Robert Lee was in Texas in 1855 as a lieutenant colonel of the Second Cavalry Regiment. Here he served several years, policing the border areas against the Indians. In 1859 he was home on leave when the abolitionist John Brown tried to start a slave uprising at Harpers Ferry in Virginia. From Washington, lee led a party of Marines that captured Brown and his band. He returned to Texas for a short tour of duty but was recalled to Washington early in 1861. The secession movement had started. Some Southern states had left the Union and others were about to go. Lee’s own Virginia was consi

The Battle of Monocacy, July 9, 1864, was known as the “Battle that Saved Washington.” The campaign was Early’s Raid and Operations against the B&O Railroad (June-August 1864). Major General Lew Wallace was the principal commander for the United States and Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early was for the Confederates. After marching north through Shenandoah Valley from Lynchburg, the Confederate army sidestepped the Federal garrison at Harpers Ferry and crossed the Potomac River at Shepherdstown into Maryland on July 5-6. On July 9, a makeshift Union force under Major General Lee Wallace attempted to arrest invading Confederate divisions along the Monocacy River. Wallace was joined by Rickett’s Division of the VI Corps the had been rushed from the Petersburg lines. He was outflanked by Gordon’s Division and defeated after putting up a stiff resistance. Hearing of Early’s incursion into Maryland, Grant embarked the rest of the VI Corps on transports of City Point which sent it with all dispatch to Washington. Wallace’s defeat at Monocacy bought time for these veteran troops to arrive to bolster the defenses of Washington. “The Battle of Monocacy is known as the engagement that saved Washington. Wallace’s heroic stand delayed the Confederates by a day—time that allowed experience Union soldiers to man the capital’s defenses. Despite his failure to capture the capital, a feat which was probably beyond his powers, Early did achieve most of what Lee expected” (Greene and Gallagher, 47). The result was confederate victory and there were 2,359 total estimated casualties in this battle.

The Battle of Folck’s Mill was fought on August 1, 1864. The campaign was Early’s Raid and Operations against the B&O Railroad (June-August 1864). The principal commanders were Brig. General Benjamin F. Kelly for the United States and Brig. General John McCausland for the Confederates. After burning Chambersburg Pennsylvania on July 30, McCausland’s cavalry brigades rode towards Cumberland, Maryland to disrupt the B&O Railroad. Kelly organized a small force of solders and citizens to meet the Confederate advance. On August 1, Kelly ambushed Rebel cavalrymen near Cumberland at Folck’s Mill, and skirmishing continued for several hours. The confederates withdrew eventually. The results were inconclusive and there were 38 total estimated casualties.

Some topics in this essay:
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