III. The army will resume its march to-morrow, taking the Hagerstown road. Gen. Jackson's command will form the advance, and after passing Middleton with such portion as he may select, take the route toward Sharpsburg, cross the Potomac at the most convenient point, and by Friday morning take possession of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, capture such of the enemy as may be at Martinsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to escape from Harper's Ferry.

IV. Gen. Longstreet's command will pursue the main road as far as Boonsboro', where it will halt with reserve, supply, and baggage trains of the army.

V. Gen. McLaws, with his own division and that of Gen. R. H. Anderson, will follow Gen. Longstreet, on reaching Middleton will take the route to Harper's Ferry, and by Friday morning possess himself of the Maryland Heights, and endeavor to capture the enemy at Harper's Ferry and vicinity.

VI. Gen. Walker with his division, after accomplishing the object in which he is now engaged, will cross the Potomac at Check's Ford, ascend its right bank to Lovettsville, take possession of Loudon Heights, if praticable, by Friday morning, keep the ford on his left, and the road between the end of mountain and the Potomac on his right. He will, as far as practicable, cooperate with Gen. McLaws and Gen. Jackson in intercepting the retreat of the enemy.

VII. Gen. D. H. Hill's division will form the rear guard of the army, pursuing the road taken by the main body. The reserve artillery, ordnance, and supply trains will precede Gen. Hill.

VIII. Gen. Stuart will detach a squadron of cavalry to accompany the commands of Gens. Longstreet, Jackson, and McLaws, and with the main body of the cavalry will cover the route of the army, and bring up all stragglers that may have been left behind.

IX. The commands of Gens. Jackson, McLaws, and Walker, after accomplishing the objects for which they have attached [been detached?], will join the main body of the army at Boonsboro' or Hagerstown.

X. Each regiment on the march, will habitually carry its axes in the regimental ordnance wagons for use of the men at their encampments to procure wood, &c. By command of Gen. R. E. LEE. (Signed) R. H. CHILTON, A. A.-General. For Maj.-Gen. D. H. HILL, Comd'g Division.

It is clear from this order that Gen. Lee intended first to capture the garrison at Harper's Ferry, and then to enter Pennsylvania by the Cumberland Valley; at all events, that he had no idea of abandoning Maryland until forced to do so by the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. He evacuated Frederick, and taking the road to Hagerstown crossed the Catoctin Mountains, passed through the valley in which Middletown is situated, and drew up his forces along the crest of South Mountain there to await the advance of Gen. McClellan. At the same time he detached a portion of his force, amount

ing to twenty-five thousand men, and sent them to Harper's Ferry by the route of Williamsport, where they crossed the Potomac. The chief command of this force was given to Gen. Jackson. It embraced his division with those of Gens. A. P. Hill and Walker, and one or two others. By this route, although longer, they were more certain to reach Harper's Ferry without the knowledge of the Federal Government than if their movement had been more direct. The distance from Frederick to Williamsport was thirty miles, and from Williamsport to Harper's Ferry thirty miles.

The advance of Gen. McClellan entered Frederick on the 12th, and he immediately sent forward cavalry and artillery to follow and harass the Confederate rear. Gen. Pleasanton was in command of the cavalry, and several skirmishes took place during the succeeding days. The line of the Federal army extended from the Potomac river in the region of Point of Rocks in a northeasterly direction to the region near Frederick, and thence in an easterly and southerly direction along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to Baltimore. On Saturday the 13th, the main column of Gen. McClellan's army reached Frederick, and was received with the highest demonstrations and encamped two miles beyond. The same afternoon the Confederate rear was driven by his advance out of Middletown, which was held by the latter during the night. West of Frederick and running nearly due south is the Catoctin range of mountains, a continuation of the Blue Ridge. On the south it terminates in Maryland at Point of Rocks, but still continues in Virginia. On the north it unites at the Pennsylvania State line with the South Mountain range, which, tending to the southwest, slopes down to the Potomac at Knoxville four miles east of Harper's Ferry. Between these two ranges, nestles the loveliest valley in Maryland-the valley of Catoctin. The village of Middletown, ten miles from Frederick, is in the centre of this valley. On Sunday morning, the 14th, the Confederate army were found posted on the east side of the South Blue Ridge Mountain and stretching on a line from north to south from points immediately opposite Middletown and Jefferson, both of which villages are about eight miles from Frederick. Middletown is on the road to Hagerstown and Jefferson on the direct road to Harper's Ferry. The right of the Federal army, at that time under Gen. Burnside, rested on Middletown, and the left under Gen. Franklin on Jefferson. Early in the morning, the advance beyond Middletown overtook the Confederate rear, who retreated slowly, contesting the road toward Boonsboro' step by step. The conflict that ensued during the morning was chiefly with artillery, and came to closer quarters in the afternoon. At this time the Confederate line of battle was formed with the left resting upon Turner's Gap and the turnpike road toward Hagerstown which passes through the gap, and the right covering Crampton's Gap.

Preparations for moving the main body of the Federal army had commenced at daylight, and shortly after the whole army was advancing rapidly toward the mountains followed by the ambulances, artillery, and baggage wagons. Middletown was reached with ease, beyond which was now the scene of conflict. As they approached the field the long black lines of infantry were halted and opened to make way for the artillery and ammunition trains which advanced to their positions.

The battle of South Mountain really commenced at a bridge over Catoctin Creek half a mile west of Middletown, where Confederate artillery had been posted to dispute the passage. Dislodged from this position it retreated to a stronger one up the mountain side. The main body was massed on wooded bluffs to the right and left for a distance of more than two miles. On the right of Turner's Gap they were stormed out of their stronghold by Gen. Burnside's corps. Gen. Cox's Kanawha division in Gen. Reno's corps, attacked and carried the crest on the left of the gap. Of this division, the 23d Ohio, known as the "psalm singers of the Western Reserve," here came in contact with the 23d South Carolina, and the encounter was most stormy. So desperate were the Carolinians in the fight that before a single man surrendered he would beat his gun against a rock or tree to render it useless to his enemy. The Kanawha division was supported by the divisions of Gens. Wilcox, Rodman, and Sturgess. After very severe fighting they repulsed several attacks of the enemy, and retained entire possession of the crest. About 3 P. M., Gen. Hooker attacked the heights on the right of the pass, the Pennsylvania reserves leading, and after a desperate resistance carried the crest about dark, and held it. Shortly before dark Gen. Gibbon's brigade of Gen. Hooker's corps, attacked by the main road, and after an obstinate conflict gained the entrance to the pass some time after dark. Only by a display of equal valor in all the other regiments, and often at close quarters, was the enemy driven over the crest of the mountain into the valley on the west side of the South Mountain. In the centre and on the left, equally desperate was the battle. A severe fire of artillery had been opened all along the front. Under cover of this, the infantry advanced, and poured in a fire of musketry; this continued until 3 o'clock P. M. when the battle raged at its height. Success being soon gained on the right, desperate charges were made with the bayonet before which the Confederate troops wavered, broke, and fell back in confusion. The loss sustained by the Union forces was 2,325 killed and wounded. Among the killed was Gen. Reno, who was shot through the body. Turner's Gap, where the last desperate stand of the Confederate force on the right was made, is two miles from the base of the mountain. Six miles south is Crampton's Gap, through which passes the road from Jefferson to Roherville. This

strong position on the left was carried by Gen. Franklin's corps, after a succession of brilliant bayonet charges. Gen. Franklin had followed the line of the Potomac closely. On Saturday he reached Sugar Loaf Mountain, and drove out the Confederate cavalry occupying it for a signal station. On Sunday, he passed through the small village of Burkitsville, and advanced about a mile, when he met the Confederate pickets at the South Mountain range, and near Crampton's Gap. The gap was strongly held by a Confederate force under Gen. Howell Cobb, and his artillery immediately opened fire upon the Federal advance, which was under the command of Gen. Slocum. The division of Gen. Slocum consisted of three brigades under Gens. Bartlett, Torlitt, and Newton. These were formed in line of battle and ordered to advance up the side of the mountain. They had proceeded only a short distance before they came under the fire of a strong Confederate force concealed behind a stone wall running along the base of the gap. At this point a desperate hand to hand fight ensued which lasted nearly an hour, when the Confederate troops were routed. They did not attempt to make a stand again until they reached the crest of the mountain, where they turned and prepared to hold the Federal advance at bay. It came rushing up, composed of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania regiments, until the top of the mountain was gained, when another bloody struggle ensued. The Confederate force finally gave way and fell back in disorder down into the valley, leaving four hundred prisoners, three regimental colors, two pieces of artillery, and three thousand stand of arms. The Federal loss in this affair was one hundred and five killed, and four hundred and forty-eight wounded. The Confederate loss was still larger. The seizure of this gap exposed the flank of Gen. Lee's army, and brought the Federal left into Pleasant Valley, and within five miles of Harper's Ferry. That night the Federal army occupied the battle ground, and the Confederate army fell behind Antietam Creek and took a position admirably adapted for defence.

Meantime the Federal garrison at Winchester and Martinsburg had been ordered to Harper's Ferry, and the commanding officer at that post had been advised to confine his defence, in case he was attacked by a superior force, mainly to the position of Maryland Heights, which could be held a long time against overwhelming numbers. A large amount of artillery and stores had been collected at Harper's Ferry by the Federal Government, which it would have been necessary to destroy or leave to the enemy if the troops there had been withdrawn. It was therefore determined by the general-in-chief (Halleck) to hold the position until Gen. McClellan could relieve it, or open communication so that it could be evacuated in safety.

On Friday, the 12th of September, two days before the battle of South Mountain, the Confed

erate force of Gen. Jackson, which had been ordered to Williamsport and thence to Harper's Ferry, commenced an attack on Maryland Heights. As early as the 15th of August Col. Miles, then in command, received orders from Gen. Wool, commanding the department, to fortify Maryland Heights, which is considered to be the key of the position. He, however, disobeyed the orders, and did nothing to improve its defences. On the 5th of September Col. Thomas H. Ford took command of the force stationed on the heights, and, apprehending an attack from the Confederate army, sent a requisition to Col. Miles for reënforcements and for tools necessary to erect defensive works. He received reënforcements, but not the tools; and with a few borrowed axes constructed a slight breastwork of trees near the crest of the hill on the same day upon which the advance of Gen. Jackson appeared. The forces at Harper's Ferry had been increased that day to about thirteen thousand men, of whom twentyfive hundred were cavalry, by the arrival of Gen. Julius White with the garrison from Martinsburg. Gen. White, although entitled to the command, waived his right in favor of Col. Miles. The only position fortified by Col. Miles was Bolivar Heights behind the town of Harper's Ferry. This is commanded by Maryland Heights and by Loudon Heights situated on the Virginia side of the Potomac and on the right bank of the Shenandoah.

The attack of the Confederate force was renewed, on the morning of the 18th, on the forces stationed on Maryland Heights, and they were driven behind the breastwork. This was soon after attacked, and the enemy were repulsed. Subsequently, through the precipitate flight of a portion of the troops and the premature retreat of the remainder, in consequence of a mistake of orders, the heights were about midday entirely abandoned. Col. Miles, who had visited the position early in the morning, left Col. Ford with permission to exercise his discretion in determining whether to hold or abandon the heights. Subsequently Col. Miles sent to him the following order.

HARPER'S FERRY, Sept. 13, 1862, Col. Ford, Commanding Maryland Heights: Since I returned to this side, on close inspection I find your position more defensible than it appears when at your station, covered as it is at all points by the cannon of Camp Hill. You will hold on, and can hold on until the cows' tails drop off.

Yours, D. S. MILES, Col. 21st Infantry. The answer of Col. Ford to this order, as stated by Col. Miles, did not indicate that he had the slightest intention of giving up the heights. Col. Ford, after the events above mentioned, disobeyed this order of Col. Miles, abandoned the position, and withdrew his forces across the river. It was only necessary, after this disgraceful retreat, for the enemy to plant their batteries and the position of Harper's Ferry must surely fall. The heights were not, however, immediately occupied by the enemy, and

on the next morning a detachment of the 39th volunteers, sent there by Col. D'Utassy, returned with four field pieces and a wagon load of ammunition. On the 13th the Confederate force began to establish batteries on Loudon Heights, and on the next day opened fire from those heights and also from Maryland Heights. On the night of the 13th, Col. Miles sent a despatch to Gen. McClellan that the position could not be held forty-eight hours longer without reenforcements. This was the night before the battle of South Mountain. On the night of the 14th, the cavalry force under Col. Davis cut their way through the enemy's lines and reached Greencastle, Penn., in safety on the next morning, having captured by the way an ammunition train belonging to the corps of the Confederate general Longstreet. Early in the morning of the 15th Col. Miles surrendered.

At that time Gen. McClellan's left wing was in Pleasant Valley, within five miles of him. It has been stated that the ammunition for the batteries was nearly exhausted, and for this reason the place became no longer tenable. The enemy, not perceiving the white flag that had been raised, continued their fire some time afterward, by which Col. Miles was mortally wounded by the fragment of a shell. The principal fighting took place on Saturday; there was very little on Sunday, and none worthy of mention on Monday, when the surrender took place. The military mistake was in abandoning Maryland Heights. No enemy could have occupied the village, or disturbed the railroad or pontoon bridges so long as they were held. Provisions and forage for a siege of four or five days could have been readily transferred to the heights by a road made some months previous. There are abundant springs of good and cool water gushing out from its rocky and wooded sides. When these and the other heights came into the possession of the enemy, surrender or destruction were the only alternatives to Col. Miles. If his entire force had been transferred to Maryland Heights, the Confederate force present could not for many days have taken Harper's Ferry. By the terms arranged for the surrender, the officers were allowed to go on parole with side arms and private property, and the privates with everything except equipments and guns. The forces which surrendered were as follows: Col. Downye, 3d Maryland Home Brigade.... Col. Maulsby, 1st Maryland Home Brigade.... 115th New York... 120th New York... 39th New York.... 111th New York... 125th New York... 1,000 32d Ohio..... 12th New York S.M. 87th Ohio.........

9th Vermont.

......

65th Illinois....... Graham's battery.. 600 McGrath's battery. 15th Indiana batt'y.

850

110

115

142

Phillips's N. Y. bat

900

tery..

120

1,000

Potts's battery..

100

1,000

530

Rigby's battery

100

1,000

Scatt'd companies.

50

Officers connected

with Headquar

654

ters and Comm is

50

900

800 Total........... 11,588

The following guns were surrendered: 12

2-inch rifled, 6 James's rifled, 6 24-pound how itzers, 4 20-pound Parrott guns, 4 12-pounders, 4 12-pound howitzers, 2 10-inch Dahlgrens, 1 50-pound Parrott, and 6 6-pound guns.

The Federal loss in killed and wounded was reported at about two hundred; the Confederate loss has not been stated. In the latter part of the year the circumstances attending this surrender were examined by a court of inquiry at Washington, in accordance with whose suggestions Col. Ford and other officers were dismissed from the United States army. The conduct of Col. Miles was stated in their report to have exhibited "an incapacity amounting almost to imbecility."

The surrender of this position with so little resistance was followed by serious consequences. It took place on the 15th. On the next day, the 16th, most of the Confederate force left it in great haste, crossed the pontoon bridge into Maryland, and joined Gen. Lee at Antietam in time to engage in the great battle on the next day, the 17th. Without the assistance of this force Gen. Lee's army would undoubtedly have been badly defeated and his retreat into Virginia probably cut off. That the importance of their aid was known to their commander, is manifest from the haste of the evacuation and the subsequent celerity of their movements. By their arrival the Confederate army outnumbered the Federal army in the battle of Antietam.

The battle on which was staked "the invasion of Maryland" in the view of the Federal, and "the deliverance of Maryland" in the view of the Confederate Government, but in reality the Sovereignty of the Union, was now near at hand. On the morning of the 15th the whole right wing and centre of Gen. McClellan's forces were pushed forward in pursuit of the enemy, who were found in the strong position made memorable by the battle of the Antietam. The troops were not up in sufficient force to make the attack on that day; but soon after night fell the greater part were in bivouac behind the heights on the left bank of the Antietam, sheltered from, but within range of the enemy's batteries.

On the left the three divisions of Gen. Franklin were ordered to occupy Roherville, and to push in the direction of Brownsville in order to relieve Harper's Ferry if possible. During the morning Gen. Franklin received intelligence of the surrender of Harper's Ferry, and found the enemy in force in a strong position near Brownsville. As he had but two divisions with him, the third not having yet arrived, he was not in sufficient force to dislodge the enemy, and was obliged to content himself with watching them and endeavoring to hold

them in check.

The morning of the 16th was occupied in reconnoissances of the enemy's position, in rectifying the position of the Federal troops, and perfecting the arrangements for the attack. Very sharp artillery firing took place without

The

any material loss on the Federal side. position of Gen. McClellan's forces on that morning was as follows: Gen. Hooker's corps was on the right, next that of Gen. Sumner, with Gen. Mansfield's corps in the rear; in the centre was Gen. Porter's corps, only two divisions being present; on the left was Gen. Burnside's ninth corps. Gen. Franklin was still in Pleasant Valley.

At about 3 P. M., Gen. Hooker crossed the Antietam by the bridge in the village on the Hagerstown road and an adjacent ford, and soon gained the crest of the height on the right bank of the stream. He then turned to his left and followed down the ridge under a strong opposition, until brought to a stand still by the darkness. During the evening Gen. Mansfield was ordered to follow Gen. Hooker so as to be in a position to support him at daybreak.

At daylight on the 17th, Gen. Hooker attacked the forces in his front, and for a time drove them before him. The enemy however rallying, and strengthened from their supporting columns, repulsed him. Gen. Mansfield's corps was then drawn to Gen. Hooker's support, and the two masses repelled the enemy. Gen. Mansfield was killed and Gen. Hooker wounded at this crisis, and obliged to withdraw from the field. Shortly afterward Gen. Sumner's corps reached this portion of the field and soon became hotly engaged. This corps suffered greatly at this period of the contest, Gens. Sedgwick and Crawford being wounded, and portions of the line were compelled to fall back. The enemy were here, however, checked by the Federal artillery. Gen. Franklin shortly arrived to the relief of Gen. Sumner's line with two divisions of his corps, one of which, that, of Gen. W. F. Smith, drove back the enemy and recovered the lost ground. The enemy did not retake it. Gens. Richardson's and French's divisions held the extreme left of the Federal right with tenacity during the day. Gen. Richardson was wounded.

In the centre Gen. Porter's corps was held as a reserve with cavalry and horse artillery. The contest on the right had been most obstinate, and the several corps which participated in it had lost heavily.

Gen. Burnside's corps on the left was ordered early in the day to carry the bridge across the Antietam at Rohrback's farm, and to attack the enemy's right. The approaches to the bridge being in the nature of a defile, and being swept by batteries of the enemy, the opposite bank of the Antietam was only reached after a severe struggle. It was afternoon before the heights were in his possession. The enemy were driven back, and a portion of their line in disorder. By the most desperate efforts, however, the enemy rallied their retreating regiments, strengthened their line with all their available fresh troops, and opened batteries on the hills, from positions which the amphitheatrical character of the ground, it seems, abundantly furnished. Gen. Burnside

could not maintain his advantage, and was obliged to withdraw from the extreme position which he had gained near Sharpsburg to one slightly in rear of it. He, however, held his bank of the river completely, and maintained much ground beyond it which he had taken from the enemy. During the advance on the left Gen. Rodman was wounded.

The Federal artillery is represented to have played an important part during this battle. Notwithstanding substantial and decided successes of the day, the Federal forces had suffered so severely during the conflict, having lost 11,426 in killed and wounded, and among them many general and superior officers, that it was deemed prudent by Gen. McClellan to reorganize and give rest and refreshment to the troops before renewing the attack. The 18th was

accordingly devoted to those objects. On the night of the 18th, however, Gen. Lee withdrew his forces hastily across the Potomac, abandoning further contest with the Union forces, and yielding all hope of further remaining on the Maryland'soil.

The Confederate army is supposed to have lost nearly 30,000 men during its brief campaign in Maryland. The Federal forces captured 39 colors, 13 guns, more than 15,000 small arms, and more than 6,000 prisoners.

On the 20th Harper's Ferry was evacuated by the Confederate troops, which fell back in the direction of Charlestown and Winchester. Gen. McClellan took a position along the left bank of the Potomac, and active movements were suspended for a short time in order to prepare for a vigorous advance.

MEASURES to secure the emancipation of the slaves were early adopted by the Government. On March 6th President Lincoln sent a message to Congress, then in session, recommending that a joint resolution should be passed, substantially declaring that the United States, in order to cooperate with any State which might adopt gradual abolition of slavery, would give pecuniary aid to be used by such State, in its discretion, to compensate it for the inconveniences, public and private, produced by such a change of system. Again, on May 19th, after Gen. Hunter had issued an order at Hilton Head, declaring slavery and martial law incompatible, the President issued another proclamation, declaring the emancipation of the slaves to be a question reserved to himself for decision, and he further added, relative to the resolution above mentioned: "The resolution in the language above quoted was adopted by large majorities in both branches of Congress, and now stands an authentic, definite, and solemn proposal of the Nation to the States and people most interested in the subject matter. To the people of these States now I mostly appeal. do not argue-I beseech you to make the arguments for yourselves. You cannot, if you would, be blind to the signs of the times.

"I beg of you a calm and enlarged consideration of them, ranging, if it may be, far above partisan and personal politics.

"This proposal makes common cause for a common object, casting no reproaches upon any. It acts not the Pharisee. The change it contemplates would come gently as the dews

of Heaven, not rending nor wrecking any thing, Will you embrace it? So much good has not been done by one effort in all past time, as in the Providence of God it is now your high privilege to do. May the vast future not have to lament that you have neglected it."

Subsequently, on July 12th, he held a conference with the members of Congress from Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri, in which he urged them to use their efforts to secure with their respective States the adoption of a system of emancipation, with compensation to the owners of slaves. This measure was discussed in those States, but not adopted by any one.

Subsequently, on September 22d, the Presi dent issued a proclamation, as follows:

PROCLAMATION.

I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy thereof, do hereby proclaim and declare that hereafter, as heretofore, the war will be prosecuted tional relation between the United States and each for the object of practically restoring the constitu of the States, and the people thereof, in which beate that relation is or may be suspended or disturbed. Congress, to again recommend the adoption free That it is my purpose, upon the next meeting of acceptance or rejection of all Slave States, so called, practical measure tendering pecuniary aid to the free the people whereof may not then be in rebellion against the United States, and which States may then have voluntarily adopted, or thereafter may volunslavery within their respective limits; and that the tarily adopt, immediate or gradual abolishment of effort to colonize persons of African descent, with their consent, upon this continent or elsewhere, with