New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-23
Charge and Recharge Surged
Ger the Trampled Field
Where Dead Lay
Piled Like Corn.
rNHE battle OF Antietam Creek, or
Sbarpsburg, as the Confederates

"HE battle OF Antietam Creek. or
Sbarpsburg, as the Confederates
Il called it. fought on September IL,
1862. was tactical victory for Mcclellan
and the Army of the Potomac. for it was
followed by the return of Lee toward the
South. 1t gave President Lincoln the OPP
portunity he wished for issuing The historic
Emancipation Proclamation.
Following upon the second battle os Bull
Run, Lee, ever ready to take advantage Of
an opportunity, decided to press forward
into Maryland The people OF that state,
he gathered from such reports as he re-
ceived were suffering dire oppression at
the hands of the Union and ripe for Joining
the Confederacy If only they had a delv-
erer and half a chance. Much would be
gained If the connection with the West
by way of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
could be cut.
lie dreamed Of reaching Harrisburg and
there destroying the long Pennsylvania
Railroad bridge across the Susquehanna.
This could not be replaced quickly, and
the Great Lakes would be the only other
Northern route joining the East and the
West. Then nc could swing in he dircc-
ton OF Philadelphia, Baltimore or Wash
;ngtOn as circumstances suggested. More
over, il was temptation TO take Lis army
through region overfowing with fatness
for the Confederate soldier couli hardly
10 expected to be a good fighter on an
empty stomach.
Having permitted those who Harc with
out shoes 10 turn back, Lee took perhaps
forty thousand soldiers over the Potomac
near Lccsburg between September and
and cncampcd near Frederick. The army
street and "Stoncwall'' Jackson.
Il reached Frederick on a Saturday. on
tho following day "Stoncwalr' Jackson
went into town and. following his usual
custom on Sunday. attended religious
service. fl is reported that, as usual, he also
fen asleep, doubtless from the fatigue OF
his arduous toll. and did not hear the pray
trs uttered by the clergyman Cor the Union
cause prayers which. under the circum-
stances were not so great d demonstration
Of courage as the dominic was afterward
credited with having exhibited.
II required only two days for Lee to
discover that Maryland was not so thor
oughly enthralled as to he In search OF
dohvcrer from the horrible Yankees and to
learn that Harper's Ferry would not drop
into his lap like an oyerripe pear. The pos
session OF Harper 8 L cry WAS 'SS'HtldI "
the success OF his plans. for il stood at the
gateway to the Shenandoah Valley. upon
which he depended for his route of com
,nunication with Richmond and the South.
RELYING upon McClelan's slowness of ac-
ton and believing that Harper's Ferry
was under McClellan's command, he count
ed upon the prompt evacuation OF that
place by it's garrison of more than
twelve thousand men. II was under the
control Of General Halleck, and had re-
ceived orders 10 stick TO the last gun. 1t
was necessary TO detach a force at least
as great as that of the garrison, and
"Stonewall" Jackson was detailed TO per-
form the task of capturing the piece.
On Tuesday, September 9, General Lee
issued an order giving directions 10 Cen
erals Jackson, MeLaws and Walker as TO
the parts they were to play I'm the taking
of the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry.
This has become celebrated as the Lost
Order" II detailed in precise form the
position. at its date, of every portion OF
the Confederate army and their movements
for the next five or six days. Possessed
nf the information it contained. Mcclellan
would have been able by prompt action TO
attack Lees army, cut almost in two by
the detachment of troops TO take Har-
per's Ferry before this detachment could