The Newtown bee., 1908-05-29
The NeWtown Bee
 Newtown, Friday, May aa 1908.
HOW LEE ESCAPED.
COLUMBIAN REGISTER, AUGUST
 l. 1863.

bH lutAuas tHthhi oas tt hsH lce army was drawn up in line of battle along the west side of Antietam, anf
 from Sharpsburg to Funkstown, q dis,
 tance of ten miles. His line faced the
 east his pickets extended to Boonsbore
 and the South Mountain passes, and he
 was sending his wounded across thc
 river, and making every preparation
 to build bridges, to pass his main body
 over. On Wednesday the Federal cav.
 airy went through the mountain ;--for
 two days Gen Meade's troops followed,
 and on Thursday afternoon the two
 armies were drawn up in line of battle,
 with the Antietam Creek running hes
 tween them, and the southern Hanks of
 both resting on the old Antietam bat
 tle-feld,
 A battle was thought to be immi.
 nent. Supplies were forwarded to the
 Federal army over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The sick and wounded were sent to the rear. Every regiment which could be spared was marched away from Washington to aid Meade. The Peninsula was stripped; so was North Carolina. Gen Dix was left at Fortress Monroe with scarcely a sol- dier. Gen schenck's command at Bal timore, and Gen Heintzelman's com mand at Washington were depleted. Gen Couch with the militia, was hur- ried down from Pennsylvania to Meade's aid. The garrison upon Mary land Heights was strengthened, and the pontoon bridge connecting it with Harper's Ferry destroyed, to prevent any attack from Virginia in that di-
 rection. It actually seemed as if every spare soldier in the United States was to be hurried forward to join in the anticipated conquest.
 Lee lay quietly in his line of battle, his ax-men hard at work on bridges near Williamsport, a village few miles west of Funkstown. Gen Meade occupied Boonsboro and strengthened his line of battle along Antietam. His wagon trains were packed in the defiles of South Mountain out of harms way 1; and only those absolutely necessary to drag his supplies from the railroad terminus at Frederick to his troops on the Antietam, were allowed to go out beyond Boonsboro. The Federal pick cts moved cautiously forward, and the army in three grand divisions awaited the battle. Gen Howard led the center, Gen Slocum the left, and Gen Sedg- wick the right.
 But on Friday Gen Lee evacuated the southren part of his line. He yield. sd up Sharpsburg, and using Funks- town for a pivot, gradually bore his southern flank back until it pointed to the southwest and rested on the Poto- mac. The Federal army pursued. Stragglers were captured, and skirm- shes were fought, and the ensuing fight was heralded throughout the North as the battle of Sharpsburg. Gen Meade's pursuit, however, was slow and eau tious. He crossed the Antietam and entered Sharpsburg, and on Saturday morning the two armies confronted each other along line running from southwest to northwest-from the Po- .omac below. Williamsport to Funks- town. Scarcely, however, had the Federal troops come up, when the en- emy made another retreat. Williams port was used for a pivot, and the northern flank revolved around it, abandoning Funkstown and yielding ID Hagerstown. The bridge below Nilliamsport fell into Federal hands. It was but blind.
 As if for ruse, tan excellent one f so intended, for it was successfully Sen. Lee issued an address to his army. telling them he would fight to the Hitter end and almost as soon as ne had abandoned Hagerstown. re- traced his steps, drove the Federal ad- vance out and reoccupied the place. It seemed as if he really intended to fight: as if he would not or could not cross the river; and on Saturday night every one in the Federal camp expect ed bloody battle in the country north of the Antietam field. Meade hurried forward his reinforcements and SUD- plies. His ambulance corps was pre- pared, and his troops. in line of battle. rested on their arms all night. ~
 But almost as soon as General Lee .e-occupied Hagerstown he abandoned t again, and Sunday found it once more n Federal possession. The confeder- ate line revolved further back around he pivot at Williamsport, Federal cavalry still pursuing and capturing ,tragglers. On Sunday. night, Gen Lees line extended from Williamsport, l little east of north in front of the, Jonococheague Creek, and occupied nigh hills and high timbered land-a position of great strength. The Fed ,ral army followed in line of battle, md on Monday morning they could see he Confederates on the hill sides, dig ying and delving, as if their salvation depended upon the labor they per- ,ormed.
 The battle seemed imminent, and the 'rmies lay there closely watching each ,ther's movements. Gen Lee had, however, gained his point. It is not ret known when he began to cross the
 Potomac, tall day Monday his trains md troops were passing it at and above upon ferries, bridges and 'ords, and by sundoWn his main body vas safely over. At seven o'clock on Monday evening the rear guard began and by midnight all were over, with the bridges torn up behind them, md the lords and ferry commanded y artillery on the Virginia shore.
 This (Tuesday) morning dawned up- on the Federal army in line of battle, i the great fight to begin. As