BALTIMORE BATTERY, LIGHT ARTILLERY, "ALEXANDER'S." 819

the actions at Middletown and Catoctin Mountain on the 7th, Frederick the 8th, and
Monocacy the 9th of July, delayed the Confederate advance and saved Washington from
capture.

On July 7th the left section, commanded by Lieutenant Leary, reported to Lieuten-
ant-Colonel David R. Clendenin, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, at daylight, and at 5.30 o'clock
marched with the cavalry on a reconnoissance out the Hagerstown Pike. About two
miles southeast of Middletown they met the advanced cavalry of Brigadier General
Bradley T. Johnson's brigade. After three hours' fighting the command was driven
back towards Frederick. In this action was fired a shot which, in its destructiveness,
was considered phenomenal. A Schenkel case shot (shrapnel) burst so close to the head
of General Johnson's column as to kill six men and wound other men and horses.

In his official report Major General Wallace says : le I wish to make honorable
mention at this time of Captain F. W. Alexander, whose battery was well served through-
out the day."

Brigadier General Tyler reports as follows :

" Captain Alexander, with his officers and men, behaved in the most gallant manner,
serving their guns with great coolness and effect, and I desire particularly to call the
commanding general's attention to their conduct during the three days we were in front
of the enemy."

In his memoirs General Grant writes: " Whether the delay caused by the battle
amounted to a day or not, General Wallace contributed on this occasion, by the defeat
of the troops under him, a greater benefit to the cause than often falls to the lot of a
commander of an equal force to render by means of a victory."

It is a fact established beyond question that Wallace's " forlorn hope " battle at
Monocacy saved Washington.

The defeat of Wallace was followed by Early's advance on the capital and his
retreat on the 12th of July. It was followed in due course by the advance of the forces
commanded by Major General Wright, consisting of the Sixth and Nineteenth Army
Corps.

The battery participated in these operations until July 30, when it was practically
dismounted at Halltown, Va., by General Wright. Its horses, which by the best of care,
had gone through the campaign and were in excellent condition, were transferred to
favored batteries of the Sixth Corps and the broken down mounts were turned over to
the battery. It was then attached to the defenses of Harper's Ferry, where it continued
on duty until January, 1865, when it marched to Camp Barry, Washington, D. C.

The Maryland Campaign was its last active service, In the spring of 1865, Cap-
tain Frederick W. Alexander was appointed by President Lincoln a commissary of sub-
sistence of volunteers. The vacancy was filled by the promotion of his brother, First
Lieutenant H. Eugene Alexander to be captain. Second Lieutenant Leary was
promoted First Lieutenant and First Sergeant Marion A. Brian Second Lieutenant.

It was'honorably mustered out June 17, 1865.

The casualties were as follows : Killed in battle, one (1) enlisted man ; death by
disease and wounds, seven (7) enlisted men ; total eight (8).

The battery participated in the following engagements : Berryville, Va., June 13,
1863 ; Opequon Creek, Va., June 13, 1863; Winchester, Va., June 14, 1863; Martinsburg
Pike, Va., June 15, 1863 ; Middletown and Catoctin Mountain, Md., July 7, 1864 ; Fred-
erick, Md., July 8, 1864, and Monocacy July 9, 1864.