Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-03

against Richmond. probably because OF
Gem 81 MeaI eH ' Wrote his story Of tn.
peninsular campaign for the Century
In May. 1888, and had been requested
to write his story OF Antietan. In the
Battles and Leaders Of the Civil War"
are published posthumous notes by Nc
Clelian on the operations from the
peninsula to Antietam. William c.
Mcclellan. in telling Of the posthumous
story Of Antietam. has written: He
(Mcclellan) had kept in mind this
promise to write OF Antietam and as
occasion served had sketched introduce
tory portions OF the proposed article.
In the morning after his sudden death
these manuscript pages were found on
his table with some other freshly writ
ten. possibly on the previous day or
evening"
1t is plain from all this that among
the last thoughts which Mcclellan had
in life were of the fields and the STRAIT
egy Of: Antietam. In these notes he
wrote that they were INTENDED for
general readers. especially for those
whose memory does not extend back to
those exciting days and whose knowl-
counts in so-called history. too often
intended to mislead and pander to
party prejudices rather than to seek
and record the truth"
u
never. be regarded as a solitaire a
jewel to be admired or condemned for
itself alone. and without reference to
surrounding objects and circumstances.
A battle 10 always one link in a chain
Of events. the elimination OF one series
of maneuvers and the starting point of
another series, and therefore 1t can
never be fully understood without ref
erence to preceding and subsequent
events"
From McClellan's chronicle II is clear
tions against Richmond until decision
was reached. He says that subsequent
events proved that Lee did not move
northward from Richmond until he
was assured that the Army Of the ,Po-
tomac was actually on its way down.
ward or backward along the PENN
sula toward Fort Monroe. Mcclellan
had no doubt that, with the Army OF
the Potomac on the James. Washing
ton was safe under its Notifications
and the troops in them and within call.
He wrote: I'm spite of my most press
ing and oft-repeated entreatfes the
order was insisted upon for the aban-
donment Of the peninsula line and the
return Of the Army of the Potomac to
Washington in order to support Gen.
Pope, who was in no danger so long as
the Army Of the Potomac remained on
the James. With a heavy heart I re-
cost of SO much time and blood"
After the second Bull Run and Chan
lilly, the sound of which battles foated
over Washington. Mcclellan says that
President Lincoln regarded Washing
ton as lost and asked him IL he (Mc-
Clellan), under the circumstances, would
consent to accept command of all the
forces. without one moments hesita-
tion," wrote Mcclellan, land without
making any conditions whatever, I at
once said that I would accept the COM
mand and would stake my life that I
would save the city"
The enthusiasm in the beaten army
when the news swept along the re-
treating columns that Mcclellan had
been recalled to the command is one of
the stirring things in the history of
our country.
Lee did not pursue to Washington.
and September 3 it was clear that the
invasion Of Maryland and Pennsylvania
was intended by crossing the upper
Potomac. The Army of the Potomac
moved west from Washington and VI
cinity into Maryland by three main
routes. That part of the army near the
Potomac went west by way of Offutt's
eca: that part around Rockville went
west by the main road to Frederick,
and that part Of the army near Brook
vile went west by way OF New Mar
ket. Soon came the South mountain
fighting in the gaps called Turner's.
Fox's. cramptons and Brownsville; the
cavalry fighting between Boonsboro
and Hagerstown and then Antietam.
There is no dearth Of Antietam litera-
ture NJ al. Gen. Jacob D. Cox has writ
ten the story of Antietam. and Lieut..
Gen. James Longstreet has also told
the story Of this great engagement In
his account Of Tho Invasion Of Mary
1onao