Heights, opposite Harper's Ferry. General Walker, who was then apparently somewhere near the mouth of the Monocacy, was to move through Lovettsville and gain possession of Loudoun Heights, thus completing the investment of Harper's Ferry. General Longstreet was ordered to move to Hagerstown, with Hill to serve as a rear guard. * It was directed in the same order that after Jackson, Walker, McLaws, etc., had taken Harper's Ferry, they were to rejoin the main army at Hagerstown or Boonsboro'. That order is important in another

sense.

*

It shows very plainly that the object of the enemy was to go to Pennsylvania, or at least to remain in Maryland."

The discovery of this order was most unfortunate for the success of the campaign. Prompt steps were taken by the enemy to check the advance of General Lee, relieve Harper's Ferry, and defeat the projected invasion of Pennsylvania.

After the battle of Manassas great confusion is said to have reigned in the Federal councils at Washington; and the anticipated attack of the Southern army upon the capital was regarded with terror. General Pope was cast aside, and the distinguished officer who had fallen under the displeasure of the Federal Executive, and been deprived of the command of the army, was appealed to in this critical emergency. General McClellan rose to the command of the entire forces in and around Washington without an effort on his part; and he acted without consultation with any one, and under no orders but "Save the Capital." The genius of this skilful soldier was equal to the occasion. Troops were hurried forward from various parts of the North; the remnants of the army defeated at Manassas were collected and reorganized; Burnside's column was brought up; all the reserves which had not arrived in time to participate in these great con tests were put in requisition, and another army, numbering about 100,000 men, was at once ready to take the field. Never had the great resources in men and material of the Federal Government been more strikingly displayed; and the Southern troops were now called upon to meet a fresh army. With this great mass of old soldiers and new, veterans and conscripts, General Mc

Clellan took position in front of Washington; when, finding that General Lee no longer threatened that city, and had moved toward Pennsylvania, the Federal commander hurried forward in the direction of Frederick City.

General McClellan was still completely ignorant of Lee's designs, and it was necessary for him to move with caution so as cover the capital. President Lincoln was evidently uneasy, from the apprehension that Lee's advance into Maryland was only a feint, with a small force to draw the Federal forces northward, when the main column would, by a rapid flank movement, reach and assault Washington. Hampered by continual orders from the War Office, and unable to penetrate the designs of Lee, General McClellan was compelled to advance, with his left resting on the Potomac, in order to defeat any flank attack upon Washington, and to proceed with a caution which was indispensable in dealing with so wary and dangerous an adversary.

Great must have been the joy of General McClellan, there fore, at finding, upon a table in Frederick City, the copy of Lee's order of march left there by General D. H. Hill. It would be difficult to over-estimate the disastrous effect which this careless ness on the part of some one had upon General Lee's campaign. General McClellan now no longer advanced cautiously, and with an eye to the safety of the capital. He knew all General Lee's designs, and hastened, without the loss of a moment, to counteract them.

If that order had not been found at Frederick City, the result of the Maryland campaign would, in all probability, have been wholly different.

CHAPTER XVIII.

BOONSBORO' AND CRAMPTON'S GAP.

GENERAL LEE had, meanwhile, commenced his operations, looking to the reduction of Harper's Ferry.

General Walker was directed to recross the Potomac and move up with his brigade to Loudoun Heights, east of Harper's Ferry; General McLaws was sent to occupy Maryland Heights opposite the town, on the northern bank of the Potomac, to cut off the enemy's retreat if they attempted to fall back toward Frederick City; while General Jackson was directed to march straight across the country to Williamsport, take possession of Martinsburg, and intercept their retreat if they moved up the river, or demand the instant surrender of Harper's Ferry and its garrison. Jackson could take care of himself; but General McLaws was liable to be assailed in his rear, driven from Maryland Heights, and the garrison thus relieved. A strong force was accordingly posted at South Mountain, on the main road from Frederick City to Boonsboro', under command of General D. H. Hill, to receive the attack of General McClellan, then known to be advancing; troops were also posted at Crampton's Gap and other openings in the mountain lower down; and General Longstreet's corps was held in reserve, to move in any direction which the emergencies of the occasion demanded. The cavalry under General Stuart was ordered to bring up and protect the rear.

Before following Jackson in his swift advance to the execution of his portion of the programme, let us relate the events which occurred simultaneously upon the soil of Maryland. We shall thus be enabled to present an uninterrupted narrative of the operations of Jackson.

General McClellan's advancing army first came in collision with General Stuart's cavalry near Frederick City on the 11th

of September.

General Stuart's front extended from New Market, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to PoolesvilleFitz Lee being on the left, Hampton in the centre, and Colonel Munford, commanding Robertson's brigade, on the right.

On the 12th the whole line speedily became engaged, and opposed the advance of the enemy with obstinate valor. The Federal advance force was repulsed on repeated charges; and it was not until the corps of the army had moved to their assigned positions, that Stuart slowly retired, striking the advancing enemy at every step with his rear guard. General Hampton, bringing up the rear on the road from Frederick City to Middletown, was hotly assailed by a heavy force which had rushed into Frederick; and, annoyed by the galling fire of the Federal artillery, supported by a strong column of infantry, he charged them with characteristic gallantry, drove back their infantry with great loss, and captured their artillery, though, the horses having been shot, he could not bring it off. The cavalry then slowly retired toward the gaps in the mountain, and on the next morning, September 13th, Hampton, who had occupied the gap in the Catoctin Mountain near Middletown, was vigorously assailed by overpowering columns. The gap was obstinately held by his dismounted men and artillery until late in the day, when further check of the enemy becoming unnecessary, he was ordered to withdraw.*

On the 14th the enemy appeared in front of the various gaps in the South Mountain, bent on breaking through and hastening to the relief of the garrison at Harper's Ferry, now imminently threatened by Jackson. At Crampton's Gap an obstinate stand was made by a small force of dismounted cavalry and infantry under Colonel Thomas T. Munford, of the 2d Virginia cavalry, with a few hundred men, and the battery of Captain Chew, which had

On approaching Crampton's Gap, General Hampton's column was mistaken by Colonel Munford for a force of Federal cavalry, and he ordered the artillery to open upon it. The guns were loaded, sighted straight at Hampton, and were about to be discharged, when a white flag appeared at the head of the column, and this serious accident was averted.

done excellent service in the campaign of the Virginia Valley. Colonel Munford opposed the advance of Slocum's division of the Federal army, and for many hours prevented them from passing the mountain. It was only when his ammunition was completely exhausted, and the enemy were flanking him on both sides, that he retired through the gap, mounted his men, and moved down the mountain. General Stuart having appeared upon the field, drew up the cavalry, checked the retreat of the infantry of General Cobb's command, and at night the small Confederate force still opposed the advance of the enemy.

Meanwhile a still heavier engagement had taken place at Boonsboro' Gap, above. The pass at Boonsboro' is a defile, through which runs the main turnpike from Federal City to Hagerstown. The road is winding, narrow, and rugged-the steep mountain on one side, on the other a deep ravine. Near the top are two or three houses, but few other objects break the monotony of the landscape. The enemy appeared in front of the position occupied by General D. H. Hill, and immediately assailed him. A severe conflict ensued, the enemy's numbers enabling him to gain possession of the commanding ground on Hill's left, and by overlapping both wings to press him back. Couriers were immediately sent to General Lee announcing the condition of affairs, and Longstreet was hurried forward from Hagerstown to Hill's assistance. The appearance of his corps, with Evans on the left, Drayton on the right, and Hood's Texans in the centre, at once changed the aspect of the field; the Federal force who were pressing heavily upon Hill and driving him back, were repulsed and held in check, and the ground maintained against the most determined efforts of the enemy to force a passage. In this action General Reno, of the U. S. Army, was killed.

Receiving information that Harper's Ferry would certainly fall on the next morning, General Lee now determined to withdraw the commands of Longstreet and Hill, and retire toward Sharpsburg, where his communications would be uninterrupted, and his army could be concentrated. The trains were accordingly sent to that point, and the army slowly retired. The dif