Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 228, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1912 — The CIVIL WAR [ARTICLE]

The CIVIL WAR

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK

September 9,1882. The advance of General Lee's Con* federate army continued to spread the Host tremendobe consternation through Pennsylvania and the loyal districts of Maryland. The city of Baltimore was distinctly alarmed for its own safety. At Wilkesbarre, Pa, a condition approaching panic obtained, farmers sent their wives and childten and their cattle out of the Clevelandvalley In Pennsylvania. A small Confederate detachment entered Middletown, Md., and took possession, placing the town under martial law. Colonel Burris, gent to chastise the Confederate partisan Quantrel for his attack on Olathe,-Mo, came up with the Irregulars, but they escaped him, leaving behind some of their equipment and a small amount of ammunition. Major-General Barnes, in compliance with the order issued on the seventh of the month from the headquarters of General McClellan, assumed command of the defenses of Washington during the temporary absence from his post of McClellan. * Indiana and Illinois cavalry, proceeding toward Barnesville, Md, out of Poolesville, in an attempt to get in touch with the movements of General Lee's army of Invasion, encountered two detachments of Confederate cavalry near Monocacy church. A Confederate force under Colonel Shingles, attacking early in the morning, Captured Williamsburg, Va, after a half hour of serious fighting. The commanding officer of the Union defenders was captured, and Colonel Shingles was killed. Bept«mbsr 10, 1862. General Lee left Frederick, Md, to continue his advance into Maryland. Colonel. Grierson rejoined his division after a raid against the railroads and Confederate communications in Mississippi, in which he defeated the enemy in two skirmishes, destroyed some track and burned Confederate military stores and supplies at Senatobia. A public meeting was held in Susquehanna, Pa, and in accordance with the orders of the governor of the state a company was formed for immediate service. Over ninetyy men signed the roll and held themselves in readiness* to march at an hour’s, notice. Confederates under General Loring defeated a National force under Colonel Siber at Fayette, Va. A force of Union cavalry under Captain Saunders, supported by two pieces of artillery, left Barnesville, Md, on a reconnoitering expedition to Sugar Loaf mountain.* When half way up the mountain the Union force encountered a force of Confederate infantry supported by ar.tillery, and a skirmish ensued in Which the Unionists were defeated and compelled to retire. They returned to Barnesville at night. September 11, 1862. General Lee’s advance entered Hagerstown, Md, in the morning. The United States marshal and local officials fled on their approach, together with a number of citizens. The excitement and alarm caused by the Confederate Invasion continued to rise in all the cities of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg and Philadelphia especially. The governor of the state of Pennsylvania Issued a call for 66,000 men “for immediate service to repel the now imminent danger from invasion by tho enemies of the country.” He also telegraphed to the mayor of Philadelphia to send him 20,000 men: The mayor Immediately called upon the ablebodied citizens for the force. Confederates captured three pickets on the Potomac. Mayaville, Ky, was occupied by the Confederates under Gen. R. M. Gano of Gen. E. Kirby Smith’s division. In compliance with orders, from the secretary of war of the United States, General Schofield of the department of Missouri ordered the provost general to carry into effect the Confiscation act, confiscating-property of Confederates in the state. Westminster, Md, was taken possession of by a cavalry force from the Confederate army advancing into Maryland. The force helped themselves to shoes and clothing, for which they offered to pay in Confederate money. The southern sympathizers were reported to have suffered as heavily as the abolitionists, the Confederates feeling some resentment at the lack Of moral support they found, having been led to believe there was more of it in Maryland. Newmarket, Md, was entered and poßse4se4 by the Union army. Gau ley, Va, was evacuated by the Union force in the faoe of an overwhelming force of Confederates, v The Confederate army under Gen. E. Kirby Smith reached Latonia. Springs, Ky, within seven miles of Cincinnati. Union regiments from Various armies in the field were being rushed Into the city. General Bragg threatened Nashville, Tenn, with a large Confederate force. General Buell was on the-march to the support of that point with a Union force. Other forces were harrying to Join him. With Lee mitering Maryland unopposed; with Smith knocking at the Side door and Bragg pushing through!*]

eastern Tennessee, the sauss of flu Union looked desperate. September «, 1882. Harper’s Ferry was invoked by a force detached from Gen. Jaekaon** Confederate army, marching down the Shenandoah to Join Led in the invasion of Maryland. - A Federal gray commanded by Gen. Burnside was in pursuit of Lee’s advancing column. The Federal advance and the Confederate rear guard came in contact at Frederick. Maryland, which place was entered by the Union force. _ ..... •>: / ' Hope broke for the first time in many days at the north on the report that Gen. E. Kirby Smith had withdrawn his Confederate army froSThe front of Cincinnati. It was said throughout the north that be was in full retreat, but the better informed understood now * that his advance threatening Cincinnati bad been merely a diversion to assist Lee in his invasion of Maryland. There waa a fight lasting all day between Confederates and National detachments at Charleston, Virginia. Both forces bivouacked on the field. The National guns set fire to and destroyed Charleston. An important debate took place In the Confederate house of representatives in Richmond relative to the propriety of an invasion of the northern states. Lee’s movement into Maryland was criticised by some as fool-hardy and dangerous. John Ross, the Cherokee Indian, had an interview with President Lincoln regarding the rescue of his people from their Confederate alliance. September 13,1862. The military excitement in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, continued. A large number of armed citizens left for Harrisburg to join the force accumulating there to repel the invasion of the Confederate army under Gen. Lee.

The mayor of Harrisburg issued a proclamation prohibiting the citizens to leave the town under penalty of arrest. The Confederate chief Porter, with about five hundred partisans, made a descent on Palmyra, Missouri, and released forty Confederate prisoners. He held the toa(n Tor a while, hut withdrew when he heard an engine from Hannibal whistle. He did no damage to the town or the property of citizens. A force of Confederates, under Gen. Loring, took possession of the Kanawha salt works, near Charleston, Virginia. Maryland Heights, an'outpost of defence south of Harper’s Ferry, was abandoned by the Union forces at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, following a long resistance to the Confederates under Stonewall Jackson, who had Invested the position the day before. All the guns were spiked and the garrison fell back on Harper’s Ferry. , Both north and south were in a state of intense expectancy, awaiting the crash which they knew wou|4 ensue when Lee’s invading army met with the Federal army, moving against him. It was conceded to Be the sharpest crisis in the war, up to that time. September 14, 1862.

The entire National army moved from Frederick, Maryland, taking the route toward Harper’s Ferry. Ripley, Virgina, was occupied by the advance of Col. Llghtburn’s troops. The stockade fort at Bacon Creek, Kentucky, waS surrendered to the Confederate cavalry under Col. J. J. rison.General Butler .commanding the Union army of occupation in New Orleans, issued an order directing that all foreign born living in the city must register, so that they might be distinguished from friend and foe. Generals Hooker apd Reno, with a Union force, collided with one of Lee’s advancing columns at South Mountain, Maryland, and precipitated an engagement that lasted for a number of hours. The Confederates were not ready to hazard a pitched battle, Jackson not yet having taken Harper’s Ferry and joined the main column. Gen. Reno was killed. The attack upon Harper’s Ferry was continued .with'vigor by the Confederates from surrounding heights, which had fallen into their hands. Gen. Miles, commanding the Union force, put up a stubborn defence. An engagement was fought at Munfordsville, Kentucky, between the Union force defending the place and a body of Confederate infantry, resulting 1n a repulse of the Confederates, after a desperate struggle. Two thousand Union cavalry succeeded in escaping from Harper’s Ferry, beleaguered by the Confederates, cutting their way out along the Bharpsburg road. September 15, 1862.

The Confederates under E. Kirby Smith advanced again towards Cincinnati as far as Florence, and drove In tbe National pickets. Colonel McNeill had a two-hour fight with Confederate partisans under Porter near Shelburne, Missouri, in which be drove them from the field and captured -twenty wagons and a number of horses and guns. Ponchatoula, Louisiana, was occupied by the National forces under Maj. George O. Strong of General Butler's staff. * Harper’s Ferry, Maryland, surrendered to the Confederates under General Jackson after a gallant defense of thre£ days. Jackson’s soldiers, who were nearly destitnte of clothing and shoes, supplied their needs from the National stores there, many of them'appearing in complete Union uniforms. (Copyright, ISI2, by W. G. Chapman. >