New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-06-16
Before Antietam.

Before Antietam.
Gen. John C. Walker contributes an
article on the Antietam campaign, en-
titled t'Harper's Ferry and sharps-
burg" to the June Century; from it
We quote as follows:
The next day we reached the neigh
borhood OF Frederick. went at once
to General Lee, who was alone. After
listening to my report he said that as
| had a division which would often,
perhaps. be ordered on detached ser.
vice, an intelligent performance of my
duty might require knowledge of the
Interior purposes and objects of the
campaign.
Here" said he, tracing with his fin
ger on large map, lis the line of our
communications, from Rapidan Sta
ton to Manassas, thence to Frederick.
1t is too near the Potomac, and is la
bile to be cut any day by the enemy's
cavalry. l have therefore gwen Or
ders to move the line back into the
Valley of Virginia, by way of staunton
Harrlsonburg, and Winchester, en-
tering Maryland at Shepardstown.
Il wish you to return to the mouth
OF the Monocacy and efectually de-
stroy the aqueduct OF the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal. By the time that is
accomplished you will receive orders
to cooperate in the capture of Har-
per's Ferry, will rejoin us at Hagers-
town where the army will be concen-
trated. My information is that there
are between 10000 and 10000 men
at Harper's Ferry, and 5000 at Mar
tinsburg. The latter may escape to-
ward Cumberland; but I think the
chances are that they will take refuge
at Harper's Ferry and be captured.
Besides the men and material OF
war which We shall capture at Har-
per's Ferry, the position is necessary
to us, not to Garrison and hold, but
in the hands OF the enemy it would be
break in our new line of communl-
cation with Richmond.
"a few days rest at Hagerstown
will be of great service to our men.
Hundreds OF them are bare-footed,
and nearly all OF them are ragged. 1
hope to get shoes and clothing for the
most needy. But the best of it will be
that the short delay will enable us to
get up our stragglers-not stragglers
from a Sinking disposition, but
simply from inability so keep up with
their commands. l believe there are
not less than from eight to ten
thousand of them between here and
Rapidan Station. Besides these, we
shall be able to get large number of
recruits who have been accommodating
at Richmond for some weeks. 1 have
now requested that they be sent for
ward to join us. They ought to reach
us at Hagerstown. We shall then
have a very good army and he
smilingly added: "One that l think
will be able to give good account of
ITSELF
"In ten days from now" he contin-
ued, eff the military situation is then
what l confidently expect it to be aft
er the capture OF Harper's Ferry, I shall
concentrate the army at Hagerstown,
effectually destroy the Baltimore &
Ohio road, and march to this point"
placing his finger at Harrisburg, Penn
sylvania. "That is the objective point
of the campaign. You remember, no
doubt, the long bridge of the Penn
sylvania railroad over the Susquehan-
ma a few miles west of Harrisburg.
Well, l wish effectually to destroy that
bridge which will disable the Pennsyl-
vania railroad for long time With
the Baltimore and Ohio in our pos
session, and the Pennsylvania railroad
broken up, there will remain to the en-
envy but one route of communication
with the west. and that very circuit
Gus by way Of the lakes. After that
can turn my attention to Philadelphia,
Baltimore or Washineto on, as may
seem best for our interests
Twas very much astonished at this
announcement, and ! suppose he OBJ
served it, for he turned to me and
said:
"You doubtless regard it hazardous
to leave Mcclellan practically on my
line Of communication, and to march
into the heart OF the enemy's coun-
tryW ADMITTED that such thought
had occurred to me.
s'Are you acquainted with General
Mcclellan" ne inquired. I replied
that we had served together in the
Mexican war under General Scott, but
that had seen but little of him since
that time.
'He is an able general, but eau
tious one. His enemies among his
own people think him too much so.
His army is in a demoralized and
chaotic condition, and willnot be pre-
pared for offensive operations-or he
will not think it so-for three or four
weeks. Before that time hope to be
| on the Susquehanna."