Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/522

482 hour of that morning, drove in the enemy's pickets, near Frederick City, and followed them through that town toward Monocacy Junction of the Baltimore & Ohio, on the eastern side of Monocacy river, where a Federal army, under Gen. Lew Wallace, occupied a strong position, protected by two well-constructed block-houses, one of them flanked by strong earthworks on a nearby hill, its main force occupying a commanding plateau extending southward from the block-houses and overlooking the lovely valley of the Monocacy. Ramseur promptly engaged the enemy in his front, skirmished with them, and brought several batteries into position to reply to those from the plateau that had opened on him. Having reconnoitered the enemy's position. Early ordered McCausland's brigade of cavalry, which had moved from Middletown by way of Jefferson, to cross the Monocacy, below the enemy, and get upon his flank. This movement was successful, and he quickly drove away the Federal cavalry and skirmished with its infantry. Gordon's division soon followed McCausland, struck the enemy's flank and drove it back in confusion, having turned its works, to a second line, which he also broke and completely routed, pursuing them for some distance and capturing many prisoners, until night closed the pursuit. McCausland's brigade followed the enemy's cavalry to Urbana, on the road to Washington city, and there had an engagement with them, after which he fell back to the Monocacy.

Rodes' division moved out on the road to Baltimore and had a brief skirmish with Wallace's discomfited and retreating army. Early's troops encamped on the battlefield, resting from their decisive, but dearly bought victory. Gen. Bradley Johnson's brigade of cavalry, formerly Jones', started on an expedition to the vicinity of Baltimore, riding by way of Liberty, Unionville and Westminster, then along the Western Maryland railroad to Relay and to Gunpowder bridge, on the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore railroad, which they destroyed; detached parties visited other important points to the north of Baltimore, and all returned, by way of Brookeville, to the vicinity of Washington, where they rejoined the main body on the 12th.

On Sunday, the 10th, the enemy retreated toward Baltimore. Early destroyed the iron bridge of the