Retreat

At about 5:00 p.m. on July 9, 1864, Confederates stormed the Union line on the Georgetown Pike, and Union General Wallace ordered a withdrawal that quickly descended into chaos. With Confederates in hot pursuit, Union troops fled past Gambrill Mill, then through the field in front of the position, and across Bush Creek behind it, before the Confederates finally abandoned their chase after two miles. The lines were thrown into great confusion. Brigadier General James B. Ricketts commanded the Union defense at the Thomas Farm until ordered to retreat, and Major General John B. Gordon commanded the Confederate division that defeated the Union forces. During the retreat, the color guards from the 10th Vermont Infantry came under heavy fire and could not continue, so Corporal Alexander Scott, fearing the Union flags might be captured, ran both flags to safety and later received the Medal of Honor for saving the national flag on September 21, 1897.

Maryland · United States