Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-06-11
Senator Lees Address At Antietam.

The following address was delivered by
Senator Blair Lee. of Maryland, at Antie-
tam National Cemetery on May 30, 1914
In early September OF 1862, on either
side of the historic Potomac river two
armies, IN to that time the greatest the
country had ever seen, were moving
northward and westward to meet here in
battle. The Army OF Northern Virginia
under General Lee, had disappeared
from in front Of Washington by Septem-
Der towards Leesburg. This was the
smaller army OF the two, but il had been
successful at Malvern Hill and recently
victorious at Cedar Mountain and the
second Manassas. The larger army had
been driven behind the Notifications at
Washington, there to have its old leader,
General Mcclellan, restored to command,
the army itself being renamed in part and
reorganized as if moved through Mont
gomery and Frederick counties opposing
the front to its successful foe and cover
ing the cities OF Washington and Balti-
more.
Won Moltke, the great general OF the
Frankie -Prussian war, is reported TO have
spoken with contempt OF the military
management OF our Civil War and TO have
said, in effect, that no military lessons
could be drawn from it, because it was
notscientifically conducted, "being mere
ly struggle between two armed mobS.
| This is rather a natural view for the gen.
era OF an emperor TO express when critl-
ciSing a war in and between republics.
But somewhere and at sometime the
armed citizens who first formed these
two forces became soldiers and the men
commanding their companies, regiments,
brigadeS and divisions became officers
and the Army OF the Potomac became a
real army, and the Army OF Northern
Virginia became the greatest fighting force
of equal numbers America has yet pro-
duced. When and where did this change
from EARNED mob" TO army really take
place? The pride OF country within us
almost bids us challenge VonMoltke from
the first, but common sense reproveS both
HIM and US alike. The grim army edu-
cation of the German Empire may pre-
pare men to become soldiers quickly,
but no soldier is ever made until he be-
comes such by the burdened, strained
marches OF war, the exposed and anxious
outpost and bivouac, the awful discipline
OF the actual battlefield. When their
hands are red with the blood OF thousands
slain, then the survivors, who, standing
under command, are ready TO charge
again, have become an army. Both these
forces had been then in existence some
fourteen months, and the rank and file
had more nearly reached the stature OF
soldiers than had their officers. Doubt
less most in both armies were glad to
leave the SwampyregionS ofthe Pamunkey
and get into the hills of the upper Poto-
mac country.
A northern writer and officer in the
Army OF the Potomac puts it thus: For
tunately, we had by this time become
soldiers in something more than name;
we had learned TO make much out OF lit
tie, we were cheered by the cooler air
and the more variegated country, we were
glad TO get out OF the wilderness OF the
peninsula. He was impressed with the
contrast afforded by the fair ladies who
drove out of Washington in cool, fresh
costumes TO see the ragged, dusty SUM-
burnt regiments Of the Army OF the Poto-
mac trudge along, moving steadily Eorth-
ward, TO bvouac under the stars or the
clouds, and to march again in IFS tatterS,
through the dust and the sunshine, through
the rain and the mud. You will be sur
prised when you think that such was the
condition OF the Northern Army passing
through Washington, its own capital and
base OF supplies, but had passed through
after defeats and hurriedlY and in this
passing retreat had been changed into
an aggressive movement, and there was
scant time for new clothing.
remember two things my grand
mother told me about the Army of the
Potomac on its way TO Antietam, or the
two divisions that passed by Silver
Springs over the Union turnpike. The
soldiers were so hungry for fruit that they
tore our orchard to pieces 10 get the green
peaches, and large numbers OF these
soldiers were marching bare-footed over
the flinty turnpike. The brave Army OF
Northern Virginia which was crossing
the Potomac or in Frederick was in a
state OF even more dirt andTags than the
Army OF the Potomac. These men had
been fighting and watching and starving
against one another all the summer long
and, without change OF raiment, were
hurrying here in large numbers to die.
How did you think they came, ladies and
gentlemen and children, here on memo
rial day, 81 summers after? With this
field you are familiar, IFS monuments, ifs
bunker Church, the sunken road, the
place where Lee stood and whence Nc
Clellan directed his troops-the fearful
carnage in the bloody corn are all known
to you. In the doorway to this scene,
the battle OF South Mountain, 1900 men
had fallen. Antietam was great and
awful drama worthy of its opening.
have told you mostly how they came,
those patriot hosts, each struggling for
what they thought right, and now it is
fair to say how they went away. The
Army OF Northern Virginia came to
Sharpsburg an army in every sense OF
the word-it could not have wlthstood
the onslaught OF the superior numbers
-, kaa, ba coca pv the fate