|
|
American Civil WarSoldiers
20th North Carolina Infantry Regiment
MONOCACY, MD
July 9, 1864
Middle Department, 8th Army
Corps, and 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps
During the
operations in the Shenandoah Valley, Maj.-Gen. Lewis Wallace
left Frederick on the evening of the 8th and by a night march
took position on the left bank of the Monocacy river. Early
on the morning of the 9th the Confederates moved out from
Frederick City and began the fight in skirmish order, a little
later bringing their artillery into action. The enemy's
cavalry and artillery then moved around to the Federal left
and charged vigorously on the 3rd division of the 6th army
corps, but the attack was repulsed and a countercharge made,
driving the enemy back. A second attack of Confederate
infantry was repulsed, but with heavy loss to both sides.
About 3:30 p.m. the enemy's batteries were brought into
position to enfilade the Federal line and another assaulting
force of four lines of infantry was moved into position. When
Wallace saw the approaching column he ordered a retreat on the
Baltimore pike, where Brig.Gen. E. B. Tyler had been
skirmishing fiercely all day. The retreat was made in good
order, Tyler forming the rear-guard. The Confederates
followed for some distance, but darkness stopped the pursuit.
The Federal loss amounted to 123 killed, 603 wounded and 568
captured or missing. The Confederate loss in killed and
wounded was reported as being 700.
[Source: The Union Army, vol. 5]
| |