The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-12-18

was executed Oh tue night OF the Sd.
without loss. Gen. Pope being now
second in command of the united forces
applied to be relieved. and was trans
ferred to another department. Al
though this short and active campaign
was, from causes already referred to,
less successful than we bad reason to
expect, 1t had accomplished the great
and important object of covering the
Capital till troops could be collected for
its defence. Had the Army of the 70
tomac arrived few days earlier the
rebel army could have been easily and
perhaps totally, destroyed. ao5 - 4
THE CAMPAIGN IN MARYLAND. - j
Seeing that an attack upon Wash
ington would now be futile, Lee pushed
his main army across the Potomac for
a raid into Maryland and Pennsylva-
MIA. Gen. Mcclellan was directed to
pursue him with all troops which were
not required for the defence of Wash
ington. Several corps were immedi-
ately thrown out in observation al
Jamestown and Leesborough, and
most of his army was in motion by the
5th of September. A portion entered
Frederick on the 18th. As the cam.
paign was to be carried on within the
department commanded by Major Gen.
Wool, l directed Gen. Mcclellan to
assume control. of all troops within his
reach, without regard to departmental
lines. a1te
The garrisons of Winchester and
Martinsburg had been withdrawn to
Harper's Ferry, and the commanding
officer of that post had been advised by
my chief of staff to mainly confne his
defence, in case he was attacked by su-
perior forces, to to the position of Ma
ryland Heights, which could have been
held a long time against overwhelm-
ing numbers. To withdraw him en-.
.tirely from that position with the great
body of Lees forces between him and
our army, would not only expose the
garrison to capture, but all the artil-
lery and stores collected at that place
must either be destroyed or left to the
enemy. The only feasible plan was to
hold his position until Gen. Mcclellan
could relieve him, or open communi-
cation so that he could evacuate IL in
safety. These views were communi-
Gated both to Gen. Mcclellan and to
Col. Miles.
The left of Gen. McClellan's army
pursued part of the enemy's forces to
the South Mountains, where, on the
14th he made stand. A severe bat
tie ensued, the enemy being defeated
and driven from his position with heavy
loss. Lees army then fell back be-
hind Antietam Greek, few miles above
its mouth, and took position admir-
ably suited for defense. Our army at
tackled him on the 10th, and hotly
contested battle was fought on that and
the ensuing day, which resulted in the
defeat of the rebel forces. On the
night of the 18th, our troops slept on
the field which they had so nobly won.
On the 18th, neither party renewed
the attack, and in the night of the 18th
and 10Th Gen. Lee withdrew his army
to the south side of the Potomac. Our
loss in the several battles on South
Mountain and at Antietam was 1,742
killed, 5000 wounded and 9l3 missing,
making total of 1921. General
Mcclellan estimates the enemy's loss
at nearly 10000; but their own ac-
counts give their loss at about IA 900
in killed and wounded.
On the approach of the enemy to
Harper's Ferry, the officer in command
on Maryland Heights destroyed his ar
tilery and abandoned his post, and on
the 18th, Col. Miles surrendered Har'
per's Ferry, with only a slight resis
tance, and within hearing of the guns
of Gen. McClellan's army. AS this
whole matter has been investigated
and reported upon by military com
mission, it is unnecessary for me to
discuss the disgraceful surrender OF the
post and army under Col. Miles com
mand. Gen. McClellan's preliminar,
report of his operations in Maryland
including the battles of South Noun
tain and Antietam, is submitted here
with, marked Exhibit No. 4. No re
ports of his subordinate officers have
been submitted.
| THE DELAYS IN MARYLAND.
From the 18th of September till the
26th of October, M Clellan's main ar,
my remained on the north bank Of ihe
Potomac, in the vicinity of Sharps
burg and Harper's Ferry. The long
Inactivity OF SO large an army in the
face of defeated foe, and during the
most favorable season for rapid move
ments and vigorous campaign, was 9
matter of great disappointment and re
greet. Your letter of the 9th, and my
reply on tile 2Sth OF October, in regard
to the alleged causes Of this unfortu-
nate delay, / submit marked Exhibi
No. 5, in reply to the telegraphic order
of the 9th of October, quoted in my let
ter ofthe 2sth, above referred to. Gen
Mcclellan disapproved of the plan o.
crossing the Potomac south of the
Blue Ridge, and said that he woulc
cross at Harper's Ferry, and advance
upon Winchester. He however, die
not begin to cross till the 26th of Oc
tober, and then at Berlin. ,,s- se.s,
4 This passage occupied several days
and was completed about the Sd of No
vember. What caused him to chang
his views, or what his plan of cam
paign was, l am ignorant, for abou
this time he ceased to communicat
with me in regard to his operations
/ sending his renorta diractlx To IL