Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-09-17
ON THE BATTLE-LlNE
VISIT TO FIELDS MADE FAMOUS
DURING THE REBELLION.


When Meade and Lee Met There
Bloody Antietam.--Eiistorie Harpers
Ferry.--Seenes About Frederieks-
bura That Recall the Big Fights.
In leaving Gettysburg en- route TO
another famous battlefield, Antietam,
YOU pass by rail ont toward the south
west. by the Seminary, the Reynolds
statue and numerous monuments
marking the first days bloody hight.
Some miles you ride on the plain.
Then your train begins TO climb up,
up, creeping toward a gap in the
mountains ahead. Ii is the same
route over which the shattered legions
OF Lee dragged their sad and weary
way back to Virginia. You are pas
senger on the Western Maryland rail-
road now. There are steep grades,
sharp curves, several tunnels and at
last YOU draw up to the summit OF this
portion OF the Blue Ridge mountains.
il is a picturesque locality. The clear
air and the enchanting scenery make
il popular as a summer resort. Sever
al tine hotels are seen, notably at Pen
Mar, a spot having the unique distinc-
ton of being on the exact boundary
between Pennsylvania and Maryland
hence its name-and also browning
the Blue Ridge. The wide, fertile
Cumberland valley lies before and be-
meath. Into il the train slowly de-
seends, slanting down the western
slope toward the south. Hagerstown,
a city o. $1,000 population, the largest
in Western Maryland, is finally reach
ed. This town was occupied by Lee
on both his Antietam and Gettysburg
campaigns 1t contains cemetery
where lie 5000 Confederate dead taken
from the field of Antietam after Lees
retreat and buried by the state Of
Maryland.
TO reach Antietam you take the
Norfolk 4 Western at Hagerstown and
ride twelve miles due south. At the
little station there is a cluster OF can
non and a tablet notifying the passen.
ger that historic ground Is near Nj
merous guides are az hand % drive
you about and tell you the story You
strike a trade with one and move of
over the fine macadam road laid by
Uncle sam (since the battle) toward
Sharpsanrg a mile 10 the northeast,
This hamlet has changed but little
since the war when its citizens sought
refuge in their cellars on a certain
eventtul day in September, 1862. An
interesting point here is shop where
relics and mementoes Of the battle are
displayed for sale You can bny any
thing from a mimic ball dug up near
"Bloody Lane" to the CORY uniform OF
some poor victim Of the fight. We
even saw several human bones at so
much per
Before the field Is visited a short
story Of the battle and movements of
the armies may make things clearer.
The engagement is called Antietam in
the North from Antietam Creek which
flows through the battlefield. In the
Sonth it is known as Sharpsburg from
the town which lay in rear OF the Con-
federate position.
Lee, having compelled McClellan's
from the Peninsula and
having routed and dispersed Pope at
the Second Manassas, had prepared
the way for an invasion OF the North
late in the summer of 90. He did not
quite dare 10 move on Washington
which was well fortified and to which
the different fragments OF the Army OF
the Potomac had been hurriedly drawn
In great numbers. So he struck of 10
the northwest and crossed the Upper
Potomac. hoping TO threaten Baltimore
and 10 draw the Union army from its
detences and catch il at a disadvan-
tage.
These were troublous times at Wash
ington. There had been nothing but
defeat and disaster thus far in the re-
peated attempts to advance on Rich
mond. The commanders had been
the soldiers had lost heart.
And the Rebels were laundering
triumphantly at the very doors of the
capital. II was necessary Tor some
great organizing gunius to take the
brigades and regiments and
mold them quickly into an army capa-
BILE of facing Lees victorious veterans
Only one man was thought of-McClel-
Ian. And he did it. His capacity in
the field has often been questioned
his ability to assemble and prepare a
great army never.
Having with great celebrity trans
formed what was little better than
mob into a huge military engine, Nc
Clellan set forth to do Just what Lee
wanted him to-fght the invader on
open ground. On his way dispatch
from the Rebel commander to a subor-
dinate provldentially tell into his
hands and on 1t he was able to base
his campaign with certainty. He learn |
ed that Lee had divided his army. |
sending a strong force under Stone |
wall Jackson to effect the capture of |
Harper's Ferry. The remainder of |
the Confederate army was more or
less scattered about north of the Poto- |
mac from Frederick to Hagerstown. i
Here, then, was McClellan's oppor- |
tunity; to fall on Lee and crush him |
while Jackson was at Harper's Ferry. |
For once Mcclellan moved quickly
and almost succeeded. Had not Miles |
surrendered ingloriously at the Ferry |
so early as to release jackson in time |