[618]
corroborates that opinion.
It is now well assured that General Early attacked me with one whole corps, not less than eighteen thousand strong, while Breckinridge, with two divisions, remained during the battle in quiet occupancy of Frederick City.
It is also certain, as one of the results, that, notwithstanding the disparity of forces, the enemy was not able to move from the battle-field, in prosecution of his march upon Washington, until the next day about noon.
As to the casualties, I regret that the speedy movement of some regiments of General Tyler's brigade made it impossible for him to perfect his report as he himself desired.
The following table, however, embraces the returns from that officer, and from General Ricketts, as accurately as was possible under the circumstances:
The aggregate shows a heavy loss, illustrating the obstinate valor of the command.
I am satisfied, however, that the casualties of the rebels exceeded mine.
To reach this conclusion, one has only to make a calculation, based upon the fact that the day after the battle over four hundred men, too seriously wounded to be carried away, were captured in the hospital at Frederick City.
Orders have been given to collect the bodies of our dead in one burial-ground on the battle-field, suitable for a monument, upon which I propose to write-These men died to save the national capital, and they did save it.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
| commands. | killed. | wounded. | missing. | total. | remarks. | |||||||
| Officers. | Enlisted Men. | Aggregate. | Officers. | Enlisted men. | Aggregate. | Officers. | Enlisted Men. | Aggregate. | ||||
| 3d Div. 6th Corps, Commanded by Brigadier-General Ricketts | General Staff | 1 | 1 | 1 | Capt. Adam E. King A. A. Genl., severely wounded. | |||||||
| 1st Brigade | 8 | 54 | 62 | 17 | 226 | 243 | 3 | 429 | 432 | 737 | ||
| 2d Brigade | 3 | 19 | 22 | 12 | 255 | 267 | 7 | 615 | 622 | 911 | ||
| Total | 11 | 73 | 84 | 30 | 481 | 511 | 10 | 1044 | 1054 | 1649 | ||
| Troops commanded by Brig.-Gen. E. B. Tyler | 3d Regt. P. H. B. | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 24 | |||
| 1st Regt. P. H. B. | 1 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 19 | |||||
| 11th Maryland Volunteers | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||
| 144th Ohio N. G. | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 20 | 21 | 34 | |||
| 149th Ohio N. G. | 4 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 184 | 187 | 201 | ||||
| Balt. Battery Light Artillery | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
| 8th Regt. Illinois Cavalry | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 21 | 26 | |||||
| Detachment 159th Ohio N. G. serving as mounted infantry | 1 | 8 | 9 | Commanded by Capt. E. H. Lieb., 5th U. S. Cavalry. | ||||||||
| Total | 1 | 14 | 15 | 3 | 65 | 68 | 5 | 223 | 236 | 319 | ||
| Total | 12 | 87 | 90 | 33 | 546 | 579 | 15 | 1267 | 1290 | 1968 | ||
Lew. Wallace, Major-General Commanding
headquarters, Ellicott's Mills, 2:05 P. M., July 10, 1864.
Major-General H. W. Halleck, Chief of Staff at Washington City:
I have the honor to report that I have reached this point with my column.
As I telegraphed you on the evening of the eighth instant, I left Frederick, and by a night march, took position on the left bank of the Monocacy, with my left on the south side of the Washington pike, and my right covering the bridge on the Baltimore pike, about two miles and a half from Frederick City.
Early in the morning of the ninth instant the enemy moved out of Frederick City, and in skirmish order, began to fight.
About nine o'clock, he opened on me with artillery, his guns being Napoleons or twelve-pounder howitzers, and mine (one six-gun battery) three-inch rifles, with one twenty-four-pounder howitzer.
His columns of cavalry and artillery worked rapidly round to my left, and crossed the river in face of my guard, and charged confidently upon Brigadier-General Ricketts' Third division Sixth Army Corps.
The General changed front and repulsed them, and charged in turn, and drove them gallantly.
The enemy then advanced a second line; this the General also repulsed and drove.
Meantime the enemy placed at least two batteries in positions, so that when he made his final charge, with four lines of infantry, about 3:30 P. M. the resistance of Ricketts' division was under an enfilading fire of shells really terrific.
The moment I saw the third rebel line advance, I ordered the General to make such preparations as he could, and retire his command by a county road up the river to the Baltimore pike.
This was accomplished with an extraordinary steadiness,
The men of the third division were not whipped, but retired reluctantly, under my order.
They bore the brunt of the battle with Major-General H. W. Halleck, Chief of Staff at Washington City:
