Evening star., 1937-09-17
BY HELEN d. LONGSTREET.


tember Ire enactment of the bat
tie Of Antietam by the United States
Army, on the 18th anniversary, has
turned the years backward to Septem-
Der II, 1862. The tread Of Lees uncon-
quered legions over one of the most
brilliant fields of all time is being
heard around the world. The fate of
a young Nation is hanging in the
balance, under the smoke of lifted
guns. Victorious Southern bayonets
hold in the skies the imperishable
principle of States rights. The
Southern Army seems invincible. The
great generals of Europe are sing
ing the praises of Lee, Longstreet and
Jackson.
The audacious hope that fired the
heart of proud people, and called
their strong men to arms in the spot
on Fort Sumter. flowered. this Sep
tenber day on the blood-sodden field
OF Antietam I'VE have sprung the
keystone of the arch upon which the
Confederate cause rests" said Long
street.
Sing as They March.
From the victories of Bull Run, Will
lamsburg, Frayser's Farm, the Second
Manassas and Harpers Ferry, the bat
tle-worn army of Northern Virginia
marched, singing, Maryland, My
Maryland" to outgeneral an army OF
twice their own numbers
Lees ragged, hungry 10000 met
attack after attack by McClellan's g
fresh, splendidly equipped 10000 and
held the field Of Antietam. Let South
erners tell it to another generation
Palfreys criticism sounds across the
turbulent years to emphasize the full
measure of Lees triumph.
IF Lee had been in McClellan's s
place on the 18th Of September. 1862,
and had sent jackson to conduct the
right attack, and Longstreet to force
the passage of the lower bridge and
turn the Confederate left, the Army OF
Northern Virginia, though commanded
by second Lee, second Jackson and
second LOngstreet, would have
ceased to exist that day."
As Longstreets column moved
toward Antietam, lank soldier from
the Georgia Mountains was seen run
ming ahead. Some one called out to
know if he were going on to whip the
Yankees all by himself. He answered:
Il want to see If Old Petes' up
ahead If he is, know we'll lick EN- u
Blue Troops Appearing.
The Federals could be seen ad-
vancing on Antietam in streams OF
blue, coming down the side of South
Mountain, appearing and reappear-
ing among the trees on the lower
slopes, like some vast horde OF ants
working out the moving pattern OF
rug. They made a splendid spec
tacle that seemed irresistible The
Confederates, shattered by battles and
long, arduous marches, looked on,
with the confidence of men who had
no fear of their adversaries.
Nearer and nearer the patches Of
blue worked their way.
Only the low rumble of artillery
and baggage wagons broke the silence
of the countryside. At length the Fed
eral advance disappeared in the val
ley. With the coming Of darkness the
thousands of lights of their camp fires
| twinkled in so friendly fashion that
it hardly seemed possible they were
cooking the suppers OF an enemy
whom the Confederates would soon
meet in mortal combat.
Mcclellan was engaged. all the morn
! ing of the 10Th, crossing Antietan
! Creek
Jackson's Men Arriving.
! Meanwhile, Jackson's men were ar.
irving, flushed with their easily wor
success at Harpers Ferry. Late in thu
afternoon the two wings of the Con
federate Army were getting in touch
Jackson was to have the left Wini
of the line, and Longstreet, the right
Wen drive them into the Potomac,
said Jackson, as he rode away from
his headquarters for the battle.
At 3 o'clock this morning, shot
from pickets were heard all along tn
line. With dawn, the guns adde'
their deep-throated, swelling boom
and shells began to plow the ground
In the whole field there was one con
tinuous roar and fash. The minglin
sounds of rattling musketry, the crasl
from gun mouths and the scream Q
shell, seemed fairly to shake bot
earth and Heaven. Overall hung