The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-04-15

raging between Lee and Pope pt
Second Manassas. The old "War
Horse Of Lees hurled his jaded
and wornout troop upon the concen-
trated columns Of Pope's and turned
the wavering tide of battle with g
complete route Of the enemy. At Ok
Hill the next day the battle was re-
newed, the broken columns Of the
federals were sent flying from the
field, escaping into Maryland and
Washington. There they were pur-
sued by Lee and his victorious troops.
In crossing the historic blue Poto-
mac, while the bands were playing
''Maryland, Ny Maryland.'' Jake
Baldwin, stood in the ripping cur
rent, listening to its plaintive walls.
This reminded him so wildly Of the
sea-like moan Of his own dear river
near his far away home. ''Dis here
seem lac our river to home, where
we useter be runaways, Marse jake, "
chuckled Cage with a broad grin. But
Col. Baldwin was far more serious,
saying as if to himself, "How many,
how very many viii recross this
stream and never see home again.
Why not me?' ''Ah, for Gaud sake
Marse Jake, don't talk dat er way.
Befo I'd die in dis far country, I'd
run same as a spook rabbit, an dat,
too, before you cud say howdy.''
The army crossed over and took up
position on the Maryland side. Here
Lee decided ON tt hazardous under
taking of capturing the strong hold
of Harper's Ferry, fortified by ma
ture and scientific engineering and
was considered almost impregnable.
It was here where the greatest Of the
United States armory and arsenal
was situated, garrisoned by eleven OF
twelve thousand regulars. In at
tempting this movement the Confed-
crate commander violated one Of the
best known axioms Of war, that "of
dividing his ar. in the face Of the
enemy" To consummate has de-
signs on Harper's Ferry, he sent
Stonewau Jackson back across the
Potomac above the city, General Nc
Laws down to take Maryland
Heights, south Of the Shenandoah, at
the point of junction with the Poto-
mac. Lee sent Longstreet east, to-
ward Washington, to keep off Gen.
Pope, as he thought, with his demor-
allied army from his rear. But in
reality the Federal commander was
Gen. Mcclellan, he having supersed-
ed Pope a few days before. By a.
mere accident which is not necessary
to here relate, Mcclellan came in pos
session Of Gen. Lees orders, dividing
up his army, giving him the key to
the entire plan Of the Confederate
campaign. This was MeClellanis op-
portunity to destroy Lees army by
attacking his army corpse in detail.
Never since Napoleon at Fontaina-
bleau, when the Allies were pressing
from all sides on the French capitol,
did a general display such energy
and resourcefulness, as did MeClel-
Ian before Lee, Dongstreet took up
position near the little hamlet of
Boonsboro, along the foothills oil
South Mountain. He had no more
than ten or fifteen thousand troops,
while Mcclellan VS. concentrating
eight thousand. To sweep Longstreet
aside seemed an easy proposition,
fall on Lees rear, destroy
him, and with him the .Confederacy.
Col. Baldwin was with Lee old
war horse,' the commander Of his
right wing, and was proud to share
his dangers and his destinies. Long
street foreseeing the danger to his
commander in chief, moved his troops
taking up position on the
eastern slope Of the mountain and
along the foothills beyond. McClel-
Ian changed the course of his advance
into Pennsylvania, ordered up those
who had sought refuge under the
guns at Washiogtoav hurried for
wards those along the waters of the
Potomac, all these troops to brush
aside the little arising Of his antogan-
ist. When the greater portion Of his
army were assembled he rushed them
forward to the gap in the mountain
near Boonsboro, where Longstreei
stood at bay.
All that day could be heard the
rolling of distant wagons and artil-
lery trains and the beat of McClel-
Ian s war drums. The Southern SOL
diers stood silent, grim determined,
and like +ha Crook Snl1iorc tIErar1