The National tribune., 1901-03-28


Peninsula / accompanied him. The de.
tails of the work in this connection, ana
the arrest and execution of Webster, al
Richmond, have been related in previous
inStallments.
was issued:
War Department, Adj-Gen;'s Office,
Washington, Sept. :. 1867.
Mai.-Gen. Mcclellan will have COM
maud of the foItiticationS of Washington,
and of all the troops for the defense oil
the Capital.
By order of
Maj-Gen. HNLLECK.
E. D. TOWNSEND.
Asst. Adj.-Gen.
At this time the troops under Gen. Pope
were retreating from the defeat in the II
cinia campaign, and the roads leading to
Washington were, for the second time
during the war. filed with stragglerS from
the ranks making their way TO the Capi-
tai. 1t will be remembered that while
Mcclellan and the main Eastern arm!
were in the Peninsula, the divisions of NC
Dowell, Fremont and Banks were. 10y or
ders of the Government, held near w ASH
ington. for the protection of the National
Capital On July 26 these forces were
consolidated as the Army of Virginia, and
placed under the command of Gen. Rope.
This army was guarding the line OF the
Rapidan.
Soon after the retreat of the Union
army under Cen Mcclellan, the Confed-
crates. in August, 1862. began to move
toward Washington. Stcnewall Jackson,
leading the advance of the Southern army,
attacked BankSS force at Cedar Mountain,
Aug. 6. Banks, however, was able to
hold Jackson in check for some time; but
the main body of the rebels arriving,
Banks was compelled to retreat. Lee now
pressed heavily upon Pope, who retreated
norttward from every position then held
Lee was now pressing forward. flushed
with victory, and threatening Washing
ton. Sept. / the battle of Chantllly was
fought, in which those brave Generals,
Kearny and Stevens, lost their hyes.
MCCLELLAN AGAIN IN COMMAND.
Mcclellan was once more placed in
command. The broken army OF Pope was
now united with that of the Army of the
Potomac, and the Army of Virginia ceased
TO exist as a separate organization. with
the intense enthusiasm of the soldiers LOT
Mcclellan, he soon brought order out of
chaos, and in an incredibly short space OF
time he faced them about, IN orderly col
umns, and started to repel the invading
army of Lee, that was now crossing the
Potomac.
From reports made by my operatives
at this time it was ascertained that Lee
had abandoned. if. indeed, he ever serious
lv entertained the idea of advancing direct
ly upon the Capital, and was now contem-
plating carrying the campaign into Mary
land Longstreet's Division had left Rlch-
mond about Aug. for Gordonsyllle,
marching TO Orange Court House; he
fell back to GordOnsyille. Jackson fell
back at the same time and they both
participated in theebattle OF Manassas ana
in the fighting that followed. Jackson
then crossed the river into Maryland, be-
fore Longstreet, who crossed few days
later at or near Edwards Ferry.
Sept 4, my operatives, who were watch
ing the movement of the rebel army. re-
ported that Lee had his headquarters on
the Aldie turnpike, near Dfanesylile; (;
while Jackson was near Fairfax Court
House. On the 9th, it was understood
that the rebels had moved their entire
army into Maryland and it was presumed
that his objective point was Baltimore.
Gen. Mcclellan left Washington Sept.
z, and established his headquarters at
Rockville, having first made all arrange
ments for the defense of Washington, and
placing Gen. Banks in command of the
troops at that place. By this time it was
known that the mass of the rebel army
had passed up the south side of the Po-
tomae, River, in the direction of LeeSburg,
and that part of the army had crossed
the river into Maryland.
The uncertainty of Lees intentions
greatly distracted the authorities at Wash
ington for the safety of that city, and they
were fearful that he would make feint
towards Pennsylvania, and then suddenly
seize the opportunity to attack the Cap
tai
Thus, the Importance Of moving with
extreme caution was kept constantly in
view, and the army was moved so that
it extended from the railroad to the Poto-
mac River, the extreme left flank resting
on that stream.
Sept u a portion Of the right wing Of
the army entered Frederick, Nd, and Oh
the following day the main body Of the
right and the center wings arrived, only
TO find that the enemy had marched out
of the place two days before, taking the
roads to Boonesboro' and Harper's Ferry
Lee had left force to dispute the
possession Of the passes through which
the roads across South Mountain ran,
while he had dispatched Jackson to eff
feet the capture Of Harper's Ferry. In
these plans he was partially frustrated
for, while Jackson succeeded in capturing
Harper's Ferry, Mcclellan drove the
rebel troops from the passes, after u short
but vigorous engagement at South Noun
tain, on Sept. Il, but failed in his efforts
TO relieve Harper's Ferry, and that place
was surrendered on the following day.
Immediately following the actions al
South Mountain, Lee, being closely
pressed by Mcclellan, turned at bay in
the beautiful valley Of the Antietam Here
he resolved to endeaver to held his posi-
ton until he could concentrate his army.
His forces at this time numbered about
10000 men.
On the 10th he was reinforced by Jack
sons Corps, numbering about 5000 men,
which, together with other reinforcements,
received during the day, sweled his num-
bers to 10000 men, which, in the Language
of one of their own writers, constituted
.'the very flower Of the Army Of Northern
Virginia"
Our forces did not exceed 50, 900 men.
and Il is but correct TO say that not
10000 were actually engaged on the dag
OF the great battle. My own judgment IS
that at no time during the fight was the
Confederate army ever confronted by q
force outnumbering their own.
Confederate writers have sought tc
make it appear that Lee at Antietam
fought and practically defeated n force in
excess of his own in the ratio OF three tC
one. This assertion is proven to be 8
giaring error, for the facts are that the
odds were less than three to two, even il
point Of actual numerical strength pres
ent, while, all things considered, thest
were reduced until the two armies faced
each other on the morning of Antietan
pretty evenly opposed, and with no decided
advantage in favor of either contestant.
To explain: Taking it for granted tha
Mcclellan had $1,000 men at roll-call OF
the morning Of Sept. II, it is now known
- l. -