Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-20

recommended Lee 10 be promoted, ana
The President Of the Confederacy prompt
~ appointed him a major general, and
year later he was made lieutenant
general
NEW STORY ABOUT r. T.. LEE.
on the occasion OF the great Confede-
cate reunion in Richmond lieutenant
General Lee was the orator OF the day. At
a dinner given to him he related the fol-
lowing remarkable story about General
II. +. Lee. never heretofore published;
Said General S. d. Lee: "The battle of
Sharpsburg, or Antietam. was one Of the
boodiest and fiercest fought in the four
years war between the States. General
l.. Il. Lee having defeated the Federal
army. under General Pope, and driven II
to the defence of Washington. the two
q armies OF McClellany and Pope were con-
centrated there. and Mcclellan put in
command OF both. General Lee deter
mined TO cross the Potomac into Mary
land. capture Harper's Ferry. and then
concentrate his army and fight Mcclellan.
His written plan Of campaign, in some
way, fell into the hands of Mcclellan,
who rapidly moved his army and attacked
Lee. before he could concentrate. at
I Sharpsburg, on the morning Of September
Il. 1852
General Lee had less than 1900 men
during the battle. while Mcclellan had
81 600 on the fed. The losses were. TOR
the Union army, about l2,5W. and for the
Confederate army $500 in killed, wounded
and missing The two armies fought from
/ 8 \. NJ until after dark. maintaining the
/ same relative positions they held at the
/ beginning and faced each other all day.
r On the 18th OF September Lee buried his
dead without renewing the battle Botn
armies were pretty well used up and eX-
hausted from the terrible struggle Of Sep
tembe: 18th. The battle ragged ierceiy
near the bunker church, on the snarps-
burg and Hagerstown pike. on General
Lees left wing where. with three corps
Hooker's. Manshed's. and Sumner's-at-
forwards reinforced by Franklin's corps.
Mcclellan attempted to turn General
B Lees left. The great effort was re-
! sisted by Jackson's corps and Hoods d.
vision of Longstreets corps (mainly).
IT LOOKED BLUE.
"By O'Clock In the morning two corps
! OF the Federal army were defeated, and
/ HOODS division was driving the Fedora 3
| back, when Summers corps came in fresh
and drove him back. and II looked as II
/ the day was lost on the southern side, as
/ Jackson had also been driven back with
( great loss. Jackson and Hood held the
ground near the bunker church until the
arrival of McLaw's division. about A.
NJ. when the Federal attack was checked
and the Confederate line restored and
maintained.
In the fighting" continued the nara
tor. 1.-THE Federals had forced the Con-
federates to form at right angles at the
main line of the battle. and expose them
selves not only to the fire OF the artil-
+ lery and infantry in their front, but TO the
fire Of twenty 20-pounder PARROT guns
across the Antietam creek.
"At the time Jackson and Hood were
/ driven back, and were with difficulty
holding the ground near the bunker
| church, Hood came up 10 my Che nara
tors) battalion of artillery five bate
| ries). which had been engaged during
| the entire morning and was pretty well
| wrecked. having lost thirty-fve men and
! sixty horses, and ordered be 10 turn
| over my artillery TO the next officer In
| command and 10 30 personally 10 find
| General r. +. Lee, and tell him the con-
| iltion of affairs, and TO say to him that
| Unless reinforcements were sent at once,
| The day was lost. 1 protested against
| eaving my artillery in its wrecked con-
| ltion. He insisted. however. and l
| vent. ! soon met General Lee on horse
| 1dCE Win one OIIcllls iIpfiAlS a. n
| walk towards that part Of the field, and
| bout half way between Sharpsburg and
| he bunker church. ! reported the con-
| lition OF affairs on the left and de-
| vered General Hoods message.
DON'T GET EXCITED.
| "He quietly said. Don't be excited
| about It, Colonel, go tell General Hood
| TO hold his ground, achievements are
now rapidly approaching between Sharps-
burg and the ford; tell him that l am
now coming to his support
81 said, General, your presence will do
good, but nothing but infantry can save
| the day on the left
~ started to return, and had not gone
over 100 yards when Lee called me and
pointed 10 McLaw's division, then in
| sight, and approaching al double quick.
These achievements arrived just IN
time to save the day, and this was
aided by General Sumner, of the Federal
army, hating his corps for alignment.
when he was driving the Confederates
before him. The Confederates restored
their line on the left, and the Federals
were content TO remain IN strong line
of battle the balance Of the 18th, and all
of the 18th, on their right.
1.-The battle was renewed on General
Lees centre and right where Burnside s
corps crossed the Antietam, but was
finally repulsed on that part Of the field
before dark.
"There can be little doubt that this
battle was as bloody during this day
Q7th Of September, 1862 and the loss Of
life as great as on any one days battle
during the war. Both armies were COM
pletely exhausted by the great struggle,
and welcomed night to stop the terrible
slaughter.
General Lees headquarters were on
the pike leading from Sharpsburg TO the
Potomac, and about half mile from the
town. About one hour or more after night
had set in the weird scene Of the great
battlefield had changed, in that the firing
had ceased everywhere, and more open
help was being given TO the searching for
dead ones and caring for the dying and
wounded. General Lee had summoned his
corps and division commanders to meet
him. For once during the day he had
some OF his staff and escort about him
and one by one his commanders began 10
arrive. generally two to three horsemen
| with them.
/ A REMARKABLE SCENE
"As they came up" continued the mar
I rator General Lee inquired quietly
| General how is 1t on your part OF the
| liner |. too, had been summoned, and
was quiet. intensely interested observer
! Of one Of the most remarkable scenes and
interviews / ever witnessed. To the IL
tlxs, rffl