The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-06-06

This brief sketch Of the first Mary.
land campaign was written several
years ago by Il. *. Charles, of Oar
lington, S. e., who gave some Of the
incidents which came directly under
his observation, anu especially in ref
crence to Gen. Lee.
| will premise what I have to say
With brief reminder OF the chief
points Of that brilliant campaign that
preceded the battle, and I think the
military critic will agree with me in
saying that this campaign alonc would
entitle Gen. Lee to rank as first
class general. l speak now Of what is
known as the first Maryland cam
paign. 1t is true that We came out of
Maryland discounted, but the most
perfectly conceived and brilliant plans
Gas Waterloo) may fail from minor
Causes. Lee mad marched from the
| enyirons Of Richmond northwsrd to
meet Pope; had struck him at Ma
nassas and shattered his army, send
ing it skurrying to Washington. Then
! was conceived the brilliant plan of the
invasion Of Maryland.
Lee with the main army was to
CROSS the Potomac at Leesburg, send.
ing jackson in the meantime TO take
Hsrper's Ferry by coup dc main, and
then to join him 90 he leisurely jour-
neyed toward the upper Potomac.
My company (E, 7th South Carolina
Cavalry was detailed 60 scouts and
oouriers for Gen. Longstreet. We
had seen considerable amount Of
staff duty Of the kind with Gen. John.
ston and Gen. Lee. At present Gen.
Lee and Gen. Longstreet being much
together, We acted as veil for Gen.
Lee as for Gen. Lougstreet, aud, bt .
ing attached to the staff, we frequent.
ly had personal Intercourse with not
only two generals but with oil Of the
subordinate commanders, and became
personally acquainted with them.
Our position as oouriers OF the com.
mander in chief gave us q better
knowledge Of the movements Of the
army, Of it's personnel and strategy,
than was possessed by any major gen.
eral. A large number Of the privatee
OF my company were graduates Of the
South Carolina College, and fully
capable Of appreoiating aud utilizing
tho splendid military training under
Gen. Lee. Our old professor, Charles
8. Venable, was member Of the staff
with the rank Of colonel, and + always
thought, from what / observed, that
Col. Venable was Lees most intimate
and trusted aid.
But to return. We lost no time
aeter the battle Of Second Manassas,
but marched direct to Leesburg, whore
we divested ourselves Of ell superflu.
ous baggage and ''impedimenta'' and
entered Marylsnd with grand eelat,
amid flying banners, the playing Of
the bands, and the hussas Of an en-.
.ehu'iassio crowd Of sympathizers ir
beautiful Frederick City, where We
supplied ourselves with many good
things-by purchase, oamped day,
and then took q leisursly march wes.-
ward over magnificent roads through
Middletown, Boonsboro, and the
South Mountain, and entered RaRers.
town, where We esmped 10 await
Jackson. During the next day We re.
oeived news Of a.heavy attack on D.
II. Hill at South Mountain Pass
(Boonsboro). Now it had not been
the intention of Gen. Lee to defend
South Mountain Pass longer than to
allow jackson to join us; but Jackson
hid been delayed in the capture of
Harper's Ferry, and moreover, Mo.
Clellan seemed to have recovered from
his confusion as to our movements
and, abandoning the defensive, had
marched directly on Us, 80 it became
necessary to hold this pass at loast a
little longer. Gen. Lee hurried his
Immediate command back to the pass
by a foroad. march, and reached it
some hours before sundown. ..,~..
AND uow occurred the apparently
slight error that decided the first cam.
paign into Maryland and sent our
troops back across the Potomac dis
comited. Instead of putting the
troops Immediately into line Of battle
on Tho mountain, which, by tho way,
is . most impregnable position for de-
fense, Gen. Lee, on resehing the foot
OF the:pass, had halted his troops on
the road for several hours within half
mile Of where D. 81. Hill was hold. !.
ins the pass against the whols 81 Nc,
Olsllan.s array. At last, toward Saup.,
set, :Lonsstreet = was. hurried up tko
pass. bat 10 txas.s soa fasaskn $ost ;ass.