Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-12
civil, WAR
F|fTY VARS AGO TO-DAY
June Is, 1854 Federal Force Entered Virginia Near
Harpers Ferry After the Evacuaon-o This Point by the
Confederate Troops-Gen Patterson's Plans and Their
Failure


Fifty years ago today a federal force,
of the command of Maj. Gen. Robert
Patterson, Of the Pennsylvania volun-
teers. forded the Potomac river at Will
lfamsports Md, and entered Virginia
about rs miles above Harpers Ferry,
which had been held by the Corfeder-
federates the day before.
This movement was part of the gem
eral advance made by the Federal troops
all along the Virginia frontier, and had
for its objective the possession of Har-
pers Ferry. This gained, the whole Bal
timore and Ohio railroad would be under
Federal control and the forces about
Washington linked with those of western
Virginia.
That this object was not attained was
due to the belief of General Patterson,
ordered to send his best troops to Wash
ington, that the 10000 trained infan-
try with which he credited Gen. Joseph
K. Johnston the Confederate commando.
er opposing nim. would prove too much
for his green 1'ennsylvanians,
So, while General Johnston was march
ing and counterma.-ching to prevent GEN
erals Patterson and Mcclellan from unit
ing and breaking through the mountains
to Manassas, General Patterson was is
suing orders to recall his men to Mary
land, there to. remain to July, and the
first invasion OF the valley of Virginia
was ended before it was begun, and Har-
pers Ferry became pawn on the mill
tary chess board.
GENERAL PATTERSON'S ADVANCE.
The movement against Harpers Ferry.
which has been held by the Confeder-
ates since April ISs when the arsenal had
been burned by. the Federals, had been
planned by Generals Scott and Patterson
as soon as the safety of Washington had
been made certain and communication
opened through Baltimore.
On June 2 General Patterson, who
commanded the department of Pennsyl-
yania, had moved his headquarters from
Philadelphia To- Chambersburg, in the
western part of the state. and gone to
work to concentrate and organize a
considerable force to take Harpers Fer
ry THE first great battle of the war
will be fought at Harpers Ferry" was
his prediction.
General Scott thoroughly approved of
his plan. II think your expedition against
Harpers Ferry wei projected" he wrote
to General Patterson June 8, "and that
success in it would be an important step
in the war" To assist in it he sent a
force of regulars, ARTILLERY and cavalry
as well as infantry, and the First Rhode
Island regiment with its battery.
These with IL regiments of Pennsylva-
MIA volunteers and the First Wisconsin
regiment, made an army of more than
1000 men, which General Patterson or
ganized into two divisions and five
brigades. and by the second week of
June he beganslto move them toward
Harpers Ferry. Il
Into Washington county in western
Maryland they went, very gradually, in
accordance with General Pattersons de-
termination to take no chances. On June
l5 the same day that the commander
transferred his own quarters to Hagers-
town, the head of the column reached
Williamsport on the Potomac. while from
another detachment at Maryland Heights
came the word that the Confederates had
abandoned Harpers Ferry after destroy
ing everything.
FAILURE OF THE PLAN.
On the following day. June 16. two
brigades forded the river, wading
through the breast-high water, and adj
vanced some three or four miles along
the road toward Martinsburg, reaching
point known as Falling waters.
Slowly but surely General Patterson in
tended to push forward, occupying Har-
per's Ferry and Martinsburg, securing
up the valley to Winchester and other
strategic points,
He was planning also to send a detach-
ment to Cumberland, Nd. to relieve Col.
Lew Wallace, who. with the nth Indiana
regiment. was threatened there.
These plans. however, were shattered
by an order which came from General
Scott for the return TO Washington of
the regulars and the Rhode Island
troops.
In General SCOTS opinion a movement
which would drive the Confederates
from winchester back to Manassas and
union with General Beaureguards army
would be ill-advised, The best troops,
he insisted, were urgently needed about
Washington; General Patterson was
strong enough withOu< them.
n General lPsze=rEon, however, did not
agree -Sxn them. The withdrawal of
these troops would leave him without a
single piece of artillery and with but
one company of calvary, while his infan-
try force, although considerable in num-
bers, was composed wholly of raw vol
unteers.
sour volunteers" his adjutant gem
eral had written, ARE as green as green
can be. Marching is their forte, If
they have drum or band. They can
not form a square yet they think
marching. IL the hot June sun, had prov
ed too much for them, and they had
tainted and fallen out by scores along
the road.
Overestimating his opponents strength
in quality as in quantity, and persuad-
ed that he could not hold his footing
in Virginia, General Patterson felt
obliged to order his troops back across
the river to WilIiamsport and leave Har-
pers Ferry unoccupied.
HARPER FERRY EVACUATED
As General Johnston seemed formid-
able to General Patterson, so was he