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Fitzhugh Lee, General Lee, Chapter 5: invasion of Virginia. (search)
ria or Washington. Another route lay up the peninsula lying between the James and York Rivers, with Fort Monroe and its vicinity as a base for operations. Another way to enter the State was by crossing the upper Potomac at Harper's Ferry and Williamsport, and then on through the great valley of Virginia between the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Mountains; and still another entrance might be effected through the mountain ranges of West Virginia. Norfolk, too, by the sea, had to be watched and prothe midst of arms, Senator John Sherman, of Ohio, was his aid-de-camp. From Patterson's position two routes led to the Valley of Virginia, one via Frederick, Md., across the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, the other by Hagerstown, Md., crossing at Williamsport and thence to Martinsburg. Patterson wisely selected the latter route, because it was a flank movement on his enemy at Harper's Ferry, who could present no obstacle to a successful passage to the Potomac. He therefore marched his army to Hag
Fitzhugh Lee, General Lee, Chapter 10: Sharpsburg and Fredericksburg. (search)
battle was to envelop the Confederate flanks-first the left, and then the right-and could he have succeeded in breaking through either of them and gaining the Williamsport road in Lee's rear and cutting him off from the Potomac, his victory would have been decisive. Had General Lee not divined the main struggle would be on his l him the day after the battle. The morning report, dated September 20th, sent by McClellanwhich included the troops at Washington under Banks and 3,500 men at Williamsport, Frederick, and Boonsboroa — showed an aggregate present for duty of 164,359, and an aggregate absent of 105,124, making a total present and absent of 293,798.g impatient, and wondering why McClellan did not promptly obey orders. So he directed his chief of cavalry, Stuart, on October 8th, to cross the Potomac above Williamsport with his cavalry and ascertain McClellan's positions and designs; to enter Pennsylvania, and to do all in his power to impede and embarrass the military operat
Fitzhugh Lee, General Lee, Chapter 12: Gettysburg. (search)
ed as could bear transportation, back to the Potomac at Williamsport under a cavalry escort, and was busy in burying his deaeven miles south of Cashtown, being the direct road to Williamsport; but the rain and mud so impeded progress that the rearwn, Md., on the 6th, the same day his trains arrived at Williamsport, a few miles distant. On account of the swollen condite of defense skillfully traced to cover the river from Williamsport to Falling Waters, and confidently awaited the subsidend his flanks in the retreat and had saved his trains at Williamsport from an attack of the Union cavalry before his army reanted to know if they deemed it expedient to move toward Williamsport through Emmittsburg, or if his enemy was retreating, shroyed, the rebellion would be over. While waiting at Williamsport General Lee received the news of the capture (by raidinth the Army of Northern Virginia recrossed the river at Williamsport, and on the pontoon bridge at Falling Water, which had
Lt.-Colonel Arthur J. Fremantle, Three Months in the Southern States, June, 1863. (search)
took leave of Mrs.-and her hospitable family, and started at 10 A. M. to overtake Generals Lee and Longstreet, who were supposed to be crossing the Potomac at Williamsport. Before we had got more than a few miles on our way, we began to meet horses and oxen, the first fruits of Ewell's advance into Pennsylvania. The weather was; the river is both wide and deep, and in fording it (for which purpose I was obliged to mount) we couldn't keep our legs out of the water. The little town of Williamsport is on the opposite bank of the river, and we were now in Maryland. We had the mortification to learn that Generals Lee and Longstreet had quitted WilliamsportWilliamsport this morning at 11 o'clock, and were therefore obliged to toil on to Hagerstown, six miles further. This latter place is evidently by no means rebel in its sentiments, for all the houses were shut up, and many apparently abandoned. The few natives that were about stared at the troops with sulky indifference. After passing t
Lt.-Colonel Arthur J. Fremantle, Three Months in the Southern States, July, 1863. (search)
ry skirmishing went on until quite dark, a determined attack having been made by the enemy, who did his best to prevent the trains from crossing the Potomac at Williamsport. It resulted in the success of the Confederates; but every impartial man confesses that these cavalry fights are miserable affairs. Neither party has any ideester. 7th July, 1863 (Tuesday). -Lawley, the Austrian, and I drove into Hagerstown this morning, and General Longstreet moved into a new position on the Williamsport road, which he was to occupy for the present. We got an excellent room in the Washington Hotel on producing greenbacks. Public opinion in Hagerstown seems tot moment; and hitherto he has never got himself into any serious trouble. I rode to General Longstreet's camp, which is about two miles in the direction of Williamsport, and consulted him about my difficulties with regard to my leave. He was most good-natured about it, and advised me under the circumstances to drive in the di
J. B. Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary, XIX. October, 1862 (search)
without Smith's adjutant knowing something about it. Heretofore the Plug Uglies might take the bribe, and by their influence with Gen. Winder, obtain his signature to a blank passport. The following was received yesterday: Winchester, Va., Oct. 14, 1862. Hon. G. W. Randolph. The cavalry expedition to Pennsylvania has returned safe. They passed through Mercersburg, Chambersburg, Emmetsburg, Liberty, New Market, Syattstown, and Burnesville. The expedition crossed the Potomac above Williamsport, and recrossed at White's Ford, making the entire circuit, cutting the enemy's communications, destroying arms, etc., and obtaining many recruits. R. E. Lee, General. Thus, Gen. Stuart has made another circle round the enemy's army; and hitherto, every time he has done so, a grand battle followed. Let McClellan beware! A letter, just received from Gen. Lee, says there is no apprehension of an immediate advance of McClellan's army. This he has ascertained from his scouts sen
J. B. Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary, XXIX. August, 1863 (search)
c., penetrated Maryland, and Pennsylvania as far as Chambersburg. On the 24th, Lt--Gens. Longstreet and Hill marched to the Potomac, the former crossing at Williamsport and the latter at Shepherdstown, uniting at Hagerstown, Md., advancing into Pennsylvania, and encamping near Chambersburg on the 27th. Ewell's corps advanct inexpedient for Gen. Lee to continue longer where he was. Such of the wounded as could be moved, and part Of the arms collected on the field, were ordered to Williamsport. His army remained at Gettysburg during the 4th, and began to retire at night, taking with it about 4000 prisoners, nearly 2000 having been previously paroled. The enemy's wounded that fell into his hands were left behind. He reached Williamsport without molestation, losing but few wagons, etc., and arrived at Hagerstown 7th July. The Potomac was much swollen by recent rains, that had fallen incessantly ever since he had crossed it, and was unfordable. The enemy had not
J. B. Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary, XL. July, 1864 (search)
off everything safely and in good order. He reports the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to have been cut in several places, and severely damaged. The bridges over Gunpowder River, Northern Central and Philadelphia Railroads were burned, and the connection between Washington and Baltimore cut by Johnson's cavalry. The 6th corps (Federal) had arrived at Washington, and it was reported that other parts of Grant's army had reached there, but of the latter he was not certain. Hunter had passed Williamsport, and was moving toward Frederick. Gen. Early states that his loss was light. I am, with great respect, Your obed't servant. (Not signed.) Custis walked with Lieut. Bell last evening a mile from Hanover Junction to the battle-field of last month (just a month ago), and beheld some of the enemy still unburied! They fell very near our breastworks. July 20 Cloudy and warm, but no rain up to 5 P. M. There is no news of importance; but a battle is momentarily expected in Ge
General James Longstreet, From Manassas to Appomattox, Chapter 15: the Maryland campaign. (search)
oving his columns out from the vicinity of Washington City on the 5th, made slow and very cautious marches to save fatigue of his men and at the same time cover the capital against unforeseen contingency; so slow and cautious was the march that he only covered forty or fifty miles in seven days. On the 12th his Headquarters were at Urbana, where he received the following telegram from President Lincoln: Governor Curtin telegraphs me, I have advices that Jackson is crossing the Potomac at Williamsport, and probably the whole rebel army will be drawn from Maryland. The President added,-- Receiving nothing from Harper's Ferry or Martinsburg today, and positive information from Wheeling that the line is cut, corroborates the idea that the enemy is recrossing the Potomac. Please do not let him get off without being hurt. Rebellion Record, vol. XIX. part i. p. 41. McClellan's official account. Elsewhere General McClellan has written of the 12th: During these movements I had not i
General James Longstreet, From Manassas to Appomattox, Chapter 17: preliminaries of the great battle. (search)
he batteries were assigned positions near the ridge under the crest, where they could best cover the fields on the farther side of the stream. A few minutes after our lines were manned, information came of the capitulation of Harper's Ferry, and of the withdrawal of the troops to the Virginia side of the Potomac. General Toombs's brigade joined us early on the 15th, and was posted over the Burnside Bridge. He was subsequently ordered to detach two regiments, as guard for trains near Williamsport. As long as the armies were linked to Harper's Ferry, the heights in front of Sharpsburg offered a formidable defensive line, and in view of possible operations from Harper's Ferry, through the river pass, east of South Mountain, formed a beautiful point of strategic diversion. But when it transpired that Harper's Ferry was surrendered and the position was not to be utilized, that the troops there were to join us by a march on the south side, its charms were changed to perplexities.
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