Thomas Farm
Gordon Attacks
The Baker Valley Road is visible on either side of the picture, with the parking area for the Worthington hike beyond the bridge under the interstate. Gordon's division had swung over Brooks Hill, visible behind the interstate, wheeling into line roughly parallel to this modern intrusion. Ricketts' division was in line just behind the Thomas farm barn of which is prominent in the right-center of the picture. The attackers and defenders were roughly equal in numbers, and the fighting was fierce. While the 8th Illinois cavalry screened to the left of the road, Truex's brigade defended from the road on their left through the area of the Thomas house, after which the line bent back as it extended to the higher ground visible beyond the barn.
Gordon attacked en echelon, committing his brigades in stages starting on his right, with accompanying artillery supporting him, as well as artillery across the river near the Best Farm, which could enfilade the Yankees. Evans' brigade struck near the house, incurring heavy losses, with the 61st Georgia losing nearly two thirds of its 150 men, and the 12th Georgia losing half. Gordon's small center brigade, York's, entered the battle next from the area of the small rich-green hill visible to the left of the barn.
From Behind Ricketts' Line
This is the view from behind Ricketts' line. Truex's brigade defended the area of Thomas house, his line bending back as it extended to the ridge visible to the right of the house. Here, McClennan's brigade continued the line atop the ridge.
Another View Behind Ricketts' Line From a Quarter Mile North
Once again, with Truex near the Thomas house, and McClennan somewhat to his rear on the right of the picture, there was a small gap between them. The second of Gordon's brigade to enter combat as the en echelon attack progressed, York attempted to take advantage of this gap. Facing the 122nd and 126th Ohio Regiments, whose approximate position is shown on the picture, York took heavy casualties also.
Terry's brigade, including the remnant of the old Stonewall Brigade, entered combat next on the Confederate left near the river. (This area is not visible in this picture as it is on the other side of the hill beyond the two Ohio regiments. At the time of my visit, it was inaccessible.) Using terrain well, the old Stonewall Brigade approached the Union flank along the river, surprising their enemies, and putting them to flight. This, combined with a renewed attack along Gordon's whole front, routed the Union line. Wallace ordered a retreat.
The Georgetown Pike toward Washington, seen here on the left of the photo, was not a practical escape route under the circumstances. The far right of the picture shows the stretch of the old Pike heading toward the bridge across the Monocacy. Wallace fell back a short distance in this direction, then past Gambrill's Mill into the direction of Baltimore. Wallace had lost nearly 1,300 of his 5,800 men, compared to the loss of 7-900 of Early's 15,000 men.
Although he had been defeated and his men wouldn't be able to join the defenders of Washington, Wallace had succeeded in determining Early's objective and delayed him a valuable day. Early resumed the advance but perhaps wasn't as quick as he could have been. By the time his men reached the outskirts of the capital, the VI Corps was arriving, and after a skirmish at Ft. Stevens in which President Lincoln exposed himself to enemy fire, Early withdrew back to the Valley. Although Early had diverted Union troops away from Petersburg, perhaps Lee's last, best hope, the capture of Washington, D.C., had evaporated.