return. The attempt to release the prisoners of which I was
informed by General Lee, was not made, as the enemy had
received notice of it in some way. Major Harry Gilmor, who
burned the bridge over the Gunpowder on the Philadelphia
road, captured Major General Franklin on a train at that point,
but he was permitted to escape, either by the carelessness or
exhaustion of the guard placed over him, before I was inform-
ed of the capture.
On the afternoon of the 12th, a heavy reconnoitring force was sent out by the enemy, which, after severe skirmishing, was driven back by Rodes' division with but slight loss to us. About dark we commenced retiring and did so without molestation.[1] Passing through Rockville and Poolsville, we crossed the Potomac at White's Ford, above Leesburg in Loudon County, on the morning of the 14th, bringing off the prisoners captured at Monocacy and everything else in safety. There was some skirmishing in the rear between our cavalry and that of the enemy which was following, and, on the afternoon of the 14th, there was some artillery firing by the enemy, across the river, at our cavalry which was watching the fords. Besides the money levied in Hagerstown and Frederick, which was subsequently very useful in obtaining supplies, we brought off quite a large number of beef cattle, and the cavalry obtained a number of horses, some being also procured for the artillery,[2]
- ↑ Grant says: "On the 12th, a reconnoissance was thrown out in front of Fort Stevens to ascertain the enemy's position and force. A severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost 280 in killed and wounded. The enemy's loss was probably greater. He commenced retiring during the night." In regard to the same affair, Stanton says; "By these troops (Wright's, Gilmore's, and Emory's) the enemy was was driven back from Washington and retreated hastily to Virginia, pursued by our forces under General Wright." Grant's statement is correct, with the exception of the estimate he places on our loss. Comment on Stanton's is unneccessary when it is compared with that of Grant.
- ↑ On the night of the 12th, the house of Postmaster General Blair near Silver Spring was burned, and it was assumed by the enemy that it was burned by my orders. The fact is, that I had nothing to do with it, and do not yet know how the burning occurred. Though I believed that retaliation was fully justified by the previous acts of the enemy, yet I did not wish to incur the risk of any license
