The National tribune., 1904-03-24
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
(Coutinued from first pa-e.)

basin formed by these three nights, which
tower into an almost Alpine sublimity. "A
line drawn from any one mOuntain-top to
either of the others must be two miles in
stretch; yet ri1e-cannOn browning these
nights can easily throw their projectiles
from each to other-a sort of Titanic
game of bowls which Mars and cloud-com-
polling Jove might carry on III sportiye
mood. But the Maryland Hight is the
Saul of the triad of giant mountains, and
far o'ertops it's fellows. OF course. 1t
completely commands Harper's Ferry, into
which plungns fire even of musketry
can be had from it. While therefore
Harper's Ferry is itself the merest mill
tary trap. lying as it does at the bottom
of this rocky funnel, yet the Maryland
Hight is a strong position, and II its rear Ca II,
ward slope We're held by determined
even though small force. it would be very
hard and hazardous to assail.
COL. MILEs's BAD MILITARY JUDGMENT.
Col. Miles. in the distribution of his
command. had posted on Maryland flights
a force under Col. Ford. retaining the bulk
of his troops in Harper's Ferry. This was
a faulty disposition. He should have
evacuated the latter place, and transferred
his whole force to Maryland flights,
which he could readily have held till Me
Clellan came up. Under his instructions
from Gen. Halleck. he was bound. how
ever. To hold Harper's Ferry to the last
extremity. and. interpreting this order lit
orally as applying to the town itself, he
refused TO take this step when urged to 1t
by his subOrdinates. But what was worse.
Ford. after opposing very feeble and
unskilful resistance to McLawSs attack
on the 18th. retired to Harper's Ferry
spiking his guns and topping them down
the declivity. Thus Maryland Nights was
abandoned altogether. McLaws succeed
ed i'll dragging some pieces up the rugged
steep. and Jackson and Walker being al
ready in position. the investment of
Harper's Ferry was by the morning of the
18th complete. The Bolivar and Loudon
Nights We're crowned with artillery dur
ing the day. and at dawn of the 10Th the
three cooperating forces opened fire upon
the garrison. They were already doomed
men: and in two hours or less the white
flag was raised in token of surrender.
The actual surrender was made by
Gen. White. Col. Miles having been NOR
tally wounded in the operations attending
the reduction of the place.
Jackson received the capitulat ton of H..
600 men. and came into possession of 13
pieces of artillery. $4,000 small-arms. and
a large quantity of military stores. But
leaving the details to be arranged by his
lieutenant. Gen. Hill "a. PD, the swift
footed Jackson turned his back on the
prize he had secured, and headed towards
Maryland to unite with Lee. who was
eagerly awaiting his arrival at Sharps-
burg.
THE vICToRs ESCAPE TO LEE.
The successful Judgment Mcclellan had
gained OH the crest of South Mountain by
the night of the 18th admonished Lee that
he might no longer hope to hold Turner'S
Pass. He therefore withdrew LOngstreet
and ID. III. Hill across Pleasant Valley
and over Elk Ridge into the valley be
yond-the valley of the Antietam. In the
morning Mcclellan passed through his
right and center and took position at
Boonsboro. Meantime. Franklin. having
the night previously swept away the ad-
verse force. passed through Champions
Pass and debouched into Pleasant Valley
in the rear of McLaws. This seemed Il
favorable opportunity to destroy that
force, which was isolated from all the rest
of Lees army: but, approaching his dan
ger, the Confederate officer, in the morn
ing. withdrew all his force from Mary
land flights. with the exception of single
regiment, and formed his troops in battle
order across Pleasant Valley to resist any
sudden attack, and before Franklin could
make his dispositions TO strike, the garri-
son at Harper's Ferry had surrendered
This left free exit for McLaws. who skill
fully retired down the Valley towards the
Potomac, which he repassed at Harper's
Ferry, and by a detour by way of Shep-
herdstown joined Lee at Sharpsburg
Upon the retirement Of the COnfeder-
ates on the morning Of the 18th, McClel-
Ian pushed forward his whole army in
pursuit; but after a few miles march, the
heads of the columns were brought to a
sudden halt at Antietam Creek, a riyulet
that, running Obliquely to the course of
the Potomac, empties into it six miles
above Harpers Ferry. On the Nights
browning the west bank OF this stream.
Lee, with what force he had in hand, took
his stand TO oppose McClellan's pursuit.
and form a point of concentration for his
scattered columns.
THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.
Whatever Interior purposes Lee may
have had touching the prosecution of the
Maryland invasion, affairs had so work ed
together that 1t had become now abso-
lutely necessary for him to stand and give
battle. Whether he designed abandoning
the aggressive and repassing the Potomac,
or purpOsed manuvering by the line of
Western Maryland towards Pennsylvania
he was obliged first of all to take I'D
position on which he might unite his di-
vided forces, closely pressed by the ad-
yancing Union columns. and receive the
attack of his antagonist. The circum-
stances were such that a battle would
necessarily decide the issue of the inva-
sion.
1t was late in the afternoon of the 18th
the ARMY Oh the drew uD
On the left bank OF Antietam Creek, Oh the
opposite side of which the Confederate in
fantry was seen ostentatiously display ed
The day passed in observation Of the DO
sition, and next morning that portion of
the Confederate force that had been en-
gagged in the investment Of Harper's Ferry
rejoined Lee. The Confederate com
mander formed his troops on line
stretched across the angle formed by the
Potomac and Antietam; and as the Po.
tOmac here makes a sharp curve, Lee was
able to rest both TANKS on that stream.
while his front was covered by the An
tietam. The Confederate line was drawn
In front OF the town OF Sharpsburg-Long-
streets command being placed On the
right of the road from Sharpsburg to
BoOnsboro, and ID. III. Hills command on
the left. From Sharpsburg a turnpike
runs northward across the Potomac to
Hagerstown, from which direction the p,-
sition might be turned; and to guard
against this, Hoods two brigades were
placed on the left. Jackson's command
was placed in reserve near the left. The
18th saw the whole Confederate force CON
centrated at Sharpsburg. except the diyi.
sions Of McLaws, Anderson and A. p.
Hill. which had not yet returned from
Harper's Ferry. So greatly had the Con
federate army become reduced by it's pre-
yiOus losses and hy strapolinU fL.t I -.