The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-19
HISTORICAL RECOLLECTIONS.
BY g. WASHINGTON JONES.

On the arrival of the troops from
Texas in the harbor of New York the
widest excitement prevailed. Fort
Sumpter had been bombarded, the
volunteers fired upon in the streets of
Baltimore, and the very capital of the
nation was threatened by an armed
force from Virginia. Officers, both
civil and military, in high positions
had. proven false to their trusts, and
even at that very time some of the
most Important offices of the land were
in the hands of men of doubtful 10y
atty, whose influence was thrown in
favor of the government they had
sworn to defend against all enemies or
| opposers.
This want of confidence on the part
of the people rendered it necessary
that all should ''show their colors.''
Those who were unwilling to fly the
American flag were to be considered
disloyal. At first only Il few flags were
displayed, these were followed by
others until from every house top,
steeple and dome the stars and stripes
| fioated to the breeze. BY this demon.
stration healthy public sentiment
was established, and from that time
onward New York stood firmly for the
Union. Mr.. Davis was severely crit
icised for the issuing of an order early
in the war, requiring all those within
| the limits of his imaginery domain to
leave for the North by certain fixed
date. Such an order seemed cruel but
then 1t was demanded by the harsh
rules OF war. Mr.. Lincoln would have
acted wisely had he issued a similar
proclamation, and thus rid the North
OF all those whose interests and sympa-
thies were away down South in Dixie.
! The object of greatest interest early in
1881 was the safety of the national
capital. And the first troops raised
were sent forward to that point as
rapidly as possible. When they felt
secure there, another army was organ
lied for service against General
Joseph E. Johnston who, in command
OF a large force, had marched up to
and taken possession of Harper's
Ferry, which he had strongly fortified.
This command was concentrated at
Chambersburgh, Pennsylvania, and
Major-General Robert Patterson, of
Philadelphia, was assigned to it's COM
1nand. The operations of this army
have been persistently misrepresented
from its organization down to the pres
ent time. Even the loyalty, patriot
ism and ability of it's gallant COM
mander have been called into question.
While at Chambersburgh Gen. Patter-
son urged upon the General-in-C Chief to
allow him to cross into Virginia at or
near Leesburgh, but his proposition
was overruled and he was ordered to
march his command to Williamsport
and enter Virginia at that point. Here
a great military blunder was COM
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and McDowell's
armies were placed on exterior lines,
while Beauregard and Johnston occu-
pied interior lines and were thus en-
abled to form a junction with each
other, attack and defeat Mcdowell and
with equal ease they might have
turned against Patterson and .ssent
him whirling'' out of the Shenandoah
valley-thus defeating every organized
force and leaving Washington matter
of easy capture. The crossing of Pat
terson's army at either place would
have threatened Johnstons commune
| cations and his evacuation of Harper's
Ferry and occupation of Winchester,
would have surely followed in either
event. Had Patterson, however, been
| ut Leesburgh, he would have been in
supporting distance of Mcdowell and
could have joined him sooner than
Johnston could have effected a junction
with Beauregard. Had Patterson's
plan been carried out the humiliating
defeat at Bull Run would have been
Transformed into glorious victory for
the Union cause. Soon after crossing
| into Virginia the advance arrived at
Failing Waters,' where Stonewall
Jackson was encountered and defeated.
The writer was on duty that day with
General Cadwallader whose command
was at the rear of the column. As
soon as the firing was heard our march
was accelerated and soon we met a
large number of warriors on the re-
treat. Some had been wounded and
some were going to the rear probably
from prudential reasons. Among the
number noticed 'our special artist of
Harper's Weekly. In reply to my
question as to his destination he re-
piled, 81 am going back to sharpen
my pencils.'' After he had accom-
plished his object, which was not
until after the firing ceased, he came
forward and sketched very life-like
picture Of the battle. After the
wounded were cared for the command
moved on to Martinsburgh. Here an
order was received from General Scott
directing Patterson to press Joe John.
son so closely as to prevent him from
reinforcing Beauregard and announe-
ing the fact that Mcdowell was to
move against the enemy in his front
on the following Tuesday, and that he