The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-28
MEN WHO FOUGHT
At SHARPSBURG.
Graphic Description Of the Battle and
Its Results.
BRAVE AND HEROIC CONDUCT.
A q" War Correspondent" Tells Of the
Courage and Sclf-sacriAcc ofthc
Confcdcratcs Daring the
Sharpsburg Campaign.
BRAVE AND HEROIC CONDUCT.

for tho FIRST time had cause to be ashamed
or the Confederate soldier. Ever since !
have waited Tor some ono 20 notice this
Cr.Uc.sm-some whose knowledge or
tho facts was greater than mine, and
who could defend the reputation OF men
who never bad cause TO Doe ashamed or
their acti0ns-their deeds then and for
ever VIII speak for themselves. From
Bethel 90 App0mattox their grand leader
ana their country was proud Of them,
and they never had cause 20 blush with
shame themselves.
j. ls true that there were many strag-
Eiers (not dcser.crs). or General McClei-
Ian would hay found out before the
second day after the battle that hc could
claim o. victory. These men. please bear
in mind. had in about eight weeks march
ed from Richmond 20 Frederick, Nd. had
fought and won the battles of Cedar
creek. Second Manassas. Chantiity, Har-
per's Ferry, South M0untain-though not
successful in holding the passes OF the
latter. they had crossed the Potomac. and
then r~etraccd their route TO Shqrpsburg.
Rnd with a record that never before has
been claimed ~ any army in am enomys
country. When hungry, tired soldiers
marched through q land OF plenty and
took no mans goods. not even apples in
tho orchards, when forced marches on
empty stomachs had broken dow and
worn out the men, OF course the older,
sick and weaker men dropped out Of the
column ana s.ragglcd from necessity.
Governor curtin and General Wool both
testify that these men-ragged. shoeless,
half-fed-passed through tho country
without making d~epredations or taking
anything without offering to pay for what
they took. ever If il were in Confederate
scrip. General Lees order had been Is
sued 90 that effect, and. though hungry,
the men observed IBIS request. IL is for
the future historian To compare such an
order and the character of the man who
issued it and the men VINO observed IL
with the vandalism of Butler. sherman,
and sheridan and their men. These were
not men TO be ashamed Of. even If some
Of them did straggle, and when those who
We're Oh hand when General Lee mar
shalled his forces on that 18th day OF
September. with am army. variously esu-
mated at from 5000 20 1000 men. 20 cope
with General Mcclellan. with about $1,000
70 10000 mcn (sce his report in VOL XIX,
War of 'Icbcl40u." dated September
90. 1862. also Longs Memoirs OF Robert
j. lee. page 1O. every man who am
swerei r0ll-call knew that "a terrible and
bloody battle was before him. and when
the day was over they had nothing then
90 De ashamed of. nor had the ~stragglers,
who. weak from hunger with bare feet.
leaving bloody tracks whore each step
was made. crossed the river an day and
joined in the battle wherever the fight
iug llle might be-. The men who fought
at Sharusburg have a record as proud anc
free from shame as those who fought 10
any other battle of the war, Gettysburg
not excepted.
AS TO THE VICTORY.
70 was not nay Intention when / began
70 write so long a preface, but only TO
rec,te am incident that occurred after
Sharpsburg.
a short time since i was talking with
Colonel VIM. ~. Palmer. afterwards a.
A. G.. to General a. j.. Hil. % asked IL
General HIl bad ever made q report of
the engqgemcut at the ford below Shep-
pardst0wu; how many men were there.
and what General INNS opinion of the
fight had been. il seems that Hil had
never been fond OF writing reports and
seldom made one. ana they are al too
brief. Colonel Palmer stated that he had
often talked with General Hill about the
attack and defeat of the Yankees, though
De had never before met one who had
participated in the affair. and as General
had fought the battle. and 10y driv-
IN the Yankees back. was the man who
changed tho whole plan OF the campaign
FOR that year. be would Doe glad II ! would
try TO remember all that occurred, as the
honor and glory belonged TO Cen
eral Hill.
The battle OF sharp. burg IS claimed as
q Federal victory. Why, i do not know,
except that in that case We failed 10 drive
the enemy entirely OF the field, as We
had done before. bat all the 18th, the next
day after the battle, We lay waiting for
Little Mac to come Out ~ his hole and
Try another tussie. AS he refused 20 do
this. General Lee retired on the night of
that day. and then. for the first time,
Mcclellan claimed his victory.
Our battery. being on the extreme right
Of our line. was drawn Off first. and
reached the ford shortly after dark. This
lord was an exceedingly difficult one. es-
pecially for an army with a victorious
enemy in its rear. Tho road crossed the
g. and o. canal. then COW the steep
BERN bank 10 the river, which 90 that
time was waist deep. on the southern
OF the bank was again steep, and
the road ran tor some distance along me
foot OF tho blum, then crossed a deep
by means OF q narrow bridge, and
then into a gorge, SO that a long time
necessary to cross an army with all
sts artillery. wagons, etc. Is soon as we
had crossed an aide directed as 10 place
guns on the blum and wait for or
ders. lily captain directed me so wait
az the ford untl General Gregg (of A. II.
Hurs Dlyi&ouJ crossed and to- report 10
him General A. i. Hils Light Divis-
ION being the rear guard OF the army.
All night long i sat on my horse wait
Ing for General Gregs. but &c was not
morning. just after ~day-break. that
his brigade reached the river. 1 dcliv-
cred ny message and found my
10 the battery. just here
wish 10 call attention 10 the difference
between the Confederate ard the enemy:
General Mcclellan. for more than q month
after the battle. remained near Sharps-
trying 20 reOrgauize his army. CALI
ine for achievements. stating in one of
lis reports that q division with $500 on
its roll had only 1000 for duty. The rest
having returned 20 their homes. and.
finally. proves. marshals were appointed
OH over the states II should say the
Union statcs) 20 bring these descrtcrs
back. and during all that time the utmost |
Efforts were made 90 recruit his army
and outfit e On clothing. tents. ammunl-
ton. etc. while the beaten and routed"
~onfederatos fel into limo as naturally |
as water seeks its level.
READY TO FIGHT AGAIN.
A. l stood at the ford that night the
men. as they passed, would call out the
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