National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-14

confederates was particularly observable. Not
content with surly looks and refusal TO supply
food, thoy at last got 10 taking the buckets OIL
the wells rs the troops were passing to pre-
vent the thirsty and tired men from easily
obtaining water. This was too much to BIO
borne, order ORR order. Perhaps somo OF
Komper's brigade will recollect the unmercl-
full dressing down with hickory saplings ad-
ministered TO stalwart farmer, who thus de-
MED them water from his vol, while GER
tain major general rode by, and who, taking
in tho situation, looked carefully tho other
way. Well, after q swift and orderly march
South Mountain was reached, and hero Gen.
Lee posted in the gap strong detachment
In very strong position. Indeed, II
looked as II the position might DO held
against almost any force that approached 1t
from the front. Now Gen. Mcclellan was
close upon tho heels Of the retreating army,
and when he found his way barred at South
Mountain he promptly attacked. Tho battle
ragged flercoly for hours, and the confederates
successfully resisted all attacks made In thor
front until the federals after the manner OF
tho Persians at Thermopyla, found a
guide to pilot strong force over
tho mountain by an unfrequentod path
which led them to tho flank and roar Of tho
confederate position The coniederates at
tackled in front, flank and rear gave way In
confusion, losing heavily in men and artil-
lery, and perhaps tho coming on Of night
alone saved them from disaster. That night
the nows was brought Of the capture Of Har-
pers Ferry by Jackson, and the army was
wonderfully cheered up thereby.
Tho morning Of tho seventeenth Of Sep
TENDER, 1862 found tho two armies face TO
face near tho little village of Sharpsburg,
with Antietam creek flowing between them
for somo distance. Con. Lee had taken q
strong position on tho ridge extending paral-
lei with the creek and between 1t and the
village, and Gen. Mcclellan confronted him
at every point in superior force. As stated
in the beginning, this is not intended as o
history of this battle. Suffice it to say that
| the assault on jackson on the left was GAL
lantly made and as bravely repulscd. The
attack on Longstreet's right by Gen.
Burnside OF tho bridge over the
| Antietam was rathor feeble, until
late in the afternoon, when headlong
rush was made that carried the bridge and
swept Tombss brigade, who were defending
| il, back upon tho reserves. Tho fight now
but the confederate limo was beaten back
surely, if slowly. 1t was in this part of the
| feld-the extreme right wing on the ridge
above the village--that Kemper's brigade was
stationed behind q stone fence. The men
were stationed four or five yards apart, for
they were sadly depleted in numbers and it
was necessary to extend the line.
Burnside's men pushed forward steadily,
and soon the confederate regiments were
| seen tumbling backward, one of them the
Holcombe legion, of South Carolina. retreat.
ing even to tho outskirts of the village. AT
this juncture Gen. Lee descended from his
lookout in the church steeple, and, seizing
tho flag of the legion, called upon them moi
to desert their country, but to follow him a:
leader. 1t was critical time, but
the men of the legion responded
gamely, only requesting the genera
to stay behind, and they plunged
back into the fight In the meanwhile KEN
per's men had been firing as fast as possible
but their ranks were fast being thinned. Tit
battle seemed to BIO lost, for reinforcement:
for the enemy were seen pouring over the
bridge. Here one of Lees aid-de-camps rode
at gallop along the line, begging the men Il
| hold out for quarter of an hour only, as A
p. Hill, who had been left at Harpers Ferry
to parole prisoners, &c, was just at hand with
his division. He had hardly spoken, wher
Hill dashed up, his horse all in u lather, ant
with battery of artillery strung out behint
him. "Who commands hereW said he
"Gen. Kemper," was the reply. Instant!
the battery came laundering into position
and while couple were directed in front
the otherfour got an enfilading fire G
canister on the federals VIGOROUSLY advanc
ing. The advance was checked, and just to
in the nick of time. So to speak, the con
federates had niger luck " that day, Hill
infantry soon came up at the double.quicl
and the assaulted BECAME the assailants; bu
never in this world was q battle so nearl
lost and so barely saved, for had the federal
seized upon Sharpsburg and the ridge c
hills near the river even Gen. McClella
could not have Numbered into permittin
Leo to get his army over tho river into Vii
ginia again
. The histories tell how Lee offered battl
next day to his opponent, who did not accep
the gage, and how the confederate genert
that night deliberately withdrew across tn
Potomac, leaving behind him as trophie
only those of his men in the hospitals VIII
were too seriously wounded to bear removal
This invasion of Maryland, however, wa
an utter failure for the confederates if til
object of the campaign is considered. NJ.