Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-05-01
Miscellaueuus.
The Conduct Of the War.


of the Committee on the Conduct of the
War, giving in full the facts as to the
battles of Antictam and Frederick sburg
discovered to the committee by the tes-
tinony of the participants therein:
THE CAMPAIGN IN MARYLAND.
The rebel army, it will be remembered
entered Maryland Immediately after the
falling back Of Gen. Pope to the Wash
ington dcienses. Preparations were made
at once by tho authorities at Washington
to follow the invaders. General Nc
Clcllan was ordered by the President to
take command Of the federal forces, and
the testimony Of Gen. Hllleck shows
conclusively that he (McClellan) had spe-
eihc Instructions as to how he should
proceed, though he paid them very little
regard, going so far from the Potomac as
to leave Washington exposed, directly in
conflict with the requests Of Gen. Hal
leck and the President. In letter to
Gen. HaiccA, September II, 1852, he
proposed to sacrifice Washington, as fol-
lows:
a believe this army fully appreciates
the importance of a victory ut this time
and will fight we'll bat the result Of Il
general battle, with sucA odds as the en-
emy now appears to have against US,
might, to say the least, be doubtful: and,
if we should be defeated the eenseqlca-
ces TO the country would be disastrous in
hn u,lar fbt4.a .str = ,aN.a
| would recommend that one or two of
the three army corps now On the Po,o-
mac, opposite Washington, be at once
Withdrawn, and sent 10 reinforce thi,
army. | would advise that the force Of
Colonel Mi.cs at llarpers Ferry, where
it can be of little use, anl is continually
exposed to be cut of by the enemy, be
Immediately ordered here. Tnis would
add about twenty-five thousand old troo2s
to our present force, and would greatly
strengthen US.
II there are any rebel forces remain
ing on the other side OF the Potomac,
they must be SO few that the troops left
in the forts, after the two corps shah
have been withdrawn, will be satli :ieat to
check them; and with the large cavalry
force now on that side, kept well out ia
front to give Sarning of the distant APP
proach Of any very large army, part
of this army might be sent back within
the entertainments to assist in rcPclllng
an attack. But even if Washington
should be taken while these armies are
confronting each other, this would not, in
my judgment, bear comparison with the
ruin and disaster which would follow 4
single defeat of this army. II We should
be successful in conquer:ng the gigantic
rebel army before US, We would have no
difficulty in recovering 1t. GA the other
hand, should their force prove satii sleatly
powerful to defeat US, could all the forces
now around Washington be sufficient to
prevent such 4 victorious army from car
ryins the works on this side OF the OTTO
mac after they are uncovered by our ar
my? | thiuk not
Finally, after various delays, on the
l4th of September, lSG2, the battle OF
South Mountain was tought-thc troops
at Turner's Gap being under command OF
Gen. Burnside, aud those at Champions s
Gap being under the command of Gen.
Franklin-resulting in the enemy re'ir-
ing to the vicinity of ohcpardstown.
ANTIETAM.
On the 18th of September the battle
Of Antietam was fought. 1t was COM
menced by General Hooker on the right.
at dawn, our troops driving the enemy
before them, and gaining an important
position. When Gen. Hooker was wound
ed and taken from the field Gen. Sum
-Der took command of our right. Gen.
Sumner had been ordered TO hold his
corps in readiness to advance an hour
before daylight, but did not receive the
order to advance until 7.20 in the morn
,:na. General Mansfield, who had come
up to the support of Gen. Hooker, had
been killed Our troops seeing their
leaders fall, and being very heavily press
ed by the enemy, were forced back some
distance from the adv ncing position Gen
Hooker had reached but finally, with
the assistance of the troops brought up
by General Sumner, checked the enemy 5
progress and maintained their position.
On the left, Gen. Burnside, about ten
O'Clock, was ordered to attack the enemy
at the bridge across the Autictam In his
front, and to effect crossing there. The
advance Of General Burnside was met by
most obstinate resistance on the part OF
the enemy, and it was not until =
o'clock that the bridge was carried. BY
8 O'Clock Gen. Burnside's whole COM
mand had crossed and taken position on
some elevated ground just above the
bridge He was then ordered to take
the heights commanding the town of Shep
herdstown, which was done after desper-
ate fighting. BY that tine the enemy
on our left had been reinforced by with
drawing some Of their troops from op..
posite our right, where our advance had
been checked, and General Burnside was
compelled 10 give up some Of the ground
be had succeeded in occupying. He had
sent to Mcclellan for reinforoements, but
received in reply that there were none to
be had, but he must bold the bridge at
all hazards