Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-06

] TENDER 8, apprised of the disappearance OF
| the confederates from his front, with fuller
advlces that they were crossing into Mary
| land. He accordingly ordered several corps
across the Potomac posting them on the
north Of Washington, leaving the city in
command of General Banks, and making
| his headquarters that night, September Z,
| with the 9TH Corps, at Rockville. He moved
| slowly, because uncertain that the move
| ment of the enemy across the Potomac was
J not feint. But his advance, after a
skirmish' on the 18th, entered Frederick
that day. which the confederates had evac-
uated, moving westward, through which the
main OF the Union army passed next day.
here Mcclellan was so lucky to obtain
a copy or Lees general order, only four
days old, developing his prospective move
ments.
By rare stroke of good fortune McClel-
Ian came in possession of Lees designs
when it was too late to change them, and
when 1t could not be known by Lee, at least
until developed by counteracting move
ments, that he had this knowledge, and
was acting upon it. Lee had ventured the
dividing of his army in hostile country
and placing considerable and treacherous,
though fordable river between it's parts,
while an enemy superior in numbers hung
closely upon it's rear The order rendered
it clear, not only that Harper's Ferry was
Lees object and that Jacksons corps and
Walkers division were ere this across the
Potomac in eager quest of 1t, but that only
McLaw's corps520,000 men at most-was
the coveted prize
South Mountain Range of Hills.
The South mountain range of hills,
which stretch enthusiastically from the
Potomac across Maryland, are a modified
continuation Of Virghia's BLUE Ridge as
the Catoctin range, near Frederick are an
extension Of the Bull Rum range. Be-
tween them Is the valley Of Chatoctin creek,
some ten miles wide at the Potomac, but
narrowing to point at it's head. Several
roads cross both these ranges, the best
being the National road from Baltimore
through Frederick and Middetown to Hag-
erstoWn and Cumberland. Gen. Pleasan-
toms Cavalry Division leading the advance
OF the Union army, skirmishing OCCASION
ally with Stuart's Cavalry, pressed on,
backed by Cox's Division of Burnsides
Corps, to find the enemy in force before
Turner's Gap of South mountain
This gap is about 400 feet high the crests
on either side rising some 800 feet higher
Lee, in his eagerness to grasp the prize
Whereon he was intent, and in his conf
dent assurance that Mcclellan would con-
t1nue the cautious and hesitating move
ment of six or seven miles day by which
he had hitherto advanced from Washington,
had pushed Longstreet forward on jack
sons track to Hagerstown, September II,
whence six OF his brigades, under Anderson,
had been sent to cooperate with McLaws
against Maryland Heights and Harper's
Ferry. This left only D. H. Hills division
of five brigades to hold Turner's Gap and
the adjacent passes, with such help as
might be afforded by Stuart's Cavalry,
Stuart having reported to Hill. on the 18th
that only two brigades were pursuing them.
He was undeceived, however, when at 7
O'Clock next morning Cox's Division of
Burnside's Corps advanced up the turnpike
from Middletown, preceded by Pleasan-
toms Cavalry and a battery, and opened on
D. H. Hill defending the gap, while nearly
the entire Army Of the Potomac could be
seen with the aid Of a field glass from a