The B&O Railroad Museum is doing an exhibit you may be interested in:

Civil War: The Maryland Story – Retreat by Rail
February 16 – May 4, 2008
Wednesdays – Sundays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Learn about life in and around Ellicott’s Mills during the Civil War, a defining moment in our nation’s history. See how divided loyalties and the burden of war impacted daily life. Explore the role of the railroad and Ellicott’s Mills after the Federal defeat at Monocacy.

From: http://www.ecborail.org/exhibitions-public-programs.shtml

Take Care
-Nick

Think you’ll find Early took the Seventh Street Pike because McCausland told him the defenses at Fort Reno were too strong. I, personally, have always doubted the McCausland story about sitting in Reno simply because of that. Another Confederate “look how close we were” story.

As for Halleck firing Wallace, the story is funny but has a grain of truth. Halleck had wanted to get rid of Wallace, (another political general), since before Shiloh. Wallace managed to get the Middle Department because of his Indiana political connections and Lincoln’s good heart. When Wallace “lost” the battle of Monocacy, Grant send E.O.C. Ord to Baltimore to replace him in command of the 8th Corps. That was Grant’s not Halleck’s idea, but done after Halleck told Grant that Wallace had suffered a “serious defeat.” Wallace had again failed, so was replaced — only for three weeks — until people began to realize what he’d done. So, your letter, which is amusing, also has a grain of truth. And of course, when folks realized what had happened, Halleck came in for a huge amount of criticism.

If you’re going to add material about the advance on Washington and if even you’re not, suggest you contact Dr. B.F. “Frank” Cooling, if you haven’t already. Frank is the author of lots of books about the campaign, and is part of group trying to get the NPS to do more to save the DC Forts.

Gail

Some years ago, a friend of mine was doing grad work at AU and working in the public affairs office. During a construction job, AU turned up some WWI-era chemical warfare rounds, buried many years ago – you can imagine the flap that turned into, and made my friend’s job MUCH more interesting for a time…

Perhaps they were CSA chemical rounds instead? A new slant for your book?

Dave

“After the close of the war, the forts (Reno included) were slowly dismantled and abandoned. Most of Fort Reno could be seen as late as 1892, but the fort and battery at the north end were eventually graded down for the construction of a water reservoir. Today the site is bounded by Nebraska Avenue, Fessenden Street, Belt Road, and Chesapeake Street, NW.”

One logical question is why, if no one was barring the Rockville — DC road, why McCausland would recommend the army move all the way over to the 7th St. Pike.

Just seems extremely unlikely that the Federals would leave any major work ungarrisoned with an enemy army bearing down on them.

That Post article is what my post is based on. I’m convinced about McCausland.

Eric

Nevertheless I came across another account the other day. It’s in Confederate Veteran IX, p. 263 if you’re interested.

The Washington Post did an article on this very subject several years ago that may still be in their archives.

J.D.

Eric