Part 9

The 3d division, under General Ricketts, numbering but five thousand men, were placed immediately on baggage cars and forwarded to Monocacy, the first train carrying the 87th Pennsylvanian and 14th New Jersey. The enemy were now in force at Frederick City. The Baltimore American was issued that day with the following address to the public: "That Ricketts' division had arrived from the Potomac army; that the 14th New Jersey and 87th Pennsylvania had reached Monocacy, and with such veteran regiments as these nothing more need be feared" from the then supposed guerillas. The remainder of the division was forwarded as rapidly as possible, reporting to Gen. Wallace, then in chief command. Fourteen months had elapsed since the 14th regiment had left Monocacy Bridge, but the place looked natural; none dreamed that on the morrow a terrible battle would be fought on the old camping ground; grass and weeds had grown in abundance, and scarcely a vestige of the former camp could be seen. The regiment with the troops that lay there, marched up to Frederick City, and then around a circuit of ten miles, but nothing of the enemy could be seen, and halting at ten o'clock, near the bridge, in line of battle.

Saturday, July 19th, 1834, will long be remembered by the Jersey boys. The remainder of the division with General Ricketts and staff had arrived, and orders were issued to form the men in line and prepare to repel an attack, as it was now discovered that instead of a small force it was a corps of rebels thirty thousand strong. To retreat would only result in the capture of Washington and Baltimore, and it was determined by Generals Wallace and Ricketts to hold Monocacy Bridge at all hazards, and to retard the advance of the enemy as much as possible until re-enforcements would arrive. Just one year had passed since the 14th joined the Potomac army, and during that time we lost a great number of men.

At 9 o'clock the enemy's advanced skirmishers made their appearance; our skirmishers had crossed the river, and advanced with promptness to meet them. After a short time it was found impossible to withstand the enemy, as they out-numbered us six to one. Our skirmishers were driven back across the river, and the battle began, the enemy opening with several pieces of artillery; the battle raged terribly for eight long hours. The enemy crossed the river, driving our men steadily back, and coming up in four lines of battle thirty thousand strong. Our little band of five thousand men fought as if everything depended upon the issue, several times driving the enemy back, strewing the ground with rebel dead, and not until flanked right and left did the men fall back. The boys from the 14th fought nobly, but with regret saw that they must retreat. The regiment being on the extreme left of the line suffered severely; Lieut.-Col. Hall, Adjutant Buckalew and several officers were wounded; Captains Stullts, Kanine and Conover were killed, and every officer, both field and line, was either killed or wounded except Captain J. J. Janeway of Co. K. The command of the regiment devolved upon him, and he fought bravely, leading the men on. The one hundred days' men would not fight, but ran in all directions panic-struck, some of them reaching Baltimore, fifty-eight miles distant, without halting.

Eight long hours had passed, the enemy were pressing on all sides, and it soon became evident that unless we retreated all would be lost. At four o'clock the order was given to fall back, which was done in order, the men disputing every inch of the ground; we had but four pieces of artillery, and that without ammunition. The enemy poured grape and cannister into our retreating columns, mowing down the men like grass. More than one-half of the division were killed and wounded; several hid in the woods and were captured next day. It was now every man for himself; knapsacks, haversacks, and even canteens were thrown away. The main force of the enemy moved on the Georgetown Pike to Washington, the cavalry and a portion of the infantry following the retreating column as far as New Market, six miles distance. It was a hard fought battle, but what could five thousand men do against thirty thousand? Capt. Harris, from Co. C, was twice wounded, and was again struck while being helped to an ambulance; several staff officers were also wounded, among them Capt. King, adjutant general of the division. Capt. Janeway was wounded in the shoulder shortly after taking command, and was forced to leave; the regiment was now without a commander. Several recruits had arrived after the battle of Cold Harbor, and the regiment was partly filled, entering the fight with three hundred and fifty men; but ninety-five came out, two hundred and fifty-five being killed, wounded and captured in that terrible battle. Of the nine hundred and fifty men that left New Jersey, but ninety-five were left for duty, on the night of July 9th, without an officer to command them. The other regiments suffered greatly, but none of them losing as many men as the 14th. The news had reached Baltimore and Washington that the enemy were pressing on and preparations were made for an immediate defence, the citizens turning out in vast numbers entrenching. The cities were proclaimed under martial law and none allowed to leave. Time and again had the 14th regiment drilled battalion and skirmish drills over the same hills, little thinking that a terrible battle would be fought, and that the regiment would suffer as it did. Although it resulted in a defeat to our arms, it detained the enemy, and thereby served to enable Gen. Wright to reach Washington with the two remaining divisions of the 6th corps, which had been sent as soon as Gen. Grant was aware of the enemy's movement.

The 19th army corps from General Banks' command had been sent to reinforce the Potomac army, but were immediately sent north with the 6th army corps, together with the 8th army corps that had lain along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad as guards. In a few hours a large army had assembled at Washington, with the citizens of the place and every foot of ground guarded; every avenue bristling with cannon. It was three days march for the enemy from Moncacy and in that time Washington was in a state of defence; all the forts were manned and the heavy guns loaded and shotted. Citizens were armed and formed in companies, all work being suspended. The remnant of the division reached the Baltimore pike, retreating rapidly toward Baltimore, marching all night, passing through New Market, Mount Airy and several small villages along the route; reaching Ellicott's Mills on Sunday afternoon, having marched fifty-five miles without resting. Harry Gillmore, with two hundred rebel cavalry, had advanced as far as the railroad, destroying it between Baltimore and Washington, capturing a train of cars and a mail and severing all communication for two days; there was no Union cavalry near and they did as they pleased. Frederick City was filled with rebel wounded, as our boys had made every shot tell; if the first line was missed they were sure to hit one of the rear lines. Two hundred thousand dollars was demanded from the citizens, or the place would be laid in ashes; the amount was paid by the banks; the city was pillaged and the houses robbed. From Monocacy, the enemy having moved on Washington, reached Rockville on the evening of the 10th.

The 1st and 2d divisions of the 6th corps had been sent from City Point and landed at Washington, and on a double quick proceeded to Fort Stephens; by this time the enemy had reached there. Skirmishers from both armies were immediately thrown out; the enemy, with dismay, saw that instead of one hundred days' men and men from the Invalid corps, they saw the red and white cross of the old 6th corps; they had laid in front of Washington during the afternoon, intending to attack at night; during that time the 6th and 19th corps had reached there, and Washington was out of danger. The 3d division deserves all the praise for saving the National Capital; holding them in check so long at Monocacy, enabled other troops to arrive, but not a moment too soon. A severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost about two hundred in killed and wounded; the enemy's loss supposed to be greater. All was anxiety in the city, as the fighting was but three miles distant, near Tennelly Town, but when the veterans from the Potomac army arrived they were loudly cheered, and were treated well. President Lincoln and members of the Cabinet were present in Fort Stephens, witnessing the fight; the skirmish lasted two hours, in which the enemy were defeated and driven back; Washington almost within their grasp, was no longer in their power. Vain delusion! Had the 3d division retreated from Monocacy without fighting, the enemy would have reached there twelve hours sooner, and the place would have been taken and hundreds of men lost their lives. Every drop of blood shed at Monocacy, every life lost, was sacrificed in a noble cause. Those fallen heroes, whose bones lie bleaching there, if they could only know that their lives saved our National Capital from destruction, would willingly exclaim, "I die content, I gave my life for my country."

The division remained at Ellicott's Mills until Monday afternoon, stragglers coming in every few hours in squads; the men were placed on baggage cars for Baltimore, sixteen miles distant, arriving there at dark, lying near the track until morning; then marching two miles to Druid Hill Park, near the outskirts of the city. This park was fitted up at a great expense and was a beautiful place, the citizens were very unwilling that the troops should encamp there, but General Ricketts promising that nothing would be disturbed, consent was given, the men encamping in regimental order; tents on a line and orders given not to molest a thing, which was done. The rolls of the different regiments were called; but one thousand three hundred men reported for duty of the five thousand men embarked from Petersburg; three thousand seven hundred had been killed, wounded and captured at Monocacy Bridge; an equal number of the enemy were slain as they advanced in four lines, and a bullet was sure to hit one. General Ricketts reported the division unfit for duty; the men had lost their blankets and all their clothing, keeping nothing but their guns. General Early finding that re-enforcements had arrived retreated from Washington and was pursued by the two divisions of the 6th corps, and the 8th and 19th corps on the afternoon of the 14th. The division was ordered to join in the pursuit; being placed in baggage cars for Washington, forty miles distant, reaching the suburbs of the city at night, encamping until morning. The next day marching through the city and through Georgetown, halting in the afternoon near Tennelly Town; rations were issued and cattle furnished for a tramp; moving again, marching in all eighteen miles; halting at night near Cross Roads twelve miles from Washington.

Learning the exact condition of affairs at Washington, General Grant telegraphed the assignment of Major General Wright to the command of all the troops that could be available to operate in the field against the enemy, and directed that he should get outside of the trenches with all the force he could and push Early to the last moment. On the 16th the division started early, marching twenty-five miles; crossing the Potomac at Edwards Ferry, wading it, nearly one mile wide and waist deep. While the remnant of the Potomac army was lying in their camps at Petersburg, the 6th corps was marching in the hottest of weather from fifteen to twenty-five and even thirty miles per day, moving up and down the Shenandoah Valley until a decisive battle was fought at Winchester, resulting in defeat to the enemy and victory to us. On Sunday, the 17th, but eight miles were made; the column halting near Leesburg; the 3d division joining the corps as they had halted for us to come up, and now began the hardest marching, unparalleled in history. The 6th corps having the name of marching farther than any corps in the army and were called Wright's walkers, for their rapidity in marching; horses and mules fell lifeless along the road and were speedily replaced by others, but the men that fell never to rise again could not be replaced. The ambulances were full, and every baggage wagon with those that could not walk. The army now numbered over forty thousand men, all under command of Major General Wright, and was called the middle military division, composed of the 6th, 8th and 19th army corps, with sixty pieces of artillery.

The 6th corps was temporarily commanded by Gen. Ricketts, the 8th by Gen. Kelly and the 19th by Gen. Emory. The rebel army confronting us were thirty-five thousand strong, commanded by Gen. Jubal Early, and formed in five divisions, commanded by Gens. Rhodes, Ramsen, Wharton, Pegram and Gordon, with the notorious guerillas, Imboden, Jones and Harry Gillmore, the latter from Baltimore, together with Mosby, ever hovering in our rear and on our flank, and knowing every foot of the ground. These for a time were more than a match for our gallant little army, as every house our army passed contained persons that would not hesitate to inform the enemy of our movements, and who were in league with those guerilla bands. The troops were all now together, and were encamped near Leesburg, until three o'clock on the morning of the 18th, when the troops were routed out, drawing three days' rations, with orders to move. Marching out on the Georgetown pike, passing a place called Hamilton, and then marching ten miles, through Snickersville, near Snicker's Gap, the Potomac army encamped on the same ground the previous year when in pursuit of Lee--reaching the banks of the Shenandoah river during the afternoon; the enemy had halted, and were in force on the opposite side, with a determination to resist our advance and to give battle if our troops attempted a crossing; everything was in their favor, as our men had the river to cross under fire. There was no other alternative but to wade it nearly waist deep, and with a raking fire from concealed batteries posted on a hill. The column halted, and a skirmish line was formed, the men cooking dinner. Nearly every man had something that he had picked up on the way, as the country was filled with everything, such as hogs, chickens, honey and potatoes; all served for a meal, and was eaten with a relish. Hard-tack and salt pork remained in the haversack until needed.

The command of General Hunter had now reached and re-occupied Martinsburg, destroying over one million dollars worth of rations, and capturing one thousand prisoners that the rebels had left as guards, moving by detour, he flanked the enemy. As his force was insufficient to meet them if they should fall suddenly upon him, he with his command reached us while at Snicker's Gap, and reported to General Wright; they had suffered almost incredible hardships, having lived on the country for several weeks. Hunter was ordered to throw out a line of skirmishers, and force the river; supported by the 1st division of the 6th corps they succeeded in crossing the river, when the enemy's skirmishers advanced in three lines, driving Hunter's men pell mell back in confusion, several of them being drowned; the 1st division did not cross, as darkness came on. Both sides commenced shelling, and several in the 6th corps were killed and wounded, the Major of the 2d New Jersey infantry losing his leg; thus the day ended in disaster and defeat; but the men were not disheartened, and rested as quietly on their arms as though at home; a man can soon get used to anything. Many soldiers have slept as soundly in action as if nothing was occurring, the deep booming of the cannon and even shells striking near, failing to arouse them.

The troops remained at Snicker's Gap two days, and nothing important occurred, the enemy being still in force on the opposite side, and both armies with pickets on each side of the river. All sorts of rumors were circulated throughout camp, some of them very absurd. The men were glad to rest, as none felt like marching, the sun being hot and the sand very dry. On the morning of the 20th, it was discovered that the enemy had left our immediate front, but having no cavalry, Gen. Wright could not ascertain their movements. At eleven o'clock the troops were ordered to move, wading the Shenandoah at Snicker's Gap. A splendid shower came up and was very refreshing, as there had been no rain in sometime; the column halted in a woods on the banks of a river. It was now evident that the enemy were again making for Washington, and at dark the troops were ordered immediately back, recrossing the river; marching all night and part of the next day; moving back on the same road, the men nearly worn out, and halting all night near Goose Run Creek, having marched since crossing the Shenandoah thirty miles.

The men now began to murmur at General Wright for marching them so hard, this march being equal to the retreat from Culpepper, then the weather being cold the men were enabled to stand it better. The next morning the troops moved out again, marching twenty miles; halting at dark near Lewinsville, the men were too tired to cook, and threw themselves on the ground regardless of anything, and were soon asleep; it was now sixteen days since the division had left Petersburg; having travelled during that time, by water three hundred miles, by rail one hundred and sixteen miles, and on foot one hundred and seventy-five miles, total five hundred and ninety-one miles in that short space of time; but this was comparatively nothing, considering the marching the men were compelled to undergo while in the Shenandoah Valley.

On the 23d of July the troops marched fifteen miles, crossing the Potomac at Chain Bridge; again were the men within the defences of Washington. The paymasters were present, paying the guards, and the various detachments. On the 25th the troops received their pay for four months, remaining at Washington four days, when the enemy again attempted to remove north into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Gen. Wright was ordered to move immediately to the vicinity of Harper's Ferry. The troops started on the afternoon of July 26th, marching ten miles, passing Tennelly Town, and halting at Rockville, the next day marching eighteen miles, passing Gatysburg and Clarksburg, halting in the afternoon near Hyattstown, with sore and blistered feet. Such marching now began to tell upon the men, and many wished to meet the enemy and engage in battle, rather than be marched to death. On the 28th marched ten miles, passing Hyattstown and Urbanna, halting during the afternoon at Monocacy Bridge, on the battle ground of July 9th. The ground was broken up and traces of the conflict could be seen; remnants of shells, cannon, and unburied corpses lay strewn around. Our boys, with feelings of kindness ever displayed toward the enemy, carefully buried both friend and foe. The members of the 14th regiment visiting their old camp; after leaving Monocacy to join the Potomac army the men had never expected to see the place again, but they were destined to fight as severe a battle on the same ground one year after as was fought during the war, and to see the place several during the three years, as the army moved back and forth eight successive times while in Maryland. They had tried to destroy the railroad bridge, but failed, as the pillars were hollow and could not be blown up. The hotel and tank at the depot were burned, the bridge also, crossing at the main road. There was now a sufficient force to meet the enemy, without fear of flanking, and the men anxious to fight. The 3d Maryland regiment was there guarding the bridge. After resting a few hours orders were given to move, marching eight more miles, halting at Jefferson until morning in the same field the division halted when leaving Maryland Heights to join the Potomac army the previous year. Leaving Jefferson on the morning of the 29th, passing Petersville, Knoxville and Sandy Hook, crossing the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, on pontoons, marching twenty-five miles, and halting at Halltown on Bolivar Heights, near the headquarters of Gen. Crook.

In the meantime Early had sent a raiding party into Pennsylvania, which on the 30th burned the beautiful village of Chambersburg, and then retreated towards Cumberland, where they were met and defeated by General Kelley, and with diminished numbers escaped into the mountains of West Virginia. From the time of the first raid, the telegraph wires were frequently down between Washington and City Point, making it necessary to transmit messages by boat. It took from twenty-four to thirty-six hours to get dispatches through and return answers back, so that often orders would be given by General Grant, and then information would be received, showing a different state of things from those on which they were based, causing a confusion and apparent contradiction of orders, considerably embarrassing General Wright, and rendering operations against the enemy less effective than they otherwise would have been. To remedy this evil, it was necessary to have a commander with full power, to act as he thought proper. General Grant therefore ordered General Sheridan to have the supreme command of all the forces in the departments of West Virginia, Washington and the middle military division.

General Sheridan had not yet arrived, and General Wright acting under orders remained at Halltown, when it was discovered that the enemy were again bent on invading the north; on the 30th of July the troops were again ordered to move; marching back, passing Bolivar, re-crossing the Potomac on pontoons at Harper's Ferry; marching all night, and all next day thirty miles; halting on Sunday evening near Frederick City. As the weather was hot and the roads dry, more than one half of the men fell out; remaining three days, until August 3d, when the column marched six miles; wading the Monocacy at Buckeystown, remaining in camp until the night of the 5th, when orders were given to move, marching five miles to Monocacy Bridge, it raining hard. At this time the enemy were in force near Winchester, while our forces were at Monocacy, at the crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; leaving open to the enemy Maryland and Pennsylvania. General Grant being so far off hesitated to give positive orders for the troops to move lest by so doing it should expose Washington. On the 4th of August, he left City Point, and visited General Wright, at Monocacy, to determine for himself what was best to be done; arriving there he consulted with Generals Wright and Hunter, and then issued to them the following instructions:

MONOCACY BRIDGE, MD., Aug 5th, 1864--8 P. M.

_Maj.-Gen. Wright._

GENERAL: Concentrate all your available force without delay, in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards and garrisons, for public property, as may be necessary. Use in this concentrating the railroads, if so doing, time can be saved from Harper's Ferry. If it is found the enemy has moved north of the Potomac in large force, push north, follow them and attack them wherever found. Follow them if driven south of the Potomac as long as it is safe to do so. If it is ascertained that the enemy has but a small force north of the Potomac, then push south with the main force, detaching under a competent commander a sufficient force to look after the raiders and drive them to their homes. In detaching such a force, the brigade of cavalry, now _en route_ from Washington via Rockville, may be taken into account.