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

[622] over a hill, and fell back to Monrovia, where I found trains loaded with wounded and stragglers moving off. Crossing to the Baltimore turnpike I covered the rear of our retreating forces until they arrived at Ellicott's Mills. My loss this day was one man killed-Lieutenant J. A. Kinley--and five men wounded.

Companies C and I, Eighth Illinois cavalry, Captain Wells commanding, were entirely cut off, and fell back on Washington. Captain Lieb's men behaved well, and fell back in good order from our extreme right, forming part of the rear guard.

The London Rangers are worthless as cavalry.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

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 one A. M. Thursday, seventh, I received an order to send a section to Frederick to report to Lieutenant-Colonel Clendenin, Eighth Illinois cavalry. Lieutenant Leary of the battery reported at half-past 4 A. M. with his section at Frederick to Lieutenant-Colonel Clendenin, and advanced at six A. M. along the road leading westwardly to Middletown. The enemy were encountered two miles this side of Middletown, and the section gradually retired toward Frederick. At eleven A. M. of the same day, I received orders to go to Lieutenant Leary's assistance with another gun and ammunition. I met them at half-past 12 P. M., and with Colonel Clendenin formed a line of defence on the edge of the town. The enemy opened on us with three guns about four P. M. About six P. M. we dismounted one gun and began to silence their artillery fire. Shortly before dark Colonel Gilpin, who, on his arrival, had assumed command, charged and forced back the rebels, and they appeared no more that night.

On Friday, eighth, the battery was filled by the arrival of the remaining three pieces at nine A. M. No engagement took place, except slight skirmishing on the Middletown road, but the battery was constantly on the move until four A. M., Saturday, ninth, when it returned to the Monacacy somewhat short of ammunition, as the fire on Thursday bad been continuous all day. On Saturday, ninth, at nine A. M., I was ordered to place three guns on the hill beyond Monocacy, toward 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 toward 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 advantages 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 calibre. (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 hill on the right to the hill on our left. Finally, about three 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 four P. M., but the guns were kept in position until the order was given from General Ricketts to retire by the Baltimore road. We moved out along the road which led to the Baltimore pike at a walk, and I was ordered by General 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 eleven A. M., Sunday, July tenth, 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.: Lieutenant Evans, Lieutenant Leary, and Lieutenant Hall. Lieutenant Alexander was absent as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General on General 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,

General — I have the honor to report that I left with my command of mounted infantry on the sixth instant for Monocacy Junction. I arrived and reported to General Tyler, who immediately ordered me to move to the front and report to Colonel Gilpin of the Third Potomac Home Brigade. I reported to him and was ordered to support Alexander's battery of artillery. About twelve o'clock at night I was again ordered to move to the Monocacy pike bridge and hold it. On the eighth I was ordered again