The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-09-21
Baltimore U5t0 Ohio Raifio01.

Te baltimore nd Ohio Raifao0d.
Nov that ''this cruel war is over,
i1ete will no doubt be among eur read
r9hundreds of persons who Will desire
Oyisit those scenes in the last, partlc-
llnxly in Virginia, Maryland ana Penn
ylxania, which have been rendered his
Of5c on account OF the Inomentous ever IS
Kwhich they were the theatre. We
propose in this article to indicate q few
hthese places, and to point or.t the best
manner of reaching them. It will be
Orne in mind by our read .ers that, from
be Commencement of che war till its
lose, the capture CT Richmond was
!eemed an object OF, paramount impor-
ance by tne GOV trnment, and that the
var did, IN fact >, come to determination
Immediately after the occupation of that
lty Dy the Federal forces. Onthe other
ana, inc defence Vt their Capital was
aade 4 primary object on the part of the
pny-ederates. 1t was defended by an
dMirable system of fostifcations. but,
ibuve all, by its being rendered inacces
ihlN by water. Around its walls were
Eat$ered the flower of the Confederate
rn4E, and in various operations, directly
- Indirectly connected with the defence
III u9&S Wy NNSIlCIstl cOSepIl u. oo1IILooli,
3el1eral "StOneWallo jackson, and Cen
,ralLee himself, displayed thrse remark
blepoWersofgenera and that pro-
ound knowledge of the art of war, which
nabled them, forthe space of four years,
Yithcomparatively small armies at their
Command, to battle and keep at bay the
mstly superior forces of the Federal ar
nv. Among these operations, the most
v rOminent took the form of an invasion
INTO the States of Pennsylvania and Ma
yland; and manHuvres, either real or
eigned, directed against the cities of
Baltimore and Washington. The gene
al object of these operations was to re-
ieve Richmond, by making it necessary
I n the part of the Federal commanders
b employ the whole force at their dispo-
a for the defence Of Washington, or at
NStfDr movements against the Confed-
fatasarmy in Maryland and Pennsylva-
ia. These operations, too, were carried
: II inSevery one of the four years of the
lar. Thus, in 1861, both before and af-
] II tie battle of Manassas, the Confeder-
les maintained a strong force on the
bper and Lower Potomac; and even in
&htS of the dome Of the Capitol. In
81 they defeated Pope's army near
Nlpepper, drove it to the shelter Of the
Washington forts, captured Harper's
Jerry, but We're defeated by General
Mcclellan at Antietam, in Maryland
n 1868 their operations against General
locker, after the battle of the Wilder
less, were carried on quite near Wash
ngton. They captured Winchester,
! dartinsburg, Williamsportand Hagers--
:. swf1yon the Upper Potomac, invaded
faryland and Pennsylvania, captured
4 hanabersburg, made strong demonstra-
!. iOnatowards both Baltimore and Har-
:. isbulg, but We're defeated by General
i. feade, at Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania.
!. d 1GA, even while Grants army was
: l1ga&ed in the seige of Richmond, the
I VnfGflerates, with a small but we'll APP
: ointN army, laid seige to Washington,
q ok Hossession Off point on the Balti-
!. lOre hnd Ohio Railroad, between that
!. lN md Baltimore, actually attacked
DE o. the forts defending Washington,
). tre up and destroyed several miles of
, ae track of the Baltimore and Ohio
:&ilrOad between Harper's Ferry and
! A1timOre, moved towards the latter
E ice, and burned the house Of the Gov
. nor of Maryland, within sight Of the
: lo1H1hental city.
q XnSAll these operations there was
: dtaer line, defended by the Federal
t W0 and which it was the continued
( EOf the Confederates to force. The
: XllInore and Ohio Railroad constituted
, NOntier line. It extends entirely
9 0 the State of Virginia, from Balti-
t 0Nk ind Washington on the east, to
6 fsburg and Wheeling on the west,
| d nce of about 400 miles. AS long
' t9 frontier line was held and sue
/ sf ly defended, invasions of either
, nryhnd or Pennsy lvania, or operations
. RiM1t Baltimore or Washington be-
ne3mpracticable. But whenever the
q xnfS1 erates succeeded in forcing this
! re, Md in capturing Il few of the mill
aNOsts upon it, the whole of Mary
, Id md Pennsylvania became open to
!. lolr Excursions, and there was nothing
i lprEent them from marching either
) \ Baltimore or Washington. The de-
I Scasof this road, therefore, became,
, tectlcally and really, the defence of the
i pntier large bodies of troops We're sta
, 1neQ upon it, and battles andskirmish-
, pGk place at many points along the
G ;&nd, owing to causes which it is
o pbvince of the historian to relate,
fhn r,, n xxyorf, f,.a,unn{1xy II, tho