Читать книгу A Summer in Maryland and Virginia; Or, Campaigning with the 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry онлайн

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About this time we began to hear rumors of Gen. Early’s invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and it was reported that he was marching on toward Baltimore. He came within four miles of the city and burned the residence of Governor Bradford. In Baltimore the excitement was intense. The bells of the city on that Sunday morning called the citizens to man the Forts, to dig ditches, and throw up earthworks, instead of the church service, and thousands responded to the all. Lieutenant Runkle of the regulars assumed command at Fort No. 1 and began a rigid drill in heavy artillery, our guns were manned, loaded with shell and sighted at prominent houses, groves, etc., that might give shelter to the enemy. This drill was kept up for two days and nights, the men sleeping at their posts, expecting the ball to open at any moment. But Early withdrew his forces and with haste, again entered the Shenandoah Valley.

On July 1st General Early received orders to invade Maryland and advance on Washington. He began preparations by forcing General Siegel to retreat to Maryland Heights where he was cooped up. Early moved by flank, entered Maryland and advanced to Frederick City. On the 9th of July the battle of Monocacy was fought. We at Fort No. 1 began to see some of our soldiers come in from the battle field, among them being Assistant Surgeon Miesse and Chaplain Morris, who stopped at the Fort and gave us an account of the battle. Gen. Wallace had gathered a force of twenty-eight hundred men, consisting of one Maryland Regiment and the rest were hundred days men, among them being the 144th Ohio, and seven companies of the 149th. On the 8th of July a brigade of Ricketts’ Division of the Sixth Corps came up on a train of cars bound for Harper’s Ferry. Wallace informed the Commander “that if he wanted to get to Harper’s Ferry he would have to get the consent of Jubal Early.” He stopped the Brigade and put it in position. During the night Ricketts came up with his other Brigade. He wanted to know what Wallace proposed to do, and was informed that he proposed to fight. Ricketts laughed and said, “with my division and your hundred day men you have only about 6,000. Do you expect to whip Early?” “No,” replied Wallace, “but I propose to make him do two things, develop his strength and whither he is bound.”