Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 11.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[619] a coolness and steadiness which I venture has not been exceeded in any battle of the war. Too much credit cannot be given General Ricketts for his skill and courage.

During the main fight, skirmishing across the river went on uninteruptedly, and down at the Baltimore pike bridge assumed serious form. My right, extending from the railroad to the bridge mentioned, was under charge of Brigadier-General E. B. Tyler, now supposed to be a prisoner, who, though not tried by so severe a test, met every expectation, and performed his duty with ability and courage. I do not now think myself seriously beaten; there was not a flag lost, nor a gun. The rebels captured no stores whatever, and, in face of their over-whelming force, I brought off my whole command, losing probably not over two hundred prisoners. My casualty list will be quite severe, but cannot possibly equal that of the enemy, as they charged several times in close lines, and with a recklessness that can be justified only upon the ground that they supposed my command consisted of raw militia.

Each one of his four lines of attack presented a front greater than that of General Ricketts' division, all deployed. By calculation this would give him about eighteen thousand men engaged on the left bank, while he had at least two thousand more skirmishing and fighting in my front across the river. Permit me to state that, in fighting, I had three objects in view: one to keep open, if possible, the communication by rail to Harper's Ferry, the second to cover the roads to Washington and Baltimore; the last, to make the enemy develop his force. I failed in all but the last, and from what I saw, it can be safely asserted that the enemy must have two corps of troops north of the Potomac. In the computation I include his column operating in the region of Hagerstown, that about Harper's Ferry, and the one which fought me yesterday. A rebel officer dying on the field, told a staff officer of General Ricketts that Lee was managing these operations in person, and would shortly have three corps about the Potomac for business against Washington and Baltimore. This circumstance is true; give it what weight you please. I regret to add that we were able to bring off but few of our wounded, and none of our dead. The hundred-days men straggled badly, while the men of the Sixth corps reached this place in perfect order, and covered the retreat.

The Third regiment Potomac Home Brigade, Colonel Gilpin, of Tyler's brigade, also maintained good order. I will make a more complete report with your permission when I receive the report of Brigadier-General Ricketts. I wish to make honorable mention at this time of Lieutenant-Colonel D. R. Clendenin, of the Eighth Illinois cavalry; of Captain F. W. Alexander, whose battery was well served throughout the day; and of Colonel Charles Gilpin, who, commanded during the fight at Frederick City on the seventh instant, in which the enemy lost, killed and wounded, one hundred and forty men, while we lost one man killed, aud eighteen wounded. The number of rebel casualties is given on the statements of citizens of Frederick. I wish also to make honorable mention of Colonel Brown, of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio National Guard, who, ably assisted by Captain Lieb, United States cavalry, stubbornly held the Baltimore pike bridge, and thus kept open my line of retreat.

sir — In my official report of the battle of Monocacy I omitted to make mention of the very great obligations I was under to Hon. John W. Garrett, President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, for his personal exertions in forwarding to my support and assistance promptly upon their arrival at Baltimore, the advance brigade of General Ricketts' division of troops. Please attach this so as to make it a part of the report alluded to.

Very respectfully,

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 seventh instant, Lieutenant-Colonel 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 Colonel 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. Colonel Gilpin and Lieutenant-Colonel 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 Captain Alexander, and I do but simple justice when I say that the officers and men are entitled to high