Frederick Miller - Private - Civil War - Born 1814 - Died after 1880

Frederick Miller was listed in the records with the State of Maryland August 1863 as “subject to do military duty” during the early part of the war. His age was listed as 33 and 43 and occupation farmer. That entry was crossed off and a notation added “January 25, 1864 drafted and furnished a substitute.” Fred’s real age was about 50. Fred was mustered into service Feb. 27, 1864 in Baltimore Light Artillery which consisted of several companies and his age was listed at the time as 33 4/12ths. The Light Artillery was formed at the beginning to protect Baltimore however the different company’s of the unit were sent to protect not just Baltimore but Washington D.C., Harper’s Ferry, Frederick, Md. and one company even fought at Gettysburg (Rigby’s company, not Alexander’s company). He was assigned to the Baltimore Light Artillery ‘Alexander’s’ company and became friends with Frederick Wild, age 20, who wrote the book ‘Memoirs and History of Capt. Alexander’s Baltimore Battery of Light Artillery.’ In his book, Wild writes that they were furnished with tents that would quarter 16 men but were allowed to allocate their own quarters. Wild and four friends built their own cabin. There is a picture of the cabin that Wild attributes to being built by him and his friend Fred Miller during the winter of 1864. The cabin would have been located on the Monocacy Battlefield just the winter before Confederate troops crossed into Maryland on their way to Washington. The Battle of the Monocacy which is the only battle lost by the Union on Union soil is attributed to slowing the Confederates march, which allowed Gen. Grant to organize forces to protect Washington D.C. In his official report Major General Wallace says: 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. Private Frederick Miller mustered out on Jun 17, 1865. Also serving in the same unit was Horace Anderson, age 19, who after the war on Oct. 25, 1865 married Frederick Miller’s daughter Mary. In the 1880 census Miller was living with the Anderson family as his wife has passed.