CHAPTER XXV.

THE INVASION OF MARYLAND-BATTLES OF SOUTH

MOUNTAIN AND ANTIETAM.

Gen. Lee's Plan for the Capture of Washington-Change of Plan-Crosses the Potomac at Point of Rocks-His Proclamation to the People of Maryland -No Response-The People Loyal-Expedition to Harper's Ferry-Occupation of Middletown by the Rebel Forces. Excitement in Maryland and Pennsylvania-Volunteers from the Latter State-Dispatch of New Regiments-Gen. McClellan in Chief Command-Advance of the Union Forces -Position of the Enemy-Topography of South Mountain, Antietam and Vicinity-Pursuit of the Rebel Army-Battle of South Mountain - Incidents and Results-Death of Gen. Reno-Rebel Attack Upon,.and Capture of Harper's Ferry-Details - Results - Death of Col. Miles - The Causes of the Surrender Investigated-Finding of the Military Commission - Plan of the Battle of Antietam-Topography of the Field-Details of the Battle-Its Results-Losses on Both Sides - Retreat of the Enemy - Inactivity of the Federal Forces -Excuses for the Delay-Remonstrances of the President and Gen. Halleck-Gen, McClellan Relieved of Command -Succeeded by Gen. Burnside.

The terrible fighting, which, after the long series of battles, culminated in the retirement of Gen. Pope behind the fortifications in front of Washington, had inflicted such heavy losses upon the rebel army, that the able General who commanded it was compelled to change somewhat his original plans. He had unquestionably expected to be able to throw his large force between Pope and the army of the Potomac, in such a way as to prevent their junction, and having crushed Pope's force, and defeated McClellan, he had cherished the hope of the easy conquest of the Federal Capital. The battle of Cedar Mountain was the first of the untoward events which thwarted his plans, and the re-enforcement of Gen. Pope by a part of the army of the Potomac, enabled the Union commander to offer such resistance, and make such dis

660

OBJECTS OF THE INVASION.

positions, as rendered the direct conquest of Washington impracticable.

But, fertile in resources, and skillful in adapting his action to the emergency, Lee now projected a series of movements which promised, in his view, to give him Washington eventu ally, while it enabled him to obtain ample supplies for his suffering army, and also, as he hoped, considerable re-enforcements.

Before Pope began to fall back from Centreville, and upon the first indications that he must withdraw his jaded and exhausted troops within the line of fortifications around Washington, Lee, on the 31st of August, while keeping a show of a large force in front, drew off the main body of his troops, and marched towards Leesburg. From Leesburg, he moved to the Potomac at Nolan's Ford, five miles below the Point of Rocks, where a part of his force crossed on the 5th of Sept., while the remainder passed on to Lovettsville, three miles above Point of Rocks, and forded the Potomac, that day or the next. On the evening of the 5th, his advance reached White Oak Springs, about three miles from the City of Frederick, which had been temporarily the capital of Maryland. Frederick is forty-four miles north-west of Washington, about sixty from Baltimore, and fifty from Centreville, the point from which Gen. Lee's army had started five days before. It has a little more than eight thousand inhabitants, the larger portion of whom were decidedly in favor of the Union. The approach of the rebel army created great excitement. Many of the inhabitants fled toward Baltimore and Pennsylvania, and the Federal Provost Marshal removed what stores he could, and burned the remainder, except sufficient for the supply of the hospitals, in which there were about six hundred patients.

About ten o'clock A. M. of the 6th, the rebel troops entered the city. They were ragged, dirty and shoeless, and had no tents or baggage, nothing but ammunition trains, but they

FORCE OF THE INVADERS.

661

nad been thoroughly disciplined, and as Gen. Lee's purpose was to conciliate the people of Maryland, in the hope of receiving a large re-enforcement of troops from her citizens, the army was under the strictest orders, which were scrupulously obeyed, to offer no violence to any citizen, not to plunder food or clothing, and to pay promptly in Confederate money, or United States Treasury Notes, as the seller might prefer, for everything they required in the way of stores. Foraging parties were sent out in all directions and returned at evening, with droves of horses, sheep, cattle, and hogs, which were taken toward the Potomac, to serve as supplies for the Divisions yet on their way.

Gen. Lee had brought into Maryland for this invasion, a force of about ninety-seven thousand men, a portion of them however crossing somewhat higher up the Potomac. The Division commanders were "Stonewall" Jackson, A. P. and D. H. Hill, Ewell, Longstreet, Walker, Anderson, McLaws, and J. E. B. Stuart. His purposes were, to give the Marylanders an opportunity to rise, and with his assistance take the State out of the Union, as ardent secessionists from Maryland in his army, had declared they would readily do; to obtain the supplies of which his army were so much in need from Maryland, and perhaps Southern Pennsylvania; and descending near the Potomac, to seize Baltimore, and take Washington from the rear.

The plan was boldly conceived, and success seemed at least possible. But he had not been correctly informed in regard to the feelings and sentiments of the people of Maryland; he had over-estimated the influence which he could exert upon them, and had supposed the Union army more thoroughly enfeebled and demoralized than it was.

On the 8th of Sept., he issued an address from his headquarters near Frederick, to the people of Maryland. It is remarkable only for the speciousness and adroitness of its ap

662

GEN. LEE TO "MY MARYLAND."

peals to the sympathies and prejudices of the people, which have characterized similar documents from the leaders of the rebellion during the war. We give it in full.

"To the People of Maryland:

It is right that you should know the purpose that has brought the army under my command within the limits of your State, so far as that purpose concerns yourselves.

The people of the Confederate States have long watched with the deepest sympathy the wrongs and outrages that have been inflicted upon the citizens of a commonwealth allied to the States of the South by the strongest social, political and commercial ties, and reduced to the condition of a conquered province.

Under the pretence of supporting the Constitution, but in violation of its most valuable provisions, your citizens have been arrested and imprisoned, upon no charge, and contrary to all the forms of law.

A faithful and manly protest against this outrage, made by a venerable and illustrious Marylander, to whom in his better days no citizen appealed for right in vain, was treated with scorn and contempt.

The government of your chief city has been usurped by armed strangers; your Legislature has been dissolved by the unlawful arrest of its members; freedom of the press and of speech has been suppressed; words have been declared offences by an arbitrary decree of the Federal Executive; and citizens ordered to be tried by military commissions for what they may dare to speak.

Believing that the people of Maryland possess a spirit too lofty to submit to such a government, the people of the South have long wished to aid you in throwing off this foreign yoke, to enable you again to enjoy the inalienable rights of freemen, and restore the independence and sovereignty of your State.

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In obedience to this wish, our army has come among you, and is prepared to assist you with the power of its arms, in regaining the rights of which you have been so unjustly despoiled. This, citizens of Maryland, is our mission so far as you are cerned. No restraint upon your free will is intended-no intimidation will be allowed within the limits of this army at least. Marylanders shall once more enjoy their ancient freedom of thought and speech. We know no enemies among you, and will protect all of you in every opinion. It is for you to decide your destiny freely and without constraint. This army will respect your choice, whatever it may be; and while the southern people will rejoice to welcome you to your natural position among them, they will only welcom you when you come of your own free will. R. E. LEE, General Commanding."

EXCITEMENT-PREPARATIONS.

663

To facilitate the acceptance of this pleasantly worded invitation, recruiting offices were opened in Frederick and the villages adjacent; but to Gen. Lee's surprise, very few volunteers offered. The people of Maryland could not be made to understand that the Government under which they had lived so happily, was the odious tyranny the General had portrayed, and the intensely filthy condition of his soldiers, and the hardships they had evidently endured, did not make the prospect of a soldier's life in the Confederate army, particularly attractive. On the 10th of September, Gen. Lee began to send away his troops from Frederick toward Hagerstown, and by the 12th, they were all gone. Hagerstown is a considerable village, about thirty-five miles north-west of Frederick, near the Pennsylvania line, and is connected by railroad with Chambersburg, Penn. Only a very small portion of the rebel army entered Hagerstown, as twenty-five thousand had been sent to Williamsport to cross the Potomac, and descend upon Harper's Ferry, and the greater part of the remainder were encamped on South Mountain or its vicinity, on the 14th, when the battle of that name was fought.

The approach of so large a rebel force toward the Pennsylvania line, had produced in that State great excitement, and the most active preparations were made for the defence of the border. On the 11th, Gov. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, issued a call for fifty thousand men, and in response to that call more than seventy-five thousand hastened at once to Harrisburg. Gov. Bradford of Maryland, also issued a proclamation, calling upon the citizens of that State to organize without delay, such a force as might effectually assist in defending their homes and firesides. The regiments which had volunteered under the call of the President for three hundred thousand men in the northern and north-eastern States, hastened to Washington and Harrisburg.

The Government, meanwhile, was making the most ener