Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-16

/ to be protected by regiment of infantry and
section of artillery. For some unexplained res
| sons, Porter did not comply with this oTder an
his corps was not in the battles of f2Sth and S9sE
Hsinizelmans corps pressed forward to hs
| nsssas on the morning OF the 2Sth, and tlTee'
Jackson to fetTeat across Bull Run, by to
| Centerville turnpike. Mcdowell had succeede,
in checking Lee at Thorougbfare gap, hat tE
| latter took the road from Hopeville 10 New
market and hastened to the relief of Jackson
who was already in rapid retreat. A portion o
! McDowelPs corps encountered the rereatint
| column on the afternoon of the 23th, NEAR th
! Warrenton turnpike, and g severe but success
| ful engagement ensued. Jackson was agIin at
| tackled on the 29th, near the old battle ground
Of July, 1861. Knowing that Longstreet wa
| not distant, he made most desperate stand
| The fight continued nearly all day, and was ter
minated only by darkness We had gained
considerable ground, but nothing was decided
when the battle was closed. 1t was renewed
| the next morning, and after another days hard
| fighting, our forces fell back behind Bull Run
the enemy not attempting any pursuit
Two days later, however, he threw cOnsid-
erable fores betwoen Chantllly and German
town, TO turn Pope's right. Hooker dislodged
them after 6 short but severe engagement, in
which Brigedier- Generals KearneY and Stevens
two of our very best officers, were killed POpe's
army had been reinforced by the corps of Frank
lin and Sumner, and no further apprehensions
were felt for its safety.
During the operations Of the previous week, o.
which we received very favorable but not relia-
bic accounts, every effort was made to push for
ward supplies and reinforcsmsnts to Gen. Pope's S
army The troops from the Peninsula were
ordered not to wait for transportation, brt to
march Immediately to the field of battle. Some
Of the corps moved with becoming activity, but
the delays Of others were neither creditable nor
excusAbls.
Our losses in these battles are very heavy,
both in life and materials, but as no official
reports have been received, except a brief sketch
from Gen. Pope, marked exhibit No. 4, 1 have
no means Of ascertsining their extent. General
Pope WAS transferred to another department be-
fore the reports of bis subordinates could be
received; probably ihsy will soon be handed in.
Most of the troops actually engaged in these
battles fought with great bravery, but some Of
them could not be brought into action at all.
Many thousands struggled away from their COM
mands, and it is said that not few voluntarily
surrendered to the enemy, so as to be paIolea
prisoners Of war.
In order to reorgaRize the different corps, get
the straggsrs back inls their ranks, and to sup
ply Deficiencies Of ammunition, clothing, etc,
caused By recent losses, Gen. Pope requested
anu lCiolNtu ulibCtlOiA 80 HIS aIlLJ WiAA4A
she defensts of Washington, which were then
under the command Of Gen. Mcclellan. This
movement was executed on the night Of the Sd
| without loss. Gen. Pope being now second in
command of the uRited forces, applied to be
relieved, and was transferred to another depart
ment
!. Although this short and active campaign was,
from causes already referred to, less success ful
| than we had reason 10 expect, it had accom-
plished the great and important object Of cover
ing the capital till troops could be collected foT
| its defense. Had the army of the Potomac ar
rived few days esrier the rebel army could
have been eIsily defeated, aud perhaps destroyed
Seeing an attack upon Washington Wo1ld
now be futile, Lee pushed his main army scross
| the Potomac for a raid into Maryland and Penn.
| syyanis General McClellan was directed 70
pursue him with AL the troops which were no
| required for the defense of Washington. Sew
eral corps were Immediately out in observation
| at Darnstown, Rockville, and LsssbOTo, and
most Of his army was in motion by the 9TH O
| September. A portion Of it entered Frederick
| on the 18th. As this campaign was to be car
| ried on within the department. commanded by
| Major General Wool, 1 directed Mcclellan tC
| assume control of all troops within his reach
without regard to department lines The gar
risons of Winchester and Martiusburg had been
withdrawn to Harper's Ferry, and the com
manding officer cf that post had been advised
| by my chief Of staff TO mainly confne his de-
fense in case he WAS attacked by superior forces
to the position of Maryland Hights, which could
have been held long time against overwhelm
ing numbers. To withdraw him entirely from
that position with the great body of Lees -orce:
| between him and our army, would not only ex
pose the garrison to capture, but all the artillery
and storescollseted at that place must either b,
| Ip=krnxvad or loff 70 fha The oV1lvr
sible plan was fer him to hold his position unit
| Mcclellan could relieve him, or open cOmmU
Dicstion so that he could evscuate il in safety
These views were communicated both 10 Gen
Mcclellan snd 10 Colonel Niles
The left of Gen. McCleIlsns army pursued
part of the enemy's forces to the South Noun
tains, where, on the 14.h, he made s stand 4
severe battle ensued, the enemy beisg defeated
and driven from his position with heHvy loss
Less army then fell back behind Antetan
creek. few miles above its mouth, and took
position admirably suited for defense. Our arm,
attacked bm on the I6lh and hotly c3nteste
battle wGs fought on that aBd the ensuing dag
which resulted in the defeat Of the rebel forces
On the night of the 18th our troops sleFs on tn
field which they had so braYely won. On th
18th neither party renewed the attacl, and il
the night Of the 18Th aud l9sh Gen. Lee with
drew his army to the south side of the Potomac
Our loss in the several battles on Sout
Mountains and at Antietam was 1742 killed
S066 Wounded, and 9lS missing making tots
of 1921 Gen. Mcclellan estimates The en-
emy's loss at nearly 10000, but their own ac
counts give their loss at about IA 900 III kille
and wounded.
On the approach of the enemy to E.arper'
Ferry, the officer in command on Marylan
Nights destroyed his artillery and abaudOne
I 7 IL IL IL n .
Harpsrs Ferry with only a slight res stsnci
and within hesring Of the guns Of Gen. HcCle
lan's army. As this whole matter has bsen il
vestigated and reported upon by a rlilitsr
commission, it is unnecessary for me to discu'
, the disgraceful surrender of the post and arm
under Col. Miles command
: General McClellsn's preliminary report of h
J operations in Maryland, including the battles
, South Mountain and Antietam, is sUbmitte
, herewith, marked exhibit No d. No-reports
+ his subordinate officers have been submitted.
From the 18th of September till the 26th
October, General McClellan's main army r
2 mained on the north bank Of the Potomalc in q
vicinity of SharpsbuTg and Harper's Perry. II
long inactivity of so large an army il the fs
of a defeated foe and during The most iavOrab
5 season for rapid movements and g. vigorous car
8 paign, was matter of great disappointment al
] regret. Your letter of the 29th, and my reply
the 28th Of October, in regard to tbs slleg,
0 causes of this unfortunate delay, submit her
with, marked exhibit No 3.
+ In regard to the Geographic order of the 9th
4 October, quoted in my letter of the 29th, abo
8 referred to, General Mcclellan dissIproved
l. the plan Of crossing the Potomsc sou th of d
$ Blue Ridge, and said that he would cross
# Harper's Ferry, and advance upon Wnchestt
/ He, however, did not begin to cross till the 25
.F af1k, u
0 occupied several days, and was completed abo
g the Sd Of November What caused him
change his visws, or what his plan Of csmpaiJ
e was, am ignorsnt, for about this time lie ceas
d to communicate with me in regard to his opel
II tions, sending his report directly to the Pre-
2. dent.
/ On the 5th instant received the w1itten