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Chapter 38: operations in lower valley and Maryland.
At
Lynchburg I had received a telegram from
General Lee directing me, after disposing of
Hunter, either to return to his army or to carry out the original plan, as I might deem most expedient under the circumstances in which I found myself.
After the pursuit had ceased, I received another dispatch from him, submitting it to my judgment whether the condition of my troops would permit the expedition across the
Potomac to be carried out, and I determined to take the responsibility of continuing it. On the 23rd, the march was resumed and we reached
Buchanan that night, where we struck again the route over which
Hunter had advanced.
1 Ransom's cavalry moved by
Clifton Forge, through the western part of
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Rockbridge, to keep a lookout for
Hunter and ascertain if he should attempt to get into the
Valley again.
On the 26th, I reached
Staunton in advance of my troops, and the latter came up next day, which was spent in reducing transportation and getting provisions from
Waynesboro, to which point they had been sent over the railroad.
Some of the guns and a number of the horses belonging to the artillery were now unfit for service, and the best of each were selected, and about a battalion taken from
Breckenridge's artillery, under
Lieutenant Colonel King, to accompany us, in addition to the two battalions brought with the 2nd corps.
The rest were left behind with a portion of the officers and men in charge of them.
The dismounted cavalry had been permitted to send for their horses which had been recruiting, and
Col. Bradley T. Johnson, who had joined me at this place with a battalion of
Maryland cavalry, was assigned to the command of
Jones' brigade, with the temporary rank of brigadier general, that brigade having been reorganized and the two
Maryland battalions attached to it.
General Breckenridge had accompanied us from
Lynchburg, and, to give him a command commensurate with his proper one, and at the same time enable me to control the cavalry more readily,
Gordon's division of infantry was assigned to his command in addition to the one under
Elzey, and
Ransom, in charge of the cavalry, was ordered to report to me directly.
Major General Elzey was relieved from duty, at his own request, and the division under him was left under the temporary command of
Brigadier General Vaughan.
The official reports at this place showed about two thousand mounted men for duty in the cavalry, which was composed of four small brigades, to wit:
Imboden's,
McCausland's,
Jackson's and
Jones' (now
Johnson's).
Vaughan's had not been mounted, but the horses had been sent for from
Southwestern Virginia.
The official reports of the infantry showed 10,000 muskets for duty, including
Vaughan's dismounted cavalry.
Nearly, if not
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quite, half of the company's officers and men were barefooted or nearly so, and a dispatch had been sent from
Salem by courier, and
Lynchburg by telegraph, to
Richmond, requesting shoes to be sent to
Staunton, but they had not arrived.
Another telegram was received here from
General Lee stating that the circumstances under which my original orders were given had changed, and again submitting it to my judgment, in the altered state of things, whether the movement down the
Valley and across the
Potomac should be made.
The accession to my command from
Breckenridge's forces had not been as great as
General Lee supposed it would be, on account of the disorganization consequent on
Jones' defeat at
Piedmont, and the subsequent rapid movement to
Lynchburg from Rock-fish Gap, but I determined to carry out the original design at all hazards, and telegraphed
General Lee my purpose to continue the movement.
The march was resumed on the 28th with five days rations in the wagons and two days in haversacks, empty wagons being left to bring the shoes when they arrived.
Imboden was sent through Brock's Gap in the
Great North Mountain to the
Valley of the south branch of the
Potomac, with his brigade of cavalry and a battery of horse artillery, to destroy the railroad bridge over that stream and all the bridges on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from that point to
Martinsburg.
The telegraph line was repaired to
New Market as we marched down the
Valley, and communications kept up with that point by signal stations.
On the 2nd of July we reached
Winchester 2 and I here received a dispatch from General
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Lee, directing me to remain in the lower Valley until everything was in readiness to cross the
Potomac and to destroy the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the
Chesapeake &
Ohio Canal as far as possible.
This was in accordance with my previous determination, and its policy was obvious.
My provisions were nearly exhausted, and if I had moved through
Loudoun, it would have been necessary for me to halt and thresh wheat and have it ground, as neither bread nor flour could otherwise be obtained, which would have caused much greater delay than was required on the other route, where we could take provisions from the enemy.
Moreover, unless the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was torn up, the enemy would have been able to move troops from the
West over that road to
Washington.
On the night of the 2nd,
McCausland was sent across
North Mountain, to move down
Back Creek, and burn the railroad bridge at its mouth, and then to move by North Mountain depot to
Haynesville on the road from
Martinsburg to
Williamsport; and, early on the morning of the 3rd,
Bradley Johnson was sent by
Smithfield and
Leetown, to cross the railroad at
Kearneysville east of
Martinsburg, and unite with
McCausland at
Haynesville, so as to cut off the retreat of
Sigel, who was at
Martinsburg with a considerable force.
Breckenridge moved, on the same morning, direct from
Martinsburg, with his command preceded by
Gilmor's battalion of cavalry, while I moved with
Rodes' and
Ramseur's divisions, over the route taken by
Johnson, to
Leetown.
On the approach of
Breckenridge,
Sigel, after very slight skirmishing, evacuated
Martinsburg, leaving behind considerable stores, which fell into our hands.
McCausland burned the bridge States to save their houses.
Mosby's battalion, though called “guerillas” by the enemy, was a regular organization in the Confederate Army, and was merely serving on detached duty under
General Lee's orders.
The attack on the train was an act of legitimate warfare, and the order to burn
Newtown and the burning of houses mentioned were unjustifiable.
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over
Back Creek, captured the guard at North Mountain depot, and succeeded in reaching
Haynesville; but
Johnson encountered a force at
Leetown, under
Mulligan, which, after hard fighting, he drove across the railroad, when,
Sigel having united with
Mulligan,
Johnson's command was forced back, just before night, on
Rodes' and
Ramseur's divisions, which had arrived at
Leetown, after a march of twenty-four miles. It was too late, and these divisions were too much exhausted, to go after the enemy; and during the night,
Sigel retreated across the
Potomac at
Shepherdstown, to
Maryland Heights.
On the 4th,
Shepherdstown was occupied by a part of
Ransom's cavalry.
Rodes' and
Ramseur's divisions moved to
Harper's Ferry and the enemy was driven from Bolivar Heights and the village of
Bolivar, to an inner line of works under the cover of the guns from
Maryland Heights.
Breckenridge after burning the railroad bridges at
Martinsburg, and across the
Opequon, moved to
Duffield's depot, five miles from
Harper's Ferry, destroying the road as he moved.
During the night of the 4th, the enemy evacuated
Harper's Ferry, burning the railroad and pontoon bridges across the
Potomac.
It was not possible to occupy the town of
Harper's Ferry, except with skirmishers, as it was thoroughly commanded by the heavy guns on
Maryland Heights; and the 5th was spent by
Rodes' and
Ramseur's divisions in demonstrating at that place.
In the afternoon
Breckenridge's command crossed the river at
Shepherdstown, and
Gordon's division was advanced over the
Antietam towards
Maryland Heights.
At night, considerable stores, which had been abandoned at
Harper's Ferry, were secured; and before day,
Rodes' and
Ramseur's divisions moved to
Shepherdstown, and crossed the
Potomac early on the 6th,
Lewis' brigade, of
Ramseur's division, being left to occupy
Harper's Ferry with skirmishers.
On this day (the 6th)
Gordon's division advanced towards
Maryland Heights, and drove the enemy into
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his works.
Working parties were employed in destroying the aqueduct of the canal over the
Antietam, and the locks and canal-boats.
On the 7th
Rodes moved through
Rohrersville, on the road to Crampton's Gap in
South Mountain, and skirmished with a small force of the enemy, while
Breckenridge demonstrated against
Maryland Heights, with
Gordon's division, supported by his other division, now under
Brigadier General Echols, who had reported for duty.
While these operations were going on,
McCausland had occupied
Hagerstown, and levied a contribution of $20,000, and
Boonsboro had been occupied by
Johnson's cavalry.
On the 6th I received a letter from
General Lee, by special courier, informing me that, on the 12th, an effort would be made to release the prisoners at
Point Lookout, and directing me to take steps to unite them with my command, if the attempt was successful; but I was not informed of the manner in which the attempt would be made-
General Lee stating that he was not, himself, advised of the particulars.
My desire had been to manceuvre the enemy out of
Maryland Heights, so as to enable me to move directly from
Harper's Ferry for
Washington; but he had taken refuge in his strongly fortified works, and as they could not be approached without great difficulty, and an attempt to carry them by assault would have resulted in greater loss than the advantage to be gained would justify, I determined to move through the gaps of
South Mountain to the north of the
Heights.
On the 7th, the greater portion of the cavalry was sent across the mountain, in the direction of
Frederick; and that night, the expected shoes having arrived and been distributed, orders were given for a general move next morning; and an officer (
Lieutenant Colonel Goodwin of a Louisiana regiment) was ordered back to
Winchester, with a small guard, to collect the stragglers at that place, and prevent them from following.
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Imboden had reached the railroad, at the
South Branch of the
Potomac, and partially destroyed the bridge, but had not succeeded in dislodging the guard from the block-house at that place.
He had been taken sick and very little had been accomplished by the expedition; and his brigade, now under the command of
Col. George H. Smith, had returned.
Early on the morning of the 8th the whole force moved;
Rodes, through Crampton's Gap, to
Jefferson;
Breckenridge, through Fox's Gap; and
Ramseur, with the trains, through Boonsboro Gap, followed by
Lewis' brigade, which had started from
Harper's Ferry the night before, after burning the trestle-work on the railroad, and the stores which had not been brought off.
Breckenridge and
Ramseur encamped near
Middletown, and
Rodes near
Jefferson.
Ransom had occupied Catoctan Mountain, between
Middletown and Frederick, with his cavalry, and had skirmished heavily with a body of the enemy at the latter place.
McCausland was ordered to move to the right, in the afternoon, and the next day cut the telegraph and railroad between
Maryland Heights and
Washington and Baltimore-cross the
Monocacy, and, if possible, occupy the railroad bridge over that stream, at the junction near
Frederick.
Early on the 9th,
Johnson, with his brigade of cavalry, and a battery of horse artillery, moved to the north of
Frederick, with orders to strike the railroads from
Baltimore to
Harrisburg and
Philadelphia, burn the bridges over the
Gunpowder, also to cut the railroad between
Washington and
Baltimore and threaten the latter place; and then to move towards
Point Lookout, for the purpose of releasing the prisoners, if we should succeed in getting into
Washington.
The other troops also moved forward towards
Monocacy Junction, and
Ramseur's division passed through
Frederick, driving a force of skirmishers before it.
