Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-12-17

OF covering the capital till troops could be
collected for its defense. Had the army
of the Potomac arrived few days earlier,
the rebel army could have been easily de-
feated and perhaps destroyed
THE CAMPAIGN IN MARYLAND
Seeing that an attack upon Washington
would now be futile, Lee pushed his main
army across the Potomac for raid into
Maryland and Penns, lvania. Gen Nc
CIeiian was directed to pursue him with
all troops which were not required for the
defense of Washington. Several corps
were Immediately thrown out in observa-
ton at Darnestown and Leesboro, and
most OF his army was iii motion by the 9th
OF September. A portion entered Freder-
lex OH the 18th. As the campaign was to
be carried on within the department
commanded by Maj. Gen. Wool, [ direct
ed Gen. Mcclellan to assume control of
all troops within his reach, without regard
to departmental lines. The garrisons of
Winchester and Martinsburg had been
withdrawn to Harper's Ferry, and the
commanding officer of the post had been
advised by my chief of staff to mainly con
fine his defense, in case he was attacked
by superior forces, to the position of Mary
land Heights, which could have been held
q iViiS eihiO oSdIuSI OfcTWuelnlllS HULL
bers- 10 withdraw him entirely from that
position, with the great body of Lees for
ees between him and our army, would not
only expose the garrison to capture, but
all the artillery and stores collected at
that place must either be destroyed or
lett to the enemy. The only feasible plan
was Tor him to hold his position until Gen.
Mcclellan could relieve him, or open
m N 1 4, th.+
in safety. These views were coIDIaunica-
ted both to Gen Mcclellan and to Col
Miles.
The left of Gen McClellan's army
pursued a part of the enemy forces to
the South Noun aims, where, on the 18th,
he made stand A severe battle ensued
the enemy being defeated and driven from
his position with heavy loss Lees army
then fell back behind Antietam Creek, a
few miles above its mouth, and took po-
sition admirably suited for defense. Our
army attacked him on the 10TH and a
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 cur troops slept on the
field which they had so bravely won. On
the 18th neither party renewed the attack,
and in the night of the 18th and 18th. Gen
Lee withdrew his army to the south side
Of the Potomac Our loss in the several
battles on South Mountains and at
Antietam was LAP killed, 5000 wounded
and 9l3 missing, making total of TO- ,121.
Gen. Mcclellan estimates the enemy loss
at about 10000 in killed and wounded.
SURRENDER OF HARPER's FERRY.
On the approach of the enemy to Har>
pers Ferry, She officer in command on
Mary yland Heights destroyed his artillery
and abandoned his post, and the 10Th Col
Miles surrendered Harper's Ferry, with
only slight resistance, and within hear
ing Of the guns Of Gen. McClelan's army
As this whole matter has been investiga-
ted and reported upon by military com
mission it is unnecessary for me to discuss
the dis .raceful surrender of the post and
army under Col Miles command Gen
McClellan's preliminary report of his ope-
rations in Maryland including the battles
of South Mountain and Antietam is sub
mitted herewith, marked Exhibit No, 4
No reports of his subordinate officers have
been submitted.
GEN MCCLELLAN 5 STRANGE DELAY AFTER THE
BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.
From the 18th of September till the
Goth of October, McClellans main army
remained on the north bank of the Poto-
mac. in the vicinity of Sharpsburg and
Harper's Ferry, The long inactivity of
so large an army in the face of defeated
foe, and during the most favorable sea-
son for rapid movements ana u vigorous
campaign, was a matter of great disap-|
pointment and regret Your letter of the
9th, and my reply on the 2Sth of October
in REGARD to all the alleged causes of this
unfortunate delay, | submit herewith
marked Exhibit No. ), in reply to the tel
ecraphic order OF the 9th of October, quo
ted in my letter on the 2Sth, above refer
red to. Gen Mcclellan disapproeed of
the plan of crossing the Potomac south of
the Blue Ridge, and said that he would
cross at Harper Ferry and advance upon
Winchester. He, however did not begin
to cross till the Goth Of October, and then
at Berlin.
This passage occupied several days, and
was completed about the Sd of November
What caused him to change his views, or
what his plan Of campaign was am igno-
rent for about this time he ceased to
communicate with ne in regard to his OPP
erations, sending his reports directly TO
the President On the 5th inst. | receiv-
ed the written order of tie President re
Burnside in command of the army of the
Potomac The order was transmitted by
n special messenger, who delivered it to
Gen. Mcclellan at Rectortown on the 1th
GEN BUEL 5 OPERATIONS.
When left the Department of the Mis-
sissippi in July last, the main body of the
army, under Maj Gen. Buell., was be
tween Huntsville and Stevenson, moving
toward Chattanooga, for which they had
left Corinth, about Il 10th of June Maj.
Gen. Curtis forces were at Helena, Ar
kansas, and those under Brig. Gen. Scho-
field in southwestern Missouri The cen
trail ARM, under Mai. Gen Grant occupy
ing the lines of West Tennessee and
Northern Mississippi, extended from
mempnis .G .uka, and protected the rail
roads from Columbus south, which were
then our only channels Of supply. These
severll armies spread along a line of some
coo miles from the western borders OF Ar
kansas to Cumberland Gap, and occupy
:ng a strip Of country more than 40 miles
ia width. from which the enemys forces
had recently been expelled, were rapidly
decreasing in strength from the large
r,,, harS Of soldiers sent home on account