Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-11-03

its further protection were adopted.
The commands of Gems. Banks. Ere
mont and Mcdowell were combined
and placed under Maj. Gen. John Pope.
McClellans army at Harrison's Land
ing and Burnside's corps, which was
awaiting orders in Hampton Roads,
were ordered to reinforce Pope. The
latter had then under him a splendid
ly equipped army Of 100000 men, and
proudly made the boast that he would
soon capture Richmond. In quick
succession the Confederates met and
defeated him at Cedar Mountain, Bull
Run and Chantilly, crossed the Poto-
mac, near Leesburg, and concentrated
their forces at Frederick.
During his brief campaign Pope had
lost 10000 men, generals killed,
80 pieces Of artillery and 10000 Stand
Of arms. The Confederate losG was
5000 men and generals.
Pope was promptly relieved of hi~
command and Mcclellan was again
made commander of the army of the
Potomac. Mcclellan, after reerganiz-
inC the broken forces turned over TO
him by Pope, moved out to give bat
tie to Gen. Lee. The right wing was
commanded by Burnside. the center by
Sumner, and the left by Franklin. Lee
retired from Frederick and took up
strong position in front of ShArpsburg.
with his front protected by Antietam
creek,
Battle of Antietam.
On the afternoon of September Is the
Union forces took up their position
in front of the ConfederateS, the Ante
tam creek separating the two armies.
A heavy cannonading by the Federals
opened the proceedings the following
day, and in the afternoon Gen Hook
er's corps was sent by Mcclellan to
force a passage across the Antietam,
at the extreme right of one Of the four
stone bridges spanning the stream.
Hooker crossed by the upper bridge,
beyond the range of Confederate fire.
and was soon engaged with the Con-
federate left under Hood. He forced
the latter back and, being re-enforced
during the night by Mansfleld's corps,
was thus in good position 10 resume
operations the next day.
The struggle opened early in the
morning of the 18th with the Con-
federates, some $4,000 strong, occupy
ing their old position. The aggregate
strength Of the Union forces was 85,-
600 men. Hooker's and Mansfields
corps, $4,000 strong, were on the Con-
federate side Of the stream, with Sum-
ner's corps ready to follow. The rest
Of the Union forces had not crossed the
AntIetam.
Hooker opened the battle and sue
ceeded In forcing the Confederates'
left wing. commanded by Jackson,
back a half a mile. Re-enforcements
we're hurried to Jackson's aid. and
the Union troops were hurled back TO
their position of the morning. Sum-
ner's corps now engaged the enemy
a little to the left Of Hooker, and grad
ually pressed back the Confederates.
The latter. receiving re-enforcements.
made a desperate counter attack. and
Sumner met the same fate as Hooker,
being hurled back to the Antietam.
The scene now changed TO the ex
IRENE Union left. where the corps OF
Burnside and Porter were stationed.
Burnside had orders TO cross the Ante
tam by a stone bridge. all the ap-
proacheslto which were commanded by
the Confederate fire. He suffered
heavily In attempting to reach the
bridge, and seeing the futility Of fur
Their sacrifice sent force further down
the creek to try and find ford. This
force succeeded in gaining the Con
federate side Of the stream. thus Great
ing a diversion which enabled him 10
send the main body OF his force across
the river by the bridge. After reform
ing his lines Burnside charged the Con
federates and forced back the Confed-
crate right for several hundred yards.
He was in turn defeated and driven
back. ike the other corps. TO the banks
Of the Antietam. Night ended the
struggle. leaving both armies confront
in- each other on the west hank of the
creek. On the 18th Mcclellan remain
ed on the defensive. arranging his
forces. which had been REINFORCED By
two strong divisions. he was TO have
attacked on the 10Th. but meantime
Cen Lee retired, recrcssed the Poto-