Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-06
General Lees Plans in tho First In
yasfon of Maryland

General JOhn 4. walker contributes an
artcle on The Antietam campaign entitled
IIarpor's Ferry and Sharpsburg" to the
June Century. From it we quote ms fol-
lows: 1.-THE next day we reached the
neighborhood Of Frederick. l went at
once to General Lee. who was alone. After
listening 10 my report he said that ~ had
a division which would often. perhaps, be
ordered on detached service, an intelligent
Performance Of my duty might require
knowledge Of the Interior purposes and
objects 81 the car0paign.
"Here.' said he, tracing with his finger
on large map, lis the line Of our commit
rications, from Rapidan station TO Manas-
sas, thence 20 Frederick. IL Is too near
the Potomac and is liable TO be cut any d1y
by the enemy's cavalry. / have therefore
given orders 10 move the line back into the
Valley Of Virginia, by way Of Staunton,
Iiarrisonburg, and Winchester. entering
Maryland at Shepardstown.
al wish you 10 return 10 the mouth OF the
MeDocacy and effectually destroy the aque-
duct OF The Chesapeake and Ohio canal. By
the time that is accomplished you Will re-
cCiye orders TO cooperate in the capture OF
HaIpeI's Ferry, and you will not return
here, but, after the capture OF HarDer's
Ferry, will rejoin us at lagerstOwn, where
The army viii De concentrated. My inf0r-
nation Is that there are httween 10000 and
1900 men at Harper's Ferry, and 5000 at
MaTtinsburg. The latter nav escape to-
wards Cumberland; but think the chances
are that they will take refuge at IIarper's
Ferry and be captured.
"'BesIdes the men and material OF war
y hich we shall capture az Harper's Ferry,
the position is necessary 10 us, not TO garri-
4 III IL ,fl I.t.9
il would be break in our new line OF COM
municatiOns with Richmond.
"'A few days rest OF HagcrStown will
be o. great service to our men. Hundreds
a. them are barefooted, and nearly all Of
them are ragged. hope 10 get shoes and
clothing for the most needy. But the best
o. il VIII be that the short delay will ena-
lle us 10 get up our straEglers-not stray
gleIa from Sinking disposition. but sim
ply from inability to keep up with their
commands. believe there are not less than
from eight TO ten thousand o! them between
LCIe ard Rapidau Station. Besides these,
We shall be able 10 get large number OF
TtcrRItS who have been acCumulaiing ut
J. lmond for some weeks. Ihaye nov re-
G e,tcd that they be sent forward TO Join
I They ought TO reach us at HaCcrs.
(, IN. We shall then have a very good
p ny'; and he smihn2iy added: zone
q ii think will be able 10 give a good ac-
g. mt Of itsoN.
.'In ten days from now he continued,
~ he military situation is then what 1
confidently expect it TO be after the cap
lure o. Imper's Ferry. shall concentrate
Ibe army at HagerstOwn, etIectually de-
stroy the Baltimore and Ohio road, and
march TO this point placing his finger
ut Harrisburg, Pa. That is the
objective point Of Tie campaign. Gou
remember, no doubt, the long bridge
" the Pennsylvania railroad over
he Susquehanna, few miles west OF
Harrisburg. Wen. / wish eflectua,ly to
destroy that bridge, which will disable the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad FOR a long time.
With the Baltimore and Ohio in our pos
session, and the Pennsylvania railroad
broken up, there will remain 10 the enemy
hut enc route Of communication 10 the
Wtsi, ana that very circuitOuS, by way OF
the Lakes. After that. can turn my At
teution TO Philadelphia, Baltimore. or
Washington, az may seem best for our
interests
81 Twas very much aStonished at .his an
Houncement, and suppose lac ubserye1 il,
fer he turned 10 me and said:
"Yeu doubtless regard il hazardous to
leave Met lelan practically on my line OF
con muncauon, and to march into the
heart q the enemy's countryY' | adj
utted that such a thought had occurred to
me.
."Are you acquainted with General Me-
Clellans' he inquired. | replied that wc
lad served together in the Mexican war
under General Scott, but thtt had seen
Tut little OF him since that tune.
- He is an able general, but cautious
one. His enemies among biz own people
tnirk him too much so. His army is in
yeIy GemOrlized and chaotic condition,
and will not be prepared for offensive ope-
rationS-oT he will not think il sO-ior
three or four weeks. Before that time l
bcpe 10 be on the Susquehanna.'