Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-11-16

open question, but with the probabili-
ties largely inclining to the affirmative.
There are some things that are beyond
dispute about that campaign, and, be-
fore relating my own experience at the
headquarters of the commanding Gen
eral after the battle, it may be useful
to state what those things are. I think
tits beyond dispute that the Confeder-
ate army was SO largely reduced, by
struggling on its march from the field
of the Second Manassas to Frederick,
that it was largely inferior to ours; that
it was poorly clothed and shod; that it
lost ten thousand in killed and wounded
at Antietam; and, saying nothing
about the mistakes of our Generals
in that battle, that it was in no
condition to renew the fight the next
morning, or even to Withstand q vigor-
GUS attack. General Lee knew this
perfectly well, and therefore he with
drew with haste. He must have ex-
pected to be pressed, for his army
crossed at Shepherdstown on the 18th.
On the other hand the Union army was
about as disorganized as any victorious
army can be, losing twelve thousand in
killed and wounded, and stragglers in
Vulnerable. Still, it largely outnum-
hered the enemy; it had a reserve; it
was left in possession of the field, and
at least the name Of victory in this,
which was and continued to be, the
greatest single-day battle of the war,
and I have no doubt in saying
that general advance, pushed
with determination on the morn
ing of the 18th, must have de-
stroyed Lees army between Antietam
Creek ana the Potomac. This is the
opinion of great many survivors OF
that campaign, and I believe it the cor
rect one. But that was early in the
war, and things were not done then as
they were two years later. Mcclellan
thought, or pretended to think, that
the administration was unfriendly to
him, that he had only been placed IN
command for the purpose of saving
Washington, and thathe had no authori-
ty to advance. It reads queer now,
after some of the later successes of the
war and the powers that were assumed
by commanding Generals; but he has
sincerely asserted this and we must be-
lieve that he thought SO. But it is
hard to read, as / have elsewhere re-
marked, that all this enormous slaugh-
ter went for nothing-unless it was to
encourage the President to issue ~ ms
proclamation freeing the slaves. Inc
golden opportunity passed, the army OF
General Lee, torn and disorganlzed,
crossed the Potomac without molesta-
ton, and the war dragged ON four years
more. When the enemy were over,
safe on the other side, and with time
to choose positions. and make de1ense'
some detachments of cavalry ana IN,
fantry were sent across the ford, ana
We're of course repulsed and driven
into the river. This was two days
after the battle. Some Of this l saw
myself with my glass. From my al
vance signal station I saw whole
brigade Of our cavalry go over, dlsap-
pear in the woods, and quickly reap
pear flying in disorder, "every man no 19l
himself and the devil for the hind
most" It was no fault of theirs; they
were brave enough. y The only trouble
was that they had been sent across "a q
wide river to fight the whole army -
the enemy. The infantry detacnmen'S
Jared no better. .7;o,
Our chance was many hours carrier
than that. ,-,5
During the battle McClellan's hea ca !
quarters were ut the brick mouse ~ - :,
citizen, on the high ground eas1ett ,yo "
the creek. The next day eney "eN~