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It can hardly be said, then, that the Confederates had drawn much profit from the invasion of Maryland. The capture of Harper's Ferry made but small amends for the retreat into Virginia; and the stubborn endurance of Sharpsburg, however remarkable in the annals of war, had served no useful purpose beyond crippling for the time being the Federal army.
With the exception of one Sharpsburg which was a drawn battle, the Confederates had been victorious in every general engagement up to this time. Scant rations, deprivation, and hardships of every kind had made them tired of the war; and the recent abundance had not only put them in better fighting condition than ever before, but made them long to enjoy it permanently at home.
"Major Martin," he said, brushing the tears from his eyes, "I'm mighty glad to see you. I wish to God I could do something for you." At the gate he turned to Colonel Hughes and said: "I know who that is. It is General Toombs. You can't fool me." "Why do you think so?" Colonel Hughes asked. "Oh, I remember Gray Alice jumping the stone walls at Sharpsburg too well to forget the rider now."
"Yes, general." "There was enmity between you?" "Yes, general." "Where is he now?" "He is somewhere in prison. He was taken at Sharpsburg." There fell another silence. The sentry's tread was heard, the crackle of the fire seizing upon pine cone and bough, a low, sighing wind in the wilderness. Jackson spoke briefly.
But a single brigade under General Toombs guarding this bridge held an army at bay and it was one o'clock before the bridge was captured. Burnside now pushed his division up the heights against Sharpsburg to cut Lee's line of retreat. The Confederates held their ground with desperate courage, though outnumbered here three to one.
Departure from Sharpsburg Camp The Old Woman of Sandy Hook Harper's Ferry South sewing Dragon's Teeth by shedding Old John's Blood The Dutch Doctor and the Boar Beauties of Tobacco Camp Life on the Character Patrick, Brother to the Little Corporal General Patterson no Irishman Guarding a Potatoe Patch in Dixie The Preacher Lieutenant on Emancipation Inspection and the Exhorting Colonel The Scotch Tailor on Military Matters.
When he reads of the Second Manassas, of Harper's Ferry, of Sharpsburg and of Chancellorsville, he will recall this statement with astonishment; and it will not be difficult to show that Jackson conformed as closely to the plans of his commander at Mechanicsville as elsewhere. The machinery of war seldom runs with the smoothness of clockwork.
There was more or less firing on that part of the field till late in the evening, but when morning dawned the Confederates had abandoned the last foothold above Turner's Gap and retreated by way of Boonsboro to Sharpsburg. The casualties in the Ninth Corps had been 889, of which 356 were in the Kanawha division. Some 600 of the enemy were captured by my division and sent to the rear under guard.
Lee, General Lee says, 'I have not laid eyes on Rob since I saw him in the battle of Sharpsburg, going in with a single gun of his, for the second time, after his company had been withdrawn in consequence of three of its guns having been disabled...."
Lee's plan of invasion Changed by McClellan's advance The position at Sharpsburg Our routes of march At the Antietam McClellan reconnoitring Lee striving to concentrate Our delays Tuesday's quiet Hooker's evening march The Ninth Corps command Changing our positions McClellan's plan of battle Hooker's evening skirmish Mansfield goes to support Hooker Confederate positions Jackson arrives McLaws and Walker reach the field Their places.
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