Today in History:

235 Series I Volume XXXVII-I Serial 70 - Monocacy Part I

Page 235 Chapter XLIX. OPERATIONS IN SHENANDOAH VALLEY, ETC.

From Fort Stevens' left to Fort De Russy troops of Major-General Wright and Major-General McCook are intermixed, those reporting to Major-General McCook, as follows:

2nd Vermont Volunteers (approximately)..................... 232

3rd Vermont Volunteers (approximately)..................... 272

147th Ohio volunteers (100-days' men)..................... 465

9th U. S. Veteran Reserve Corps........................... 350

157th Ohio................................................ 184

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Total.................................................... 1,503

Amount brought forward................................... 6,150

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Total.................................................... 7,653

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Between Forts Stevens and Slocum there is a section

(2 guns) 1st Ohio Battery [L, 1st Ohio].................. 121

Between Forts Stevens and De Russy, section (2 guns)

1st Maine Battery........................................ 112

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233

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Grand total under General McCook......................... 7,886

No other artillery aside from guns in the forts.

An order has just been issued placing Brigadier-General Meigs in command of the line from Stevens to Totten, inclusive, Brigadier-Generals Rucker and Paine and Lieutenant-Colonel Haskin reporting to him. The left cannot be so well organized, owing to the intermixing of troops under different commanders. I would respectfully suggest that any future trouble liable to arise with regard to commanders be averted by orders from headquarters.

To the left of Fort Totten there has been very little skirmish or picket firing. In front of Stevens and to the right and left of it firing is quite frequent.

The artillery firing has been from Stevens, De Russy, and Slocum for the purpose of shelling rebel pickets from cover of houses. No artillery or cavalry or any considerable body of infantry have been developed.

Two prisoners belonging to a Georgia regiment, captured by our advanced skirmishers in front of Stevens, say they were of Colonel Cook's brigade, Rodes' division, Early's (formerly Ewell's) corps, consisting of divisions of Rodes, Gordon, and Ramseur; these directly in front of Stevens.

The estimate placed upon this command, including Breckinridge's command, and the irregular Virginia troops is about 30,000, prisoners estimating from 25,000 to 50,000

General Meigs reports squads of cavalry seen to the right of Totten, thinks the enemy. The enemy maintain a pretty stiff picket-line and are not easily driven.

This part of the defense may be regarded as well organized. The line through not strongly defended is capable of resisting successfully a single line assault.

A rebel sharpshooter just wounded severely a soldier standing on the parapet of Fort Stevens.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

N. P . CHIPMAN,

Colonel and Additional Aide-de-Camp.

Honorable E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.


Page 235 Chapter XLIX. OPERATIONS IN SHENANDOAH VALLEY, ETC.