The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-09-30
T he W. ar.
The Campaign i'm Maryland.

The 4 Campaign I'M MarylaDu'
4 condensed and correct statement Of the opera
tions Of the Confederate Army.
A correspondent of the Richmond Dispatch
gives the following statement of affairs from tht
time the Confederate army first crossed the Poto
mac into Maryland until it returned to the VirGi-
! MIA shore
I WINCHESTER, Sept. 20. 3
proceed to give you a condensed statement of
the important events which have occurred on Oh
near the upper Potomac, within the last few weeks
On Saturday the 9th of September, the Confed
crate army reached Frederick City, in Maryland,
encamping, for the most part, mile or two south
east of the city, on the side towards Washington
! But few forces actually entered Frederick until
Tuesday the 9th. On that day and the next, our
whole army took up the line of march, passing
through Frederick westward, on the turnpike lead
ing to Hagerstown. part of the army proceed
cd to the latter place.
! A few days after, one portion crossed the Poto-
mac river at or near Williamsport, and marched
to Harpers Ferry via Martinsburg. The yankee
forces at the latter place fell back to Harpers
Ferry, which place was invested by our forces on
both sides of the River. The attack was begun
on Sunday the 14th, and on Monday morning the
18th, the entire yankee army capitulated. 1t was
commanded by Gen White The federal General
! ID S Miles was killed. We took over l. 900 pri-
soners, 1000 runaway negroes, $1,000 small arms,
50 to 70 cannon, and quantity of stores and
ammunition. The prisoners were paroled, and
! the captured negroes, arms and other property,
sent back to places Of safety.
On Friday the 18th, Owo days after our main
army had passed westward from Frederick,) Gen.
Mcclellan approached Frederick with his grand
army from the direction of Washington, his first
object being the rescue Of tie federal army at
Hupel's Ferry.
In this he was completely foiled by the genius
Of our noble chieftan, Gen. Lee. lie had
ranged that Gen. Longstreet, we think it D
II Hill with his command held Mcclellan in
check until the yankee forces at the Ferry had
captulated, and this almost in sight Of Mcclellan.
Longstreet then fell back to unite with Jackson
and y p Hill, who, having finished their job at
the Ferry, marched to join him.
On Tuesday the 10th Of Sept, the two grand
armies encountered each other near Sharpsburg
in Maryland. The scene of conflict was valley
about two miles wide, running south from Boons
boro to the Potomac river Sharpsburg, the
latter place being near the Maryland side of the
Potomac, and some miles up the river from Shep-
herdstown. This valley is divided by the Antie-
tam creek, which runs down it into the Potomac
few miles below ShepherdstoWn. On the east
Of the valley and of the Antietam, lay Mcclellan,
with the abrupt Blue Rdg mountain behind him.
On the west side of the Antietam lay Gen. Lees
army, with high mountains in his rear.
The battle commenced on Tuesday afternoon,
was renewed on Wednesday, and continued till the
night Of that day. At that time jackson had
driven back the enemy's right wing for several
miles, while Hill and Longstreet had also forced
back his centre and left-we holding the battle
field, but Mcclellan still holding position be-
tween the Antetam and the Blue Ridge.
The battle Of the hardest fought of the
war. The Hon. Alex. Boteler, in speech made
at Winchester, ust after his arrival from the
my, stated that it was estimated our losses would
not exceed in killed, wounded and missing, 5000,
while that of the enemy estimated at 10000.
There no fighting Thursday. On that
night army crossed, without molestation, and
in good order, to this side of the river near Shep-
herdstown. Of the plan for their future move
ments | know nothing.
The two weeks across the Potomac has been so
full Of success and glory that every southern heart
should feel full of pride and joy. The capture of
the whole Harpers Ferry army-the greatest cap
ture of prisoners, &C., ever made at one time on
this contnent-was sufficient reward for crossing
the Potomac
One word to the reception of army
the Maryland side. Many may be disappointed.
Recruits came by hundreds, when they were x
pected by some to have joined us by thousands.
But we must take into consideration that the army
remained at Frederick but three days; that the
whole route through which we passed was that
part of the State considered most strongly Union;
that even the southern men of that section before
joining our army and risking their all, wished to
know whether the movement was to be a mere
temporary raid or an effort for permanent relief
Even as things were, large numbers on their
way to join our army at the time it left. Since
we left, every man. who made any show of open
welcome to the Confederate army mas been arrest
ed by Lncoln's minions.