Newspaper Accounts
of fighting in Rockville, July 10 - 14, 1864
The following excerpts are from contemporaneous newspaper accounts mentioning Rockville in relation to Early´s Raid on Washington City.
Baltimore Sun, July 19th, Dateline: Rockville, July 16th
After the engagement at Monocacy Junction on Saturday last, it appears that the whole rebel force turned aside from the Baltimore road and marched into this county. Their skirmishers advanced into this village on Sunday afternoon, about three o´clock. They were driving a body of Union cavalry of about five hundred before them, and a few shots were exchanged in the streets. The advance was cavalry and mounted infantry, and after scouting some distance down the road to Washington, returned and bivouacked in the Fair grounds for the night. Although the cavalry and all concurred in declaring that both [Generals] Breckinridge and Early were in the rear with a large force, and told of wonderful exploits to be performed, and wonderful things to be effected in capturing Washington, and carrying the war to the North, it was not until Monday morning at seven o´clock that the citizens could be made to believe that the movement was anything more than an extensive cavalry raid. From that time till a late hour in the day on Monday the streets were blockaded with passing infantry, artillery and wagon trains. Nearly every regiment was headed by a band of music, which, generally, as they marched through the town, discoursed fine music. Gen. Early arrived about eight o´clock, and occupied the Clerk´s office of the courthouse for a few minutes in consultation with his officers. He is a stout man, of at least sixty years, with gray hair and beard, red face, and is very round-shouldered. His apparel, or rather his uniform, was of the commonest character, and had been much soiled and worn--his hat, for instance, being a high-crowned drab slouch, adorned with a single dust black feather. The General appeared to be all the time in deep, abstracted study. On his return on Wednesday morning--not from Washington--but from his position in front of the fortifications, I saw him sitting alone for an hour on the piazza of the Montgomery House of this place, with a map in his hand, which he appeared to be studying most intently. At breakfast he was heard to say that his orders were to exercise his own discretion about attacking Washington, and to express the opinion that it might have been taken at an immense sacrifice of life. At any rate, the gentleman to whom he thus spoke afterwards told me that General Early was evidently much depressed, and regarded the expedition as a failure. [General] McCausland was the only other prominent officer I saw. He sat opposite to me at tea in the Montgomery House on Sunday night. He wore a worsted shirt, and had nothing to distinguish him from the men he commanded. He, too, was stearn and taciturn, and I should think about forty years of age. Although he asked me few questions about the size of the population of the place, etc., I supposed him to be a private until I afterwards heard him called Gen. McCausland, by a soldier who invited him to take a cigar.
Baltimore Sun, July 19th, Dateline: Rockville, July 16th
On Tuesday night, about eleven o´clock, the advance of the retiring army reached this village. From that time until eleven o´clock on Wednesday morning there was the incessant sound of bustle and rattle, which need not be particularly described to those who have tried to sleep and dream while large armies were passing. By twelve o´clock, Bradley T. Johnson, with the rear guard of the rebel army of invasion, had evacuated the village, and there was profound quite. Its reign, however, was brief. Your correspondent began to wonder if it could be possible that after nearly two days´ skirmishing in front of the fortifications, and the retreat of the rebel army, there was no cavalry to harass its rear and press it closely through the whole of its march. After a pause of twenty minutes Union cavalry splendidly mounted and equipped, rode briskly into town, and advanced, numbering several hundred men. And now I wondered again if it could be possible that only a few hundred cavalry had presumed to follow up and fall upon the rear guard of the rebel army, numbering, as it did, at least three thousand men. Soon it proved to be too true. Sharp firing commenced about three quarters of a mile in the distance, grew suddenly more rapid and distinct, and the Union cavalry was on the retreat. Citizens fled from the streets and sought refuge in their houses and cellars. The collision of the dismounted men was now in front of their doors, and in their yards and gardens--rapid and repeated discharges were heard from every quarter, and the yells and cries of the combatants showed that the contest was not a little stubborn.
The skirmish went on for nearly two hours. It appears that the Union troops, who were under command of Colonel Lowell, of the 2d Massachusetts cavalry, gained some advantage in the beginning of the encounter, but the rebels rallied with reinforcements, and were finally left in possession of the town. Colonel Lowell´s men fought with a very effective weapon--being Spencer´s seven-shooting caribine--while the rebels used old muskets, and some even had shotguns. The loss consequently was nearly equal, that of the Unionists being one man killed and five or six wounded, that of the rebels two men killed, one of them an officer, said to have been a colonel, and four or five wounded. Many house, tree, etc., were struck with balls, and in three or four places pools of blood told the sad story of fellow Americans being engaged in mortal combat. A small guard of thirty rebels held the town until five o´clock, and then, without further molestation, departed.
Baltimore Sun, July 19th, Letter: Rockville, July 16th
Montgomery County has been visited with a heavy
hand. Since last Saturday she has been laid in dust and desolation. Not a heart
but has been saddened; not a home but has seen trial and affliction, not a man
but has a story to tell of the plunder and pillage, of robbery and ruin. It
would be useless to undertake to give an adequate idea of the utter destruction
which [the Confederates] have everywhere left. They recognized no right, knew no
distinction or discrimination, nor entertained for one moment any forebearing
consideration. But our people behaved in every instance with sense and prudence.
If there was dissension or difference among them before, it was forgotten in the
severe trials through which they passed; and they nobly joined in common efforts
for mutual protection, and in one sentiment of condemnation upon the ravaging
spirit that ruled the hour.
Respectfully yours, W.
New York Tribune, July 12th [of events on July 10th]
Four soldiers of the 6th New York Cavalry were left in Rockville wounded.
There were 800 [Confederate] infantry only in the force that encamped at Rockville last night....
New York Tribune, July 13th [of events on July 10th]
Rockville, a small village sixteen miles north of Washington, was occupied by the enemy on Sunday afternoon, and their cavalry are scouring the country in all directions, collecting plunder and harrying it to the south bank of the river.
New York Tribune, July 14th [of events on July 13th]
Scouts report that the Rebels were this morning recrossing the Potomac... while a dispatch from Gen. Halleck from Rockville says the retreating Rebels passed through that place at 3 o´clock this morning.
New York Tribune, July 15th [of events on July 13th]
Between Tenallytown and Rockville, at an early hour yesterday morning, the Rebels fell back from their position north of the fortifications at Tenallytown to Rockville, where they were pursued by our cavalry to the number of about 800. These engaged them throughout the day with varying success.
Rockville had been in our hands half a dozen times, but reinforcements being sent to the enemy, they would occupy it till our turn came.
Such was the fighting in the vicinity of Rockville yesterday--neither party gaining anything worth speaking of.
Baltimore Sun, July 19, 1864.
New York Tribune, July 12 - 15, 1864. Cover page under column heading
"News from Washington".