Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1906-09-20

Battle of Antietam, | trust That you
will not begrudge the son of ii Con-
federate soldier space to state a few
brief facts in regard to it. The OBJ
iect of Lee in invading Maryland
was to test the feeling of the Mary
Ianders in regard to secession and to
obtain recruits and supplies from
them, but not to establish a base of
supplies north of the Potomac, for
that was deemed ineApedient and
hazardous. 1t proved risky and
disappointing test, as large major
ity of the people took no pains to
conceal their loyalty to the United
States government, and those who
sympathized with the Confederacy
were lukewarm and generally un-
willing to expose themselves to
danger or make any sacrifices. 1t
was indeed dishearteniug PROPOSE
ton that Lee had to face when his
army passed thro' Frederick on their
retreat westward to the mountains.
The soldiers were worn out from
long marches and were closely pur-
sued by the Yankees. 1T was the
intention of the Confederate com
mander to cross the Potomac at Will
Transport, at Hancock and points
farther up and thus avoid general
engagement; but this he was not al
lowed to do for his rear guard was
vigorously attacked and driven
through the gaps of the South Noun
tain into the wide valley beyond.
This placed the Army of Northern
Virginia in a critical position. To
the west of them for many miles
was a comparatively level country
with but little chance to fortify; to
the south a broad and almost inn
pasSable river, and from the east
and north the Army of the Potomac
was advancing in full force. A hur-
ried council of war was held and Lee
decided to give battle at a point be-
tween Antietam Creek and the PotO-
mac River; his military eye dis
cerned it as the strongest point he
could select for defense. The Con
federate Army in its advance north
was reduced by detatchments to less
than 10000, while the United States
Army was twice that number. The
battle commenced early in the morn
ing and continued with scarcely any
until long after dark.
For the numbers engaged it was the
bloOdiest and most desperate battle
of the war and perhaps Of modern
times AT the close Of the day there
was slight change in the positions of
of the two armies, and although
many fierce bayonet charges and
counter-charges were made and the
utmost valor was displayed by both
sides, it goes down into history as a
drawn battle in which both sides
can claim victory. Lee was COM
PEELED to give battle to save his army
and this he accomplished before the
dawn of another day. Under the
cover of darkness with his camp-fres
brightly burning as if he intended
to continue the fight on the morrow,
the Confederate commander sudden
~ broke camp and passed the Army
of Northern Virginia across the
Potomac on hastily but skilfully
built pontoonS. He had effected his
retreat without the loss of single
piece of artillery and none but the
Confederate dead and some of the
wounded were left behind Lee had
completely out-generaied McClel-
Ian.
OF the thousands of Confederate
soldiers who found graves on north
ern soil we cheefully believe they
have little to answer for. There is
no record during the invasions OF
Maryland and Pennsylvania of s
Confederate soldier insulting 8
woman or taking what he did moi
pay or offer to pay for in the scriI
that was current in the Confederate
States and in their armies; there i.
no record of a soldier of the Army
Northern Virginia insulting or i'll
treating prisoner of war. If thi.
were done it was invariably in the
prison pens and by men who coulo
not be trusted to do their duty on tn,
battlefield. The officers of the Army
! l., Il