Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-09-19

A lot of youngsters did some skill
full and courageous mountain climbing
As year ago-September IA. 1t was
on the occasion of the battle of South
mountain, Maryland
The combined armies of the Poto-
mac and the Rappahannock, two
forces that had but recently suffered
from sad experiences with General
Lee and the flower of the confederate
army the former under General
George B. Mcclellan in front of Rich
mond and in retreat to Malvern
hill, and the latter, under General John
Pope, at second Bull Run, where he
was indifferently supported by Nc
Clellan and his army, or most of it, and
where the union forces met with enc
of their most serious disasters, were
hurried out of Virginia and through
Washington, early in September, 1852,
and began the march in Maryland
which terminated with the battle of
Antietam, September II, As years ago.
After the second Bull Run disaster,
General Mcclellan had been placed in
command by President Lincoln in
spite of the protests of Secretary Stan
ton, General Halleck, then general-in-
chief, and others, but much to the de-
light of the rank and file and most OF
the officers. Mcclellan had organized
and drilled the army of the Potomac,
and during that time his soldiers came
to pretty nearly idolize him. He was
young, handsome, rode beautifully and
had taken splendid care of his men.
His soldiers were young, believed in
their commander, overlooked his mis-
fortunes in the Richmond campaign
and welcomed him back to his reunit-
ed command. Pope's army having dis
solved and his men gone back to the
army of the Potomac-welcomed him
with cheers that could not be misun-
derstood
There was a combination of heart
love- confidence and genuine patriot
ism in those cheers and the tired
much discouraged men who had met
disastrous defeat down Richmond way
at second Bull Run and Chantilly-had
seen many. many thousands OF their
comrades killed and MANNED in battles
where union victories instead OF de-
feats should have resulted-set out in
the Maryland campaign with hopes re-
newed determined to change the aw-
full tide of defeat that had cast gloom
over and shaken confidence through
out the loyal north.
How much depended upon that body
of young men who had not been given
a square deal by their generals. Gen
splendidly Differed, fresh from Vir-
ginia battle grounds where they had
won great victories, were having a
good time in Maryland, or headed for
that state, absolutely sure that they
could crush the union army.
That would have meant the capture
OF Washington. Baltimore. Harris
burgh. Philadelphia general inva-
sion of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Della
ware, New York and very likely worse
than that.
The picture is not overdrawn. 1t
would have meant substantial, inyalu-
able, European help for the confeder-
acy.
q Il was not a rapid march 4 indeed, 1t
was a slow one The army needed
hoes and clothing; these were supplied
in temporary camps on the way, and
full rations were brought up.
When the clash came the army of
the Potomac was well shod, clothed
and fed, and at no time in its history.
up to then. was it ever in better con-
dition to wage war in earnest.
On Friday. the 18th. cavalry OF the
contestants clashed The next day
Lee and his forces hurried through
Frederick City. barbara Fritcnies
town. on the way to South Moun6ain
and the high range Of mountains that
extends to Harper's Ferry. Early the
next morning one wing of McClellan's
army made equally good time through
Frederick City. in pursuit of the enemy
that up to that time had done most of
the pursuing.
BY noon OF that day. Sunday, Sep