in the Ninth Corps, under Gen. Burnside, on more than one occasion proved their patriotism by their valor. At the battle of Cold Harbor the Second and Third Regiments were in all the severe engagements in which the Ninth Corps participated, and was part of the rear-guard when Grant and his army crossed the James. On the 17th of June this brigade was ordered to charge the Confederate breastworks in front of Petersburg, and the command was successfully executed. They held the breastworks until late at night, when for want of support their whole line fell back to their former position.

At early dawn on the morning of the 10th of January, 1864, Mosby's Confederate battalion of cavalry made an attack upon the camp of Maj. Cole's Maryland cavalry, on Loudon Heights, Va. They avoided the pickets, dashed into the camp with a yell, and poured a volley of bullets into the tents where the officers and men were sleeping. The following is Maj. Cole's official report of this spirited affair:

"HDQRS BATT. P. H. B. CW., MDS. VOLS.

" Lundon Heights, Va.. Jan. 10, 1864.

" Wm. M. Boone.

"Asst. Adjt.-Gen. First Division, Dept. West Virginia:

" Sir, — I have the honor of addressing you for the purpose of reporting the facts of an attempt by Maj. Mosby's battalion of guerrilla cavalry to surprise and capture my camp between the hours of three and four a.m. of this day. They studiously avoided my pickets, divided themselves into small bodies, which were speedily consolidated in sight of my camp; they then made an impetuous charge with a yell on the right of the same. In consequence of the suddenness of the same this company could offer but a feeble resistance. In the meantime Company A, the second in the line, was speedily rallied by its commanding officer, Capt. Vernon, who contested their further advance in such a sanguinary manner that formed a rallying-point for the balance of the command, who were now thoroughly aroused of the danger that threatened them, and one and all, from the officer to the private, entered into the contest with such a determined zest as led to the utter rout and discomfiture of the enemy and the signal failure of their base attempt. They experienced a loss of one captain, two lieutenants, and two privates killed, and two privates mortally wounded, and one prisoner, it was also very evident that they removed a large portion of their wounded with them in their precipitate flight, as a detachment of the command subsequently sent in pursuit found evidence of blood all along their line of retreat. I experienced a loss of four enlisted men killed and sixteen wounded. Capt. Vernon experienced a serious wound in the head, but it is the opinion of the battalion surgeon, W. R. Way, that it will not prove fatal. I am deeply indebted to the officers and men of my command for the daring displayed by them on this occasion, and earnestly commend them to the division commander for his favorable consideration.

" I have the honor to remain,

" Very respty yr. obt. servt.,

"Henry A. Cole, Major Commanding.

The following is a list of the killed and wounded of Maj. Cole's command, as shown by the report of the medical director:

" Medical Director's Office.

" Harper's Ferry, Va., Jan. 10, 1864.

" Brig.-Gen. J. C. Sullivan,

"Comdg. 1st Division, Dept. of West Virginia:

"Sir, — I have the honor to report the following list of killed and wounded in the Independent Battalion, Maryland Cavalry, Maj. Cole commanding, during an attack made on the camp on Loudon Heights, Va., by Mosby's and White's forces, at 3 a.m. of the 10th January, 1864:

" Killed. — Company B, Sergt. J. J. Kerns; Company D, Private George Burford.

" Wounded. — Company A, Capt. G. W. F. Vernon, wound of head and left eye; Ord.-Sergt. Zimmerman, flesh wound of the left leg; Private D. W. Carnes, gunshot compound fracture of right leg; Private H. F. Null, wound of abdomen; Private I. Craighton, flesh wound of left leg; Private E. Godwin, gunshot compound fracture of left leg; Private Samuel Stone, wound of abdomen.

" Company B. — Lieut. Samuel Rivers, flesh wound of left foot; Ord.-Sergt. J. C. Stouffer, flesh wound of left hip; Sergt. C. W. Ham, flesh wound of left arm; Private Samuel Rivers, gunshot compound fracture of left thigh; Private Gotlieb Foos, wound of shoulder and left lung; Private B. F. Filler, wound of right shoulder; Private A. Sosy, wound of abdomen.

" Company C. — -Private Weaver, flesh wound of left thigh.

" Company D. — Private R. Cross, wound of right hip; Henry Howard, flesh wound of right thigh.

"The above I believe to be a correct list of the casualties.

" Very respectfully,

" Your obedient servant,

" William Hayes, Surgeon U.S.V.

" Medical Director."

For the gallantry displayed by Maj. Cole and his command upon this occasion the following complimentary orders were issued:

"Headquarters of the Army,

" Washington, D. C, Jan. 20, 1864.

" Brig.-Gen. B. F. Kelley, Cumberland, Md.

" General, — I have just received through your headquarters Maj. Henry A. Cole's report of the repulse of Mosby's attack upon his camp on Loudon Heights on the 10th instant. Maj. Cole and his command, the battalion of P. H. B. Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers, deserve high praise for their gallantry in repelling this rebel assault.

" Very respectfully,

" Your obedient servant,

"H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief."

"Headquarters Department West Virginia,

" Cumberland, Md., Jan. 20, 1864.

"Respectfully transmitted to Brig.-Gen. Sullivan, commanding post:

" I take great pleasure in thus conveying to the officers and men of Maj. Cole's command this evidence of appreciation on the part of the general-in-chief of the gallantry displayed by them.

B. F. Kelley, Brigadier-General."

"Headquarters First Division, Department West

" Virginia, Harper's Ferry, Va., Jan. 26, 1864.

"Respectfully transmitted to Maj. Henry H. Cole, who will cause this communication to be read to his command. I take great pleasure in transmitting the thanks of the general-in-chief, which the command so richly deserve.

"John C. Sullivan, Brigadier-General Volunteers."

While Lee was defending his lines at Cold Harbor, Hunter was ravaging the Valley of Virginia and moving on Lynchburg, for the purpose of destroying the stores, manufactories, and railroad bridges at that place. Gen. Early, who had received orders on the 12th of June at Cold Harbor to move with two battalions of artillery and the infantry of Ewell's corps, numbering about nine thousand men, to destroy or disperse Hunter's force, arrived with his advance at Lynchburg on the 18th. In the meantime Gen. Breckenridge, who had been sent from Cold Harbor to Waynesboro' with a small force, by a forced march had arrived at the same place. Hunter with his command arrived before Lynchburg; on the 18th of June, and made a slight attack on Early's lines, which was repulsed. Fearing that he would be cut off from his base, Hunter rapidly retreated during the night, closely pursued in the morning by Early and Breckenridge. He continued retreating across the mountains towards Charlestown, Kanawha, leaving Washington exposed. Lee, seeing the opportunity to make an attempt on the capital, and believing that such a demonstration might lead to the raising of the siege of Petersburg, telegraphed to Early whether, in his judgment, the condition of his troops would permit such a movement across the Potomac. Gen. Early determined to make the attempt, and immediately set about to carry out his plans. With a force of about twelve thousand men in rags, and many shoeless, he moved down the valley on the 28th of June from Staunton, and in spite of the intense heat and almost intolerable dust, advanced by forced march about twenty-five miles a day. He reached Winchester on the 2nd of July, and on the 3rd, dividing his force into two columns, he sent one under Breckenridge to drive Sigel out of Martinsburg, and with the other marched to drive Mulligan out of Leestown. Both columns were successful. Sigel retreated across the Potomac at Shepherdstown. Col. Bradley T. Johnson, who had been promoted to brigadier-general of cavalry, and assigned to the cavalry brigade of W. E. Jones, who was killed at New Hope, led the advance of Early's command, encountered Mulligan's advance, and after a severe fight drove them out of Leestown with loss. Gen. Weber, in command at Harper's Ferry, evacuated the town, and after destroying the bridges over the Potomac, retired to Maryland Heights. Early destroyed the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and boats along his line from Shepherdstown to Harper's Ferry.

On the 5th of July, Gen. Johnson with his cavalry crossed the Potomac at Sharpsburg, part going to Hagerstown and part to Boonsboro'. Breckenridge with his command crossed the Potomac the same afternoon, followed on the next day by the rest of Early's command. After receiving some stores, which he was greatly in need of. Early on the 8th of July marched twenty miles to Jefferson and Middletown, where he was joined by the cavalry, which had been scouting in the vicinity of Frederick.

The sudden and unexpected invasion of Maryland by the Confederate forces under Early created intense excitement in the State, especially in Frederick and in the Cumberland Valley.

The movements of the Confederates on the upper Potomac were not sufficiently developed to afford a clear estimate either of their force or intentions until the 6th of July, when a skirmish between the pickets took place about half-way between Frederick and Point of Rocks. The Confederates retired, leaving several of their men in the hands of the Federals, who gave the intelligence that the Confederates were advancing, and that it was not simply a raid, but an invasion in force with the purpose of capturing Washington or Baltimore.

On receipt of intelligence that the Confederates were crossing the Potomac, the inhabitants of the border towns of Pennsylvania were greatly alarmed. Hundreds of men, women, and children passed through York and Harrisburg on their way to the interior, and the roads were lined with horses, cattle, and wagons, loaded with goods and provisions, being driven in the same direction. Many hid their property and cattle in the mountains. The merchants in Chambersburg, Shippensburg, and Carlisle packed up their goods and valuables and shipped them to points of safety. The machinery in the shops of the Chambersburg Railroad Company was removed, and every precaution taken to prevent anything valuable falling into Confederate hands. The live-stock of the farmers in Adams, Fulton, and Cumberland Counties was all removed, and every train from Cumberland Valley moving eastward was crowded with refugees.

The Confederate cavalry, under Brig. Gen. John McCausland, entered Hagerstown on the 6th of July, and took possession of the place. The United States quartermaster had in the meantime abandoned the town, with a large quantity of his stores and several hundred horses, and arrived safely at Carlisle. A large majority of the stores were closed and their contents removed.

As soon as McCausland found that he was in undisturbed possession of Hagerstown he requested an interview with the town council. As soon as this was had he presented them with the following order, and told them that if the demand was not complied with within a limited time the town would be laid in ashes:

" Headquarters Cavalry Brigade,

"Hagerstown, Md., July 6, 1864.

" General Order No. —.

"1st. In accordance with the instructions of Lieut. -Gen. Early, a levy of 20,000 dollars is made upon the inhabitants of this city. The space of three hours is allowed for the payment of the sum in United States funds.

"2nd. A requisition is also made for all government stores.

"3rd. The following articles will also be furnished from the merchandise now in the hands of the citizens or merchants, viz.: 1500 suits of clothes, 1500 hats, 1500 pairs shoes or boots, 1500 shirts, 1900 pairs drawers, and 1500 pairs socks. Four hours allowed for their collection.

"The mayor and council are held responsible for the execution of this order, and in case of non-compliance the usual penalty will be enforced upon the city.

"John McCausland, Brigadier-General C.S.A."

Upon receipt of this order a town-meeting was immediately called to assemble in the court-house, where the demand of Gen. McCausland was discussed; and it was decided that under the circumstances the town council should raise the money and as much of the clothing; as it was possible for them to obtain within the time allowed. The money was soon raised, but it was found that it would be impossible to furnish the clothing. Additional time was asked in which to raise it, but McCausland was deaf to every appeal, and repeated his threat that if his demand was not complied with within the time specified he would lay the town in ashes. At last, however, when he found that there was a disposition on the part of the council and the people to furnish the required amount, he extended the time two hours, telling them that if his requisition was not tilled by that time they knew what they had to expect. He then marched a regiment of his cavalry into the town, and stationed them in front of the court-house, as it was supposed, for the purpose of intimidating the citizens, or with a view of carrying out his threat, provided the money and goods were not promptly handed over at the hour stipulated. Every effort was put forth by the distressed citizens, and clothing of every hue and material was taken to the court-house, where it was placed in the hands of a committee, whose duty it was to hold it and transfer it to McCausland. The supply in town, however, was found to be sadly deficient, and the fact was soon announced to the Confederate leader, who swore to them that if it was not " forthcoming by the time specified he would carry out his threat, should it cost him his own life and that of his whole command." He told them that before doing so he would give them half an hour to remove the women and children from the town, and that they might expect no lenity at his hands. At last, through the influence of several members of his staff, to whom the citizens had appealed, he was induced to accept the twenty thousand dollars and the amount of clothing that they had raised. Upon receiving the following assurance, written on the bottom of the original demand, that the money and clothing was satisfactory, the ransom was handed over to McCausland:

" The town of Hagerstown having complied with the foregoing requisition by paying in cash twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), and having also furnished the specified articles therein mentioned to the utmost of their ability, I hereby certify to the facts, and place the town under the protection of the Confederate forces, releasing the citizens and their property from further contribution, and agreeing to shield both from further requirements.

[Signed] " John McCausland, Brig.-Gen. C.S.A.

"Coats 243 Shoes 123

Pants 203 Hats 830

Drawers 132 Shirts 225

Hose 737 Piece Goods, 1370 ½ yards.

Boots 99 Clothing, 70 pieces ass'd.

" J. C. Van Fossen-, Quartermaster."

Among the sufferers in Hagerstown whose stores were rifled were Messrs. Knodle and Small, shoe- dealers, and Messrs. Rourkulp and Updegraff, dealers in hats.

While the citizens of Hagerstown were occupied in complying with McCauslands demands, a number of prowling cavalrymen entered and plundered the drugstores. At the same time other bodies were scattered over the country plundering stores, seizing horses and cattle, and destroying property in retaliation for Gen. Hunter's devastations in Virginia. In Williamsport, Sharpsburg, Boonsboro', and Middletown they entered the stores, and in some instances private dwellings, and carried off whatever suited their purpose. At Boonsboro' they also destroyed the printing materials of the Odd-Fellow newspaper, and in their march through the country they took wagons, horses, cattle, and sheep. A large steam distillery, about a mile and a half from Williamsport, belonging to Mr. Dahl, was fired and consumed.

After the money and clothing had been handed over to McCausland by the citizens of Hagerstown he left the place, marching in the direction of Middletown and Boonsboro". On the next day ( Thursday, July 7th) several squads of Confederates passed through the town, but no damage was done to any property, and no one was molested. On Friday morning, however, a band of guerrillas, numbering about one hundred and eighty men, under command of Maj. Davis, entered the town, and broke into a number of shoe-and hat-stores, helping themselves freely to their contents. They also set fire to the hay belonging to the United States government and to the Franklin Railroad depot, which were consumed. They were about to destroy a large quantity of oats and corn belonging to the government, stored in several private warehouses, when the citizens remonstrated with them, and called their attention to the fact that they had already paid the amount of indemnity demanded by McCausland and were ransomed.

This Davis' party was not satisfied with, but they consented to spare the warehouses, and perhaps the town, provided they were paid the sum of five hundred dollars, and that one of the citizens would give bond in one hundred thousand dollars that the grain would be burned, his life, besides, to be forfeited in case of default. Isaac Nesbitt, clerk of the court, agreed to the conditions and gave the requisite bond; and the people proceeded to carry out the grain and set it on fire in accordance with the terms. They then demanded ten pair of boots, with the understanding that on receipt of them they would vacate the place. This was agreed to; the boots were furnished, and the marauders left the place. On Saturday evening the town was occupied by Federal cavalry, and thus ended the raid on Hagerstown.

After Gen. Johnson with his brigade of cavalry had crossed the Potomac on July 5th at Shepherdstown, he moved through Sharpsburg, sending a scouting party in the direction of Hagerstown, and camped at Keedysville that night. The next day (the 6th) he moved through Boonsboro' by the turnpike and camped on the top of the mountain, between Boonsboro' and Middletown, in the gap which was the scene of Reno's attack, where ex-President (then Col. R. B.) Hayes was wounded, just before the battle of Sharpsburg, in September, 1862. On the 7th, being still held back by the orders of Maj.-Gen. Ransom, commanding Early's cavalry, who insisted upon his keeping within reach of the infantry, he made another slow movement towards Frederick. Early had passed part of his force over the Potomac on the evening of the 5th, and was maneuvering to oust the Federal force from Maryland Heights, .being unwilling to expose his flank to it while moving on Washington, as well as to leave it in his rear.

In Middletown Johnson's advance came in contact with the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, Col. Clendenin, which had moved from Frederick on a reconnaissance. Col. Clendenin's force consisted of about three hundred of the Eighth Illinois, Cole's Maryland cavalry battalion, and two pieces of Alexander's Baltimore artillery. After a sharp skirmish the Federals were driven back, and made a stand on the top of the mountain between Frederick and Middletown. Gen. Johnson deployed the two Maryland battalions under Col. Harry Gilmor and pressed them on the Federal position, when Col. Clendenin, finding he was about to be flanked, withdrew into Frederick, the Confederates pressing hotly on his retreat, moving to within a mile of Frederick on the Hagerstown turnpike. Johnson's brigade consisted of about eight hundred effectives and the Baltimore Light Artillery with four guns.

As he passed the hamlet of Fairview, at the toll-gate he detached Lieut.-Col. Dunn with a Virginia regiment by the road that pusses from the right of the road behind the estate of Prospect Hill to the Harper's Ferry road. Dunn passed rapidly down the road in a sweeping gallop, and turning into the Harper's Ferry road, moved sharply towards the city, pushing his dismounted skirmishers as far as Rizer's barn, and across through Mount Olivet Cemetery towards the Georgetown turnpike. These operations created the utmost excitement in the city. From early dawn on the 7th it was rumored in Frederick that the Confederates were only a short distance from the city, and that they would soon enter and occupy it. The arrival of couriers and wounded from the skirmish beyond Middletown, bringing the news that the force sent out to hold the Confederates in check until reinforcements arrived was unable to cope with them, and was slowly falling back towards Frederick, raised higher the alarm, and by noon business was suspended, stores closed, and many fled from the city. All the sick and stores were hastily removed. About half-past three o'clock the Federal forces came down the Hagerstown turnpike, and immediately took position on the edge of the city. It was an exciting time for the citizens of Frederick, as it was impossible to resist a direct assault upon the city with the light force at the command of Col. Clendenin. At this time, however, Gen. Wallace, the commander of the department, sent up from Monocacy Junction the Third Maryland Regiment, which was promptly marched to the front under Col. Gilpin, the senior officer present, who assumed command and disposed of his forces for battle. The whole force under his command at this time in defense of the city was the Third Maryland, seven hundred men; Eighth Illinois Cavalry, three hundred men; three pieces of Alexander's battery (Baltimore), about fifty men; and two companies of Col. Maulsby's Potomac Home Brigade, and Maj. Cole's Maryland cavalry.

About four o'clock the Confederates were to be seen from the roofs of the houses in Frederick coming down the Hagerstown road, and also the Harper's Ferry or Jefferson road, apparently in strong force. Capt. Alexander opened his battery upon the advancing foe, when they closed up and formed their line of battle on the west front of the city, covering the Harper's Ferry and Hagerstown roads, planting their guns on " Hogan's Hills" and the " Red Hills," and posting their cavalry in the valley formed between the two hills named and the Catoctin Mountains. The engagement opened about half-past four o'clock with an artillery duel between Alexander's guns in Zimmerman's fields and the Confederate guns on Hogan's Hill. The skirmishers soon advanced, and the sharp crack of musketry was heard for about two hours with no result on either side, when the Third Maryland Regiment was advanced and drove the Confederates out of Rizer's field, lying on the Harper's Ferry road, on the west side of the city, which they held for the remainder of the day. The two companies of Col. Maulsby's regiment supported the guns at the head of Patrick Street, and the Eighth Illinois Cavalry were dismounted and rendered effective service on the skirmish-line. During the artillery duel several shots from the Confederate batteries entered the heart of the city and did some damage. All the houses on the west side of the city were deserted, as they were in range of the Confederate guns.

The Confederate line of battle held its position, pushing its skirmishers along the front of the Federal line to conceal the movement Johnson was preparing to make by the reservoir road at the northwestern end, and by the Georgetown road at the southern end of the city. He was perfectly informed by his friends of the forces and condition of things within the Federal line, and he proposed sending in one regiment by the reservoir road, while Lieut.-Col. Dunn charged with his regiment down through Market Street, by the Georgetown road, and the main body moved directly on in front. This attack on both flanks and in front, he believed, would result in the capture of the entire force engaging him. Gen. Ransom, who was with Johnson's column, prohibited him from attempting to execute this plan, and ordered him to withdraw his troops to the top of the mountain as soon as night covered the movement.

Chagrined and mortified, Johnson saw a brilliant victory eluding his grasp and a substantial success thus escaping him, and sullenly withdrew about nine o'clock the night of the 7th. His headquarters during the engagement that afternoon had been on the range of hills not far from the house of George Wm. Smith.

All day of the 8th the Confederates lay inactive, leaving the garrison of Frederick in the greatest anxiety, which feeling was intensely shared by the administration at Washington.

Col. Clendenin and the Eighth Illinois Cavalry made another reconnaissance from Frederick by way of the Mountain or Shookstown road on the 8th, but were driven back with loss by Gilmor and the First and Second Maryland Cavalry. The head of Early's column of infantry reached Middletown the evening of the 8th, and the same evening Gen. Wallace, having assumed command at Frederick, ordered the evacuation of that place.

Hastily gathering the stores and ammunition, he forwarded them by rail to Monocacy Junction, and withdrew his forces by the turnpike road to the same place. The whole movement was executed quietly, and by midnight there was scarcely a Federal soldier in the city, except a few scouts who had been stationed to watch the movements of the Confederates.

The feelings of the Union people of Frederick when it became known that the Federal troops were about to evacuate the city, cannot be described. Hundreds left with the troops in every manner of conveyance, and many on foot. On the withdrawal of the Federal forces many of the Southern sympathizers made their way out the Hagerstown road and communicated the intelligence to the Confederates, who immediately entered the city with cavalry and hoisted their flag over the court-house. The capture was a barren victory, so far as military supplies were concerned, as everything in the way of stores, horses, ammunition, wagons, etc., belonging to the Federal government had been removed long previous to its evacuation. Nearly all the horses of citizens were sent away, and many people had sent their valuables to a point of safety. The banks had made ample arrangements to secure their property. The collector of internal revenue sent over seventy thousand dollars in his possession to Washington, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company secured all their rollingstock and motive-power on the road.

On taking possession of Frederick the Confederates appointed a provost-marshal, etc., and on the morning of the 9th addressed the following communications to the authorities of the city:

"Frederick City. Md., July 9, 1864.

"Hon. Major, — I am directed by Lieut.-Gen. Early, commanding, to require of you for the use of his troops —

" (500) Five Hundred Barrels of Flour.

"(6000) Six Thousand Pounds of Sugar.

"(3000) Three " " " Coffee.

"(3000) " " " " Salt.

(20,000) Twenty " " "Bacon.

" I am respectfully, Your Obt. Sert.,

" W. J. Hawks, Chief C. S. Army of Va."

"Hdqrs. V. D.

"Frederick Town, Md., July 9, 1864.

" By order of the Lieut.-Gen. Comdg.

"We require of the Major and Town authorities two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) in current money for the use of this army. This contribution may be supplied by furnishing the Medical Depart. with fifty thousand dollars ($50.000) in stores at current prices, the Commissary Depart, with the stores to the same amount, the Ordnance Depart, with the same, and the Quarter Master Depart, with a like amount.

" Wm. Allen, Lieut.-Col. and Chief Ord. V. D.

" W. J. Hawks, Chief Com. C.S.A., V. D.

"Hunter McGuire, Surg. and Med. Director.

" John A. Harman, Maj. and Chief Q. M., V. D."

Mayor Cole called the members of the corporation remaining in the city together, and to save the city from threatened destruction it was decided to ransom it by paying the sum demanded. The amount was accordingly paid in "greenbacks" of various denominations, which were placed in baskets and removed to one of the wagons. When the ransom had been paid the following receipt was given:

"Frederick, July 9, 1864.

" Received of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of Frederick the sum of two hundred thousand dollars in full payment of said sum, which this day was levied and demanded to be paid to the Confederate States Army by said corporation of Frederick.

" J. R. Brathwaite, Major and Q. M."

The stores were visited by a number of the cavalrymen, who took what they wanted, in some instances offering Confederate currency in payment, but generally helping themselves without compensation. On Sunday Cole's cavalry had quite a skirmish on Patrick Street, opposite the City Hotel, with a portion of the rear-guard of the Confederates, who were moving out towards the Washington turnpike.

On the 5th of July, Governor Andrew G. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, made an urgent call for twelve thousand troops to repel the Confederate invaders, and volunteers not coming forward with the desired promptitude, he on the next day issued another proclamation, calling for twelve thousand men, in accordance with President Lincoln's proclamation, which required to meet the exigency twelve thousand men each from New York and Pennsylvania, and five thousand from Massachusetts, all to serve one hundred days. Gen. Grant, on learning that Early had crossed the Potomac, also detached the Sixth Corps from the Army of the Potomac and forwarded it by transports to Washington. It happened, too, at this juncture that the Nineteenth Corps under Gen. Emory, which had been ordered from New Orleans after the failure of the Red River expedition, had' just arrived in Hampton Roads. Without debarking it was sent to follow the Sixth. The advance division of the Sixth Corps, under Gen. Ricketts, having arrived at Baltimore, Gen. Wallace, with that added to his own force, determined to cover the turnpike road leading to Baltimore and Washington, and to preserve communication with his forces at Harper's Ferry. With this view, after withdrawing his force from Frederick on the evening of the 8th, he took up a strong position on the east side of the Monocacy River, along the crest of a ridge running obliquely to the left from the river. The troops forming Ricketts' division of the Sixth Corps, which had arrived on the ground from the Array of the Potomac, were posted to the left of the railroad crossing the Baltimore turnpike, with their front resting on the Buckeystown road, while the remaining portion of Gen. Wallace's forces were posted to the right of the railroad. Gen. E. B. Tyler, with a small force, defended the turnpike bridge across the Monocacy. In Gen. Wallace's front lay an open field, which he commanded with his artillery, while in the rear ran a valley nearly parallel with the general direction of his lines of battle. About nine o'clock on the morning of the 9th, Gen. McCausland's cavalry brigade (dismounted) advanced and felt Wallace's line, but after considerable skirmishing they were driven back by superior numbers. McCausland occupied the attention of the Federal force until about noon, when the advance of Early's force, which had marched fourteen miles that morning from Middletown and Jefferson, arrived at the scene of action. Early determined, if possible, to disperse Wallace's command before he moved in the direction of Washington, and as soon as Breckenridge's corps arrived on the field the action began.

About 2.30 o'clock Maj.-Gen. John B. Gordon received orders to move his division, consisting of about two thousand five hundred men, to the right and cross the Monocacy about one mile below the bridge and ford (on the Georgetown pike), which was then held by the Federals. While he was carrying out this movement, Breckenridge was to occupy Wallace from the front on the opposite side of the river, with a portion of McCausland's cavalry, numbering about five hundred men. Gordon's division rapidly crossed the river, and then filed to the left to the point where McCausland's cavalry had been skirmishing. Gen. Gordon reconnoitered the Federal position, and as soon as he obtained the range of their lines he ordered his skirmishers, under Capt. Keller, of Evans' brigade, to deploy, and directed Evans' brigade, under the protection of a dense woodland about seven hundred yards in front of the Federals' left, to move by the right flank and form so as to overlap them. Gen. York, with the brigades of Hays and Stafford, was ordered to form on the left of Gon. Evans, and Terry's brigade to move in support of the left of Gordon's line. These dispositions having been made, Gordon advanced en echelon by brigades from the right. The troops emerged from the woods in front of the Federal left under a heavy fire of artillery and infantry. This force advanced but a short distance when Gen. Evans was struck down and several of his regimental commanders were killed, which threw his brigade into slight confusion. This, however, did not check their advance, for they forced Wallace to change his front under fire.

" At this point," says Gen. Gordon, " the Louisiana brigades, under the command of Brig.-Gen. York, became engaged, and the two brigades ( Evans' and York's) moved forward with much spirit, driving back the enemy's first line in confusion upon his second. After a brief halt at the fence from which this first line had been driven, I ordered a charge on the second line, which was equally successful. At this point I discovered a third line, which overlapped both my flanks, and which was posted still more strongly in the deep cuts along the Georgetown road, and behind the crest of the hill near the Monocacy bridge, and at once ordered Brig.-Gen. Terry, who as yet had not been engaged, to attack vigorously that portion of the enemy's line nearest the river, and from which my troops were receiving a severe flank fire. This brigade advanced with great spirit and in excellent order, driving the enemy from his position on a portion of the line. He still held most stubbornly his strong position in front of the other two brigades and upon my right. He also advanced at the same time two fresh lines of troops to retake the position from which he had been driven by Terry's brigade. These were repulsed with heavy loss and in great confusion. Having suffered severe loss in driving back two lines, either of which I believed equal in length to my command, and having discovered the third line longer than either of the others, and protected by the cuts in the road, in order to avoid the great loss it would require to drive the enemy from his position by a front attack, 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 directions of Lieut.-Col. Clendenin, and was very efficiently done. I continued to receive reports during the day of the increasing strength of the enemy, which was communicated to the commanding general, who directed me to fall back on Monocacy Junction, which was successfully done during the night, leaving the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio National Guards to hold the stone bridge across the Monocacy on the National or Baltimore pike.

"Saturday morning found us in line of battle, my command forming the right of the line, my left resting on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and connecting with Gen. Ricketts; the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio National Guards and three companies of the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio National Guards holding the extreme right. Col. Gilpin's Third Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade, Maryland Volunteers, and three companies of the First Maryland, Potomac Home Brigade, under Capt. Barnford, extending along the base of the hill, holding the ford between the stone bridge and junction, and the Eleventh Maryland, Col. Landstreet, completing my line. The enemy appeared directly in my front about 9 a.m., and opened on us with artillery, and attacked inconsiderable force our skirmish-line formed on the west bank of the Monocacy. and composed of the troops of the First Maryland, Potomac Home Brigade, under command of Capt. Brown. Three guns of Capt. Alexander's battery (three having been sent to Gen. Ricketts) and a twenty-four-pounder howitzer soon checked their advancing lines, and the action in my front, with the exception of sharpshooters and skirmish firing, was an artillery fight. This at times was quite spirited, continuing until near the close of the action. We maintained our position without serious loss.

"The conduct of Capt. Brown, of First Maryland. Potomac Home Brigade, and his command merits special notice; they successfully maintained their skirmish-line against a superior force to the close, and resisted several charges of the enemy.

" Capt. Alexander, with his officers and men, behaved in the most gallant manner, serving their guns with great coolness and effect. I desire particularly to call the commanding general's attention to their conduct during the three days we were in front of the enemy.

"The One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio and three companies of the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio National Guards, under Col. Brown, considering their inexperience, behaved well, successfully resisting several charges of the enemy. "Col. Gilpin's regiment, with the three companies of the First Maryland, Potomac Home Brigade, that were assigned him, although serving in detachments along an extended line, fully sustained the enviable reputation they had won on Thursday.

" The Eleventh Maryland was not brought into action, but was exposed for a time to the artillery fire of the enemy.

"The cavalry was placed under the direction of Lieut.-Col. Clendenin, who will furnish a separate report; and I would very respectfully call the attention of the major-general to this gallant and valuable officer and the officers and men serving under him. They certainly acquitted themselves with great credit.

" A force of the enemy's cavalry came down upon me while on the right of the line near the stone bridge, and forced me, Capt. Webb and Lieut. Goldborough, of my staff, into the woods surrounding us, and, with their persistent watchfulness, prevented our following the column for nearly three days.

" To the officers of my staff— Capt. W. H. Wiegel, Capt. F. J. D. Webb, and Lieuts. Goldsborough, George W. Startzman, and R. E. Smith — I am greatly Indebted for their untiring efforts and energy during the whole movement. Capt. Wiegel in the heat of the engagement took command of the twenty-four-pounder howitzer on the bank of the river, serving it with marked courage and ability, and with telling effect upon the enemy. His conduct must have been observed by the commanding general.

" I send you herewith a list of the casualties, as far as we are able to obtain them at this time.

" Very respectfully submitted,

" B. B. Tyler, Brig. Gen. Comdg."

Report of Capt. Charles J. Brown, First Maryland, Potomac Home Brigade.

" Headquarters, Fort Worthington,

"July 20, 1864.

"Capt. R. H. Offley, A.A.G. Defenses of Baltimore.

" Captain, — I have the honor to submit the following report of my command at the battle of the Monocacy. My two companies, C and K, First Maryland Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade, were occupying at the commencement of the fight the blockhouse on the west side of the Monocacy, which I, in obedience to orders from the general commanding, evacuated and burned. I was then ordered to hold the bridge over the railroad on the Georgetown pike, one company of the Tenth Vermont Infantry and one company of the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery being added to my command. This position I held until the left of our army fell back, when, having received a discretionary order to fall back while I could do so with safety, I left my position, fell back across the railroad bridge, and occupied the rifle-pits on the east side of the Monocacy, covering the retreat of our army for a short time, and then following the line of march until my command was increased by Companies B, G, and H, First Maryland, Potomac Home Brigade, by being added to it at Ellicott's Mills, where I was furnished transportation to Baltimore, Sunday, July 10th, and ordered to report to Col. Gilpin, commanding First Separate Brigade, Col. Gilpin being in command of Fort Worthington. On Wednesday, July 13th, Col. Gilpin being ordered elsewhere, I was placed in command of the fort, which I now occupy with Companies B, C, G, H, and K of the First Maryland Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade.

" I have the honor to be

" Very respectfully,

" Yuur obt. servt.,

" Charles J. Brown,

" Capt. Cmd. 1st M. D., P. H. B., Inftry."

The loss of the Third Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade, at the battle of Monocacy was two killed, seven wounded, four missing, and ten captured.

After the defeat of Wallace the Confederates had everything their own way. Small parties traversed the country in every direction without opposition, collecting forage, grain, horses, and army supplies of all sorts. Gen. Early, after burying his dead and caring for his wounded at the Monocacy, on the morning of the 10th took up his line of march towards Washington, and made twenty miles that day, camping within four miles of Rockville.

On Sunday afternoon, July 10th, at about three o'clock, the Federal forces, numbering about twelve hundred, passed through Rockville, closely pursued by the Confederate advance, consisting of a brigade of cavalry, numbering some sixteen hundred, under the command of Gen. McCausland. Of this latter force several hundred constituted " pressmen," who scoured the adjacent farms in search of horses, which they appropriated " without money and without price." They made no distinction between citizens on the ground of sympathy.

On Monday, the 11th, Early resumed his march, and appeared before the defenses of Washington on the Seventh Street pike. His force at this time had been reduced to eight thousand infantry, one thousand cavalry, and forty pieces of artillery, manned by about seven hundred men. The rest of his cavalry force had been detached at Frederick on the 9th, under Gen. Bradley T. Johnson, with special orders from Gen. Lee to destroy the communication between Baltimore and the north, threaten Baltimore, break the railroad and cut the telegraph wires between Baltimore and Washington, and thence move on Point Lookout, so as to attack on the morning of the 12th, when an attack was also to be made on the bay side, After releasing the prisoners, some fifteen thousand, Gen. Johnson was to take command of them and rejoin Early at Bladensburg, while that general was in the meantime to attack Washington and carry it by assault. As soon as Early's movements in the neighborhood of Washington were disclosed, however, Gen. Kenly, Gen. Rawlings, and most of the regular troops engaged in the defenses of Baltimore hastened to Washington and manned the fortifications.

Johnson moved his whole force to Cockeysville, and after destroying the bridges there he detached the First and Second Maryland Cavalry under Gilmor, and directed that officer to burn the railroad bridges over the Bush and Gunpowder Rivers. At Texas, Baltimore Co., on the line of the Northern Central Railway, the telegraph wires were cut and poles pulled down; the bridge above Cockeysville was destroyed and a portion of the track torn up; the Hanover bridge was destroyed, and two others south of the junction; the bridge at Ashland was burnt and the telegraph wires cut. After operating with the greatest boldness on the north of Baltimore, the Confederates pushed across the country, cutting the telegraph wires on the Harford and Philadelphia turnpikes. A small detachment came down Charles Street Avenue and burned the country house of Governor Bradford, five miles from Baltimore, with all his household furniture, valuable library, paintings. etc. This was done in retaliation for Gen. Hunter's destruction of Governor Letcher's residence at Lexington, Va., in his movement upon Lynchburg. The main body of the Confederate cavalry passed on by the Joppa road, and struck the Philadelphia Railroad at Magnolia Station, eighteen miles from Baltimore. Here they captured the morning express-train from Baltimore, turned the passengers out, and setting fire to the cars ran the train back upon the bridge over the Gunpowder River. The burning train set fire to the bridge, which was much damaged. In one of the cars Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin, who was going North from Baltimore, was recognized and taken prisoner; but he afterwards escaped. The Confederates captured a way train, which they also destroyed. In their movements in the neighborhood of Baltimore, they visited Towsontown, Reisterstown, Relay House, Mount Washington, Texas, Randallstown, Union Bridge, and other points, helping themselves to whatever they fancied, especially horses.

In a recent narrative of the Maryland campaign of 1864, Gen. Johnson gives the following account of his subsequent operations:

" While these events were taking place I was pressing in hot haste through Howard and Montgomery Counties. I readied Triadelphia about nine o'clock that night, and unsaddled and fed my horses and let the men get a little sleep. By twelve o'clock I received information that a large force of Federal cavalry had gone into camp since my arrival at Brookeville, only a few miles out. I at once got ready and started to attack them, but on reaching the point found that they, too, had information of their unwelcome neighbors and had left. Thence f moved to Beltsville, on the railroad between Baltimore and Washington. There I found about one thousand cavalry of Wilson's division. which had been dismounted in a recent raid in lower Virginia and sent North to recuperate. They were mounted on green horses, and we drove them, after a short affair, down the road towards Bladensburg. It was now the morning of Tuesday, the 12th. I was due that night at Point Lookout, the extreme southeast point of Maryland, in St. Mary's County. It was physically impossible for men to make the ride in the time designated. I determined, however, to come as near it as possible. I sent an officer with a detachment to ride at speed through the country, impressing fresh horses all the way, and inform the people along the route that I was coming. They were unanimously my friends, and I requested them to have their horses on the roadside, so I could exchange my broken-down animals for their fresh ones, and thus borrow them for the occasion. During the preceding day I had been taking horses by flankers on each side of my column, and kept a supply of fresh ones at the rear of each regiment. As soon as a man's horse broke down he fell out of the ranks, walked until the rear of his regiment came up, got a fresh horse, left his old one, and resumed his place. By this means I was enabled to march at a trot, which with a cavalry column is impossible for any length of time without breaking down horses, and broken-down horses speedily break down men. With fresh horses, however, I hoped to make a rapid march and get to Point Lookout early on the morning of the 13th.

"After returning from the pursuit of Wilson's cavalry, I turned the head of the column towards Upper Marlboro', and had proceeded only a short time when I was overtaken by a courier from Gen. Early. He brought me orders to report at once to headquarters at Silver Spring, on the Seventh Street road. I moved down the Washington road to the Agricultural College, and thence along the line of the Federal pickets, marching all night, occasionally driving in a picket, and expecting at any moment to be fired upon from the works, within range of which I was moving. I reported to Gen. Early after midnight and found the whole army in retreat. I was directed to close up the rear, with Jackson's cavalry brigade behind me. We reached Rockville during the day, where Jackson was pushed by the Second Massachusetts Cavalry, who hung on his rear and rendered things very uncomfortable generally. Finding matters getting disagreeable, I put in a squadron of the First Maryland, under Capt. Wilson G. Nicholas and Lieut. Thomas Grew, and charged into the town, scattering our pursuers, who got out of the way with expedition. Their dismounted men, however, stuck to the houses and fences and poured in a galling lire. The dust was so thick that the men in their charge could not see the houses in front of them. The horses of Nicholas and Grew were killed, and their riders wounded and taken prisoners. As soon as this loss was discovered, I put in another charge and recaptured Grew, but was unable to retake Nicholas, whom they had mounted on a spare horse and run off the field.

"During the rest of the 13th our pursuers treated us with more respect. All night long we marched and stopped, and stopped and marched, with that terrible tedious delay and iteration so wearing to men and horses, and it was not until Thursday, the 14th, we reached Poolesville. Here we were obliged to stand and keep back the pursuit while the infantry and artillery were passing over the Potomac. I got my artillery in position and deployed a strong skirmish-line in front of Poolesville, and cheeked the enemy for several hours. At last, in the afternoon, a wide line of skirmishers could be seen stretching far beyond each end of those we had been engaged with, and which moved steadily forward with a steady alignment very unusual for dismounted cavalry. I sent for Gen. Ransom to come up to my position, that the infantry had arrived, and that it was about time for the cavalry to leave. He soon joined me, and while we were looking at the advancing line through our glasses, which showed their cartridge-boxes and canteens plainly, puff! puff! puff! went their fire all along the line. There was no mistaking the sound. The swish of the minie-ball was so clear and so evident that it could not possibly come from carbines. We held on nevertheless, making a great show with the artillery and repeated attempts to charge them with cavalry, so that we delayed them until supports could deploy.

" By this time, however, the enemy had become far advanced, and having been notified that everything, including my own ordnance and baggage-train, had crossed, I withdrew comfortably and got into Virginia about sundown. We had been marching, working, and fighting from daylight, July 9th, until sundown, July 14th, four days and a half, or about one hundred and eight hours. We had unsaddled only twice during that time, with a halt of from four to five hours each time, making nearly one hundred hours of marching. We had isolated Baltimore from the North. and cut off Washington from the United States, having made a circuit from Frederick to Cockeysville to the east, to Beltsville on the south, and through Rockville and Poolesville towards the west. We had failed in the main object of the expedition, which was to relieve the prisoners at Point Lookout, convert them into a new army, capture Washington, establish our communications across the Potomac by Manassas Junction with Gordonsville and Richmond, and by making this a new base of operations force Grant to let go his hold and come to the rescue of Pennsylvania. I have always considered the movement one the audacity of which was its safety, and that no higher military skill was displayed on either side than that shown by Gen. Early in this daring attempt to surprise the capital of his enemy with so small a force."

Early had arranged all his plans for an assault upon the defenses of Washington at daylight on the 12th, but during the night received a dispatch from Gen. Johnson informing him that the Sixth and Nineteenth Federal Corps had reached Baltimore some time before and were moving to the defense of Washington. This caused Gen. Early to defer his contemplated assault, and as soon as it was light he rode to the front and found the fortifications lined with troops in every direction. He therefore abandoned his design, and, as has already been stated, immediately sent an order to Gen. Johnson to join him without delay, which he did early the next morning at the house of Francis P. Blair, Sr., Silver Springs, Montgomery Co.

During Gen. Early's absence from Virginia, Gen. Hunter had been plundering, burning, and laying waste, in his usual style of warfare, without check. The Federal troops had also burned and devastated towns and villages in other parts of the South, and, as far as could be seen, public sentiment at the North approved this mode of conducting the war. Gen. Early therefore determined to follow these examples by way of retaliation. Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, was selected for the sacrifice, and thither Gen. McCausland was ordered to proceed with his cavalry brigade and that of Gen. Bradley T. Johnson and a battery of four guns, and demand of the municipal authorities the sum of one hundred thousand dollars in gold, or five hundred thousand dollars in United States currency, as a compensation for the wanton outrages of Gen. Hunter in the Valley of Virginia, and in default of payment to lay the town in ashes. On the 29th of July, McCausland crossed the Potomac near Clear Spring, above Williamsport, while Vaughan drove a cavalry force from Williamsport and entered Hagerstown, where he captured and destroyed a train of cars loaded with supplies. Several infantry divisions also crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown, and took positions at Sharpsburg, to be within supporting distance. On the 30th of July, McCausland reached Chambersburg, and made the demand as directed. It was not complied with, and the greater part of the town was burned.

McCausland then moved in the direction of Cumberland, but finding it defended by a force under Gen. Kelley, after a slight skirmish at Folck's Mill, about two miles from the town, withdrew towards Hampshire County, Va., and crossed the Potomac near the mouth of the South Branch. He then moved to Moorefield, in Hardy County, where he was overtaken by Gen. Averill, who had been in pursuit since he left Chambersburg, and his entire command was routed and his four pieces of artillery captured. The remnants of the command finally made their way to Mount Jackson in great disorder.

On Saturday, August 6th, business was still suspended in Cumberland, and a feverish uncertainty pervaded the public mind as to the whereabouts and intentions of the Confederates. Official information told, however, that the force which attacked New Creek was retreating towards Moorefield, pursued by the Federals.

The railroad west was intact, trains running regularly, and in a day or two trains were expected to run east to Hancock, the road having sustained no damage this side of Sleepy Creek. The residents in the neighborhood of Flintstone had had another scare, caused by a report that the Confederates had again made their appearance at Green Spring, but the newcomers proved to be Federals.

On Sunday, the 7th, the city wore its usual Sabbath sedateness. The war rumors were numerous. One placed Gen. Breckenridge in strong force at Romney, while a contradictory report said Averill was there; another said Breckenridge was making for Beverly, W. Va.; another asserted that Early had crossed the Potomac and established his headquarters at Hagerstown. On Sunday night a detachment of ' Averill's and DeFoe's cavalry reached Cumberland from Hancock, bringing fifteen Confederate prisoners. On Monday, the 8th, a new excitement seemed to have possessed a portion of the citizens, who packed up and sent off their goods, under the stimulus of a report that the Confederates had again entered Maryland.

Monday afternoon the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Regiment, Col. Putnam, paraded the streets, and in the evening a meeting of the citizens was held to make preparations for a demonstration of gratitude to the military for their noble and successful defense of the city on Monday, the 1st, Gen. Kelley having, in compliance with the request of the mass-meeting, designated Thursday as a convenient time for a street parade.

On Tuesday, August 9th, the city was unusually quiet, but some of the merchants continued to ship their goods, feeling that Cumberland was even then a very unsafe place. A train that day went east, loaded with lumber, workmen, and a guard, with a view to repair bridges, etc., along the line. The citizens were greatly elated at the confirmation of the rout of McCausland's and Bradley T. Johnson's forces by Gen. Averill, and the recapture of horses and a large amount of plunder, and were likewise pleased that Gen. Sheridan had been placed in command of the division of the country embracing the departments of West Virginia and Susquehanna and the Middle Department.

Thursday, August 11th, was a day of jubilee in Cumberland. Assurances the day before by telegraph that the Confederates had all left Maryland allayed considerably the fears of the businessmen, some of whom began to bring back their goods. Flags floated in all directions, and preparations were going on for the grand demonstration of thanks to the military. Gen. Kelley having appointed a parade for the afternoon, at the request of the citizens through their town-meeting held on the 5th.

According to the programme, the troops stationed at the post, and who participated in the late defense of the city, were drawn up in line on the old race-ground. Gen. Kelley having arrived on the ground, the review took place, in which the citizen-soldiers were assigned their position. After passing in review they resumed their position in line; the column was then brought into close column, and the thanks of the people of Cumberland tendered to the brave defenders.

In consequence of the sympathy displayed by certain persons in Frederick County towards the command of Gen. Early and his troops. Gen. Hunter issued the following characteristic order:

" HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WESTERN VIRGINIA,

"Harper's Ferry, July 18, 1864.

" Maj. John I. Tellott, First Maryland P. H. B. Infantry,

Commanding officer, Frederick, Md.:

"Major, — Your communication of this date relating to persons in Frederick City, Md., having 'pointed out to the rebels during their late raid the property of Union citizens, and otherwise manifested their sympathy with the enemy,' has been submitted to the major-general commanding the department.

" In reply he directs that you arrest at once all persons who are known by Union citizens to have given such information, and to send them, with their families, lo this place under suitable guard, that the males may be sent to the military prison at Wheeling, W. Va., and their families beyond our lines South. You will seize their houses, to be used for hospitals, government offices, and store-houses, and for government purposes generally. Their furniture you will have sold at public auction for the benefit of Union citizens of the town who are known to have suffered loss of property from information given by these persons.

" The major-general commanding further directs that all male secessionists in Frederick, with their families, must be sent here at once. You will make the same disposition of their houses and furniture as has been directed already in this letter for the houses and furniture of those who gave information as to the property of Union men.

" I am, major, very respectfully,

" Your obedient servant,

"P. G. Bier,

" Assistant Adjutant-General."

"To prevent infliction of such punishment as is specified in the above order, it is ordered that every male citizen of this town, and that portion of Frederick County lying within the limits of the department of West Virginia, shall .appear at this office between the hours of eight o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m., beginning on the 25th day of July, 1864, and ending on the 30th day of July, 1864, and subscribe to an oath of allegiance to the government of the United States. In default of thus appearing and swearing allegiance to the national government, all persons thus failing will be regarded as secessionists and treated as directed in the above order.

"John I. Yellott,

" Major Commanding Post and Provost-Marshal."

With McCausland's raid hostile operations in Western Maryland virtually ceased, and with the exception of a brilliant dash by the Confederates into Cumberland in the winter of 1865, little more of military importance occurred in that section during the remainder of the war.

After the death of Capt. John Hanson McNeill, mortally wounded near Mount Jackson bridge, in the Valley of Virginia, Oct. 4, 1864, in a charge on a company of the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, his son Jesse, first lieutenant of the company, determined to capture Maj.-Gens. Crook and Kelley, then in command of the Federal forces at Cumberland.

S. S. Lynn, a native of the place, having previously penetrated into the very heart of the city on four different occasions, obtained thorough information as to the number of troops in Cumberland, the location of the various headquarters, pickets, etc., and reported to Maj. Harry Gilmor, stationed at Moorefield, W. Va. John B. Fay and C. Ritchie Hallar, a young Missourian, were sent by McNeill to procure similar information, which they obtained through George Stanton, in the employ of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. With this fund of knowledge they returned and reported the facts to Lieut. McNeill. The command, then in camp ten miles north of Moorefield, was ordered about noon on the 21st of February, 1865, to march rapidly towards Cumberland, a distance of fifty miles. Crossing the South Branch of the Potomac near Romney, and feeding their horses at the house of Boss Herrod, a farmer, the command crossed Middle Ridge and struck the Nobley Mountain road at its base, and crossed the mountain to the North Branch of the Potomac at a point five miles from Cumberland. Here the command was halted almost within pistol-range of a cavalry picket. A portion of the command, composed of Lieut. McNeill, Fay, Lynn, Vandiver, Kuykendall, Dailey, and Nichols, went to the house of S. D. Brady, where a consultation was held. Here it is alleged McNeill's courage failed him, and he proposed to capture the pickets and return, and gave as a reason that he was afraid it was too late to do more than this before daylight.

Fay and Lynn vehemently opposed this, and the command was speedily pushed forward again. Lynn here took the advance alone, with the advance-guard in hailing distance in his rear. Just below the three-mile water-station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad the first cavalry picket post, composed of three men, was encountered. "Halt! Who comes there?" "Friend, without the countersign, bearing important dispatches to Gen. Kelley," was Lynn's response. " Dismount, advance, and give the countersign." The words hardly escaped the sentinel's lips before Lynn dashed by the astonished picket and reined up where the two in reserve were quietly sleeping, who were ordered to surrender, which they promptly did. Putting a pistol in each boot, the prisoners were halted in the road until the command came up. A pistol-shot fired by McNeill at the first sentinel passed had but one meaning, which was to retrace their steps; and again the proposition was made, and as promptly repelled by Fay and Lynn. With one voice the whole sixty-five men, composed of Marylanders and Virginians, whispered, "Go ahead; we will follow." At this juncture the command virtually devolved on Fay and Lynn, and the command was ordered forward. Lynn again placed himself in the advance, and at the junction of the river road and the old pike the second picket post was encountered. Again rang out on the frosty air, " Halt! Who comes there?" "Friend, with the countersign." "Dismount, advance, and give the countersign," demanded the sentinel on duty. The countersign having been obtained from the three first pickets, Lynn dismounted, and leading his horse walked to the sentinel and whispered "Bull's Gap" in his ear. " All right," replied the sentinel. Lynn then ordered the advance forward, and quickly the astonished infantry pickets, six in number, were ordered to surrender, which summons they promptly obeyed, and trying the ramrod in each barrel of the guns, it was discovered that every gun was empty, and that the hammer of the pistol of the first sentinel could not be raised. The guns were placed on the comfortable log fire burning in front of their quarters and destroyed, and the command again ordered forward.

Lynn here overheard a conversation between McNeill, Kuykendall, and Vandiver, placing the former in command of a party of ten men to secure Gen. Kelley, and the latter, with ten men,, to secure Gen. Crook, the previous arrangement being that Lynn was to capture Kelley, and Fay, Crook, a compensation for services rendered as scouts. Lynn communicated these facts to Fay, who was so incensed at the duplicity practiced that he simply remarked, " I can stand it if he can."

Passing down Green Street, a company of regulars were passed who were encamped in an old brick house on the Potomac, near the present water-works. As the command moved forward an interchange of words passed as to the state of the weather, their destination, etc. Reaching the iron bridge across Will's Creek, Lynn selected John Dailey, Charles Nichols, and Charlyle to accompany him on foot up Baltimore Street. Their horses were led by friends in the command, and hurrying ahead of the command, Lynn and his followers hastened to the St. Nicholas Hotel.

Leaving the men at the steps of Alpheus Beall's, he went alone to the hotel. Here he saw an orderly sergeant leaning against the railing at the entrance of the house. Across George's Street he also discovered the sentinel pacing his beat in front of Gen. Kelley's headquarters at the old Barnum House. How to capture the sergeant without being observed by the sentinel was the question to solve. The thought then flashed into his mind that the advance of the column would naturally attract the sergeant's attention, and he would advance to the curbstone to ask questions, etc. So Lynn walked to the curb and awaited results. Soon the tramp of horses was heard, and the sergeant took up his position alongside of Lynn, who, placing his left hand on his shoulder, covered him with his pistol and ordered him to surrender, which he did by saying, "I have no arms." Lynn told him to lead him to Kelley's room, and being joined by his companions, they proceeded across the street, walked up to the sentinel, disarmed him, and entered the hall leading to the general's room. Ascending the stairway and reaching the top, the sergeant said, " Through this door you will enter Adjutant Thayer Melvin's room, and through a door in his room you will enter the general's." Lynn opened the door, and to the left lay the sleeping form of the adjutant. Stepping to his bedside, Lynn caught him by the shoulder, raised him up, and ordered him to speedily dress, that he was a prisoner in the hands of the Confederates. A guard was left with him, and Lynn then entered the general's room, and found him sound asleep. Rousing him in like manner, the general indignantly demanded what he wanted. Lynn then introduced himself and taking in the situation the general made a hasty toilet, and the two were guarded to the pavement below, where both were mounted up behind some of the men.

Meantime a similar scene was being enacted at the Revere House, where General Crook was sleeping in fancied security. James Dailey sent word that he had secured Gen. Crook, soon joined the command, drawn up in line in front of the old Barnum Hotel, and the command was ordered to retrace their steps down Baltimore Street. Lynn mounted his horse, and rode rapidly down the street to the stables near the bridge, where the staff horses were quartered. Riding into the yard he secured the sentinel guarding the stables, and calling to the men, they secured eight of the finest horses, among them Gen. Kelley's horse " Philippi." Taking the tow-path, they encountered about twenty pickets stationed at the dam, whom they captured, throwing their arms into the river. Reaching Wiley's Ford, three miles below town, they were halted by another picket, who was stationed behind a stone wall leading to the bridge across the canal. The fourth time the sentinel called upon the retreating Confederates to halt he called to the sergeant of the guard, and said, " Sergeant, I have halted four times; they won't stop; I am going to shoot." The sergeant then stepped forward and said, "Who are you?" " Gen. Crook's bodyguard on a scout; in a hurry; ' rebs' near town." The sergeant replied, " All right; go ahead and give them hell." Passing quickly under the bridge and across the river, orders were given to keep Well closed up, and a guard placed in the rear to prevent straggling. Shortly after the departure the alarm was given and a company of mounted men went in pursuit. The fugitives were overtaken near Romney, and a skirmish followed, but the prisoners were beyond recapture. Taking the old Trough Hollow road, the command soon came in sight of Moorefield, where they had hoped to exhibit the prisoners to the people of that hospitable town and procure supplies. Their attention being attracted across the river, it was soon discovered that a force had been sent from New Creek to intercept them and, if possible, recapture the generals. Lynn was ordered to the ford at the river to hold them in check until the command, by a flank movement to the left, gained the mountain and left Moorefield far to the right. The Federals drove Lynn and his men, who kept the road, before them to Moorefield, and thus the recapture of the generals was frustrated. This event caused much excitement throughout the country, and was commented upon largely in every direction. The captured officers were sent to Richmond, and shortly afterwards exchanged.

The capture of Gens. Crook and Kelley was one of the last exploits of the war. On the 3rd of April, 1865, Gen. Lee's lines at Petersburg were broken, and on the 9th the remnant of the Confederate army was surrendered to Gen. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. Five days after the surrender of Lee the country was shocked by the intelligence of the assassination of President Lincoln and the attempted murder of members of his cabinet. The news was received in Western Maryland, as it was throughout the land, with a universal feeling of regret and indignation, and men of all parties joined heartily in deploring the untimely end of the Chief Magistrate of the nation, and in denouncing the crime of which he was the victim.

The excited state of feeling growing out of the assassination of the President and the return of Confederate paroled prisoners led in Baltimore and elsewhere to intemperate measures, and it was therefore considered desirable to define the legal status and rights of those who had recently been serving in the armies of the Confederacy. At the request of the War Department, Attorney-General Speed, on the 24th of April, 1865, gave an opinion in regard to certain paroled Confederate prisoners whose homes before the war had been in the States north of the Potomac. By the terms of the agreement entered into by Gens. Grant and Lee, all the officers and men of Lee's army were to be allowed to return to their homes, and were not to be disturbed by the United State authorities so long as they observed their parole and the laws in force at the place of their residence.

Attorney-General Speed, however, held that this agreement did not apply to Confederate soldiers from Maryland and other States north of the Potomac, and in accordance with this opinion Maj.-Gen. Wallace issued an order directing the commanding officers and provost-marshals in the Middle Department to arrest and bold in confinement all Confederate officers, soldiers, and citizens who had returned to their former homes to await exchange, and to report each case to headquarters for such disposition as might be directed by the government at Washington. In accordance with this order a large number of ex-Confederates were arrested " for coming into this department without authority," and upon taking the oath of allegiance were sent North, where they were tolerated. On the 18th of July, 1865, Gen. Winfield S. Hancock assumed command of the Middle Department, embracing the States of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, excepting the counties of Anne Arundel, Prince George, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's. On the 2nd of August, Gen. Hancock issued an order requiring " paroled prisoners of the late rebel armies who have not been pardoned by the President of the United States," upon arriving within the limits of the department, to report their presence and residence immediately to the nearest provost-marshal and register their names, and announcing that paroled prisoners non-residents of the department would not be allowed to remain in it without the sanction of the department commander or higher authority.

On the 12th of January, 1866, another military order was issued, in which it was announced that, —

" The provost-marshal's office will cease to exist in this command on the 31st of January. Brevet Brig.

Gen. John Woolley, United States Volunteers, provost-marshal, will take measures to close the books and records pertaining to his office upon that date, and turn them over to the adjutant-general of the department." In accordance with this order all the books, papers, and records of the office of the provost-marshal-general of the Middle Department of the Eighth Army Corps were turned over on the 31st of January, 1866, to Adam E. King, brevet colonel, adjutant-general of the Middle Military Department. The closing of the provost-marshal's department in Baltimore closed the reign of the military commanders in Maryland. President Johnson had, on June 23, 1865, rescinded the blockade proclamations issued April 15 and 17, 1861; on Aug. 29, 1865, he had removed further restrictions, and on the 1st of December following he annulled the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, and finally, on the 2nd of April, 1866, formally announced by proclamation that the Rebellion had ended.