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Chapter 39: battle of Monocacy.
The enemy, in considerable force under
General Lew Wallace, was found strongly posted on the eastern bank of the
Monocacy near the
Junction, with an earthwork and two block-houses commanding both the railroad bridge and the bridge on the
Georgetown pike.
Ramseur's division was deployed in front of the enemy, after driving his skirmishers across the river, and several batteries were put in position, when a sharp artillery fire opened from both sides.
Rodes' division had come up from
Jefferson and was placed on
Ramseur's left, covering the roads from
Baltimore and the crossings of the
Monocacy above the
Junction.
Breckenridge's command, with the trains, was in the rear between
Frederick and the
Junction, while the residue of the cavalry was watching a force of the enemy's cavalry which had followed from
Maryland Heights.
The enemy's position was too strong, and the difficulties of crossing the
Monocacy under fire too great, to attack in front without greater loss than I was willing to incur.
I therefore made an examination in person to find a point at which the river could be crossed, so as to take the enemy in flank.
While I was engaged in making this examination to my right, I discovered
McCausland in the act of crossing the river with his brigade.
As soon as he crossed, he dismounted his men, and advanced rapidly against the enemy's left flank, which he threw into confusion, and he came very near capturing a battery of artillery, but the enemy concentrated on him, and he was gradually forced back obstinately contesting the ground.
McCausland's movement, which was very brilliantly executed, solved the problem for me, and, as soon as I discovered it, orders were sent to
Breckenridge to move up rapidly with
Gordon's division to
McCausland's assistance, and to follow up his attack.
This division crossed at the same