CHAPTER XIV.

FROM ANTIETAM TO FREDERICKSBURG.

SOUTH MOUNTAIN, SEPT. 14, 1862.-Gen. McClellan was reinstated to the command of the Army of the Potomac after the resignation of Gen. Pope. Leaving troops for the defense of Washington, he put his army in motion in pursuit of Lee. The loyalty of the people of Maryland and the approach of McClellan's army induced Lee to move south with the intention of crossing the Potomac at Williamsport and Harper's Ferry. Gen. McClellan placed his army in such a position that it was impossible for Lee to retreat without giving battle.

The left wing of the Federal army pursued the enemy to South Mountain. Here was a stubborn and bloody contest. The Union forces succeeded in dislodging the enemy from Turner's and Crampton's Gaps, and took possession of the field as it was abandoned under the friendly covering of the night. This engagement was called the battle of South Mountain by the Federals, and the battle of Boonsboro by the Confederates.

The Union loss was about two thousand, and the Confederate loss as many in killed and wounded, besides 1,500 pris

oners.

The Union army had forced a passage through the mountains, but Lee had gained time to concentrate his scattered forces.

THE FALL OF HARPER'S FERRY, SEPT. 15, 1862.-Scarcely had the exultant news of the victory of South Mountain been fully realized, when all joy was dispelled by the sad tidings of the disastrous defeat of the Union forces at Harper's Ferry. This famous place, so often the scene of conflict and disaster in the progress of the war, had been intrusted to Col. Dixon H. Miles. When McClellan was reinstated to the command of the Army of the Potomac, he recommended the withdrawal of the 11,000 troops at Harper's Ferry, but Halleck unwisely overruled him, and soon they were withdrawn as Confederate prisoners of war!

Lee sent Stonewall Jackson with 20,000 men against Harper's Ferry. Skirmishing commenced on the afternoon of the 12th of September, and continued until Monday, September 15th. During the progress of the conflict, the enemy had been reinforced. In vain had Col. Miles, on Sunday, implored for reinforcements. The place had been threatened for a week, but adequate precaution had not been exercised to save it to the Nation. At 8 o'clock on Monday morning the Federal ammunition was exhausted. Col. Miles immediately called a council of war, which determined to capitulate, as further resistance would lead to a needless loss of life. Previous to the surrender, all the cavalry, about two thousand in number, succeeded in cutting their way through the Confederate works, and in making their escape. After capitulation had been proposed, but before its terms had been agreed upon, Col. Miles was mortally wounded

by one of the bursting shells which continued to fall from the enemy's cannon.

BATTLE OF ANTIETAM, SEPT. 17, 1862.-After the defeat of the enemy at South Mountain, they continued their retreat toward the Potomac. Lee halted when he reached the heights between the village of Sharpsburg and Antietam creek; here he concentrated his scattered corps. Jackson returned with his wearied troops flushed with the victory at Harper's Ferry, and all prepared for the impending conflict.

McClellan reconnoitered the Confederate position on the 15th of September, and the next day he developed his plan of attack. Hooker occupied the right of the Union army, Burnside the left, and Meade the center. Hooker crossed Antietam creek late in the afternoon. Scarcely more than a skirmish. ensued before darkness came.

Early on the morning of the 17th of September the conflict began. General Hooker's division opened the engagement. The assault became furious. Hooker was seriously wounded, and compelled to leave the field. Gen. Sumner took his command. Four times the ground he contended for was lost, and four times retaken. The operations of Burnside on the left wing were as vigorous as those of Hooker on the right. At four o'clock Gen. McClellan sent word to Burnside to advance and get possession of the enemy's batteries in front of him, at all hazards. After a spirited engagement the hill was taken, but as no reinforcements were sent to him by McClellan, who had 15,000 reserves in the rear, he was unable to hold what he had

gained against the augmented forces of the foe. He was driven back to a position in front of the bridge. The Union advance was impetuous, the Confederate defense was as obstinate. The artillery in the center did effective work. The protracted struggle had nearly exhausted both sides. At length darkness descended upon the horrible scene, and closed the conflict of the day. On the one hand, the enemy had not been driven from the field; on the other, the Union troops retained the position of original assault, expecting to renew the conflict. Both armies rested on the 18th. But on the morning of the 19th, when McClellan's cavalry moved toward the river, they discovered that Lee had quietly moved off across the Potomac during the night, leaving his dead and desperately wounded on the field.

The Union loss was 12,469 as reported by McClellan. Lee reported his loss at 10,000, while his division commanders placed the aggregate in killed, wounded and missing at 13,533.

The effect of this battle was a victory for the Union army. The North was saved from further invasion, and Washington relieved from imminent danger.

Gen. Lee dispatched Stuart, the noted cavalry leader, on a raid into Pennsylvania with 1,500 horse. He made a circuit of McClellan's army October 9th to 12th. Crossing the Potomac at Williamsport, he proceeded as far as Chambersburg. He foraged the country, plundered stores, destroyed property, and took away as much booty as his troopers could carry. The Union cavalry went in pursuit of them, but they succeeded in making their escape, and again joined the ranks of Lee's army.