The capture was effected so quietly that after the foremost wagons had been taken and turned toward Greencastle the escorts of the remainder were in complete ignorance of what had taken place until they reached the point where the change of direction was made, and they too passed into the service of the United States Army. A change of governments was probably never more quietly or speedily effected.

Many of the drivers rebelled against driving into captivity; but with a trooper on each side with drawn revolver, they had little opportunity to hesitate. Several wagons were purposely ditched by their drivers, but these were promptly set on fire and destroyed.

After the whole train had passed, and was on the road to Greencastle, the cavalry formed in its rear to prevent recapture. The Rebel cavalry escort had not before ventured to attack; but being reinforced, they now several times charged the rear of our column, - without effect, however, as they were in each instance met and driven. back.

The affair seems easy now; but this may be said of many cavalry exploits in which boldness and good conduct insured success. If it had been managed with less skill, if a blunder had been made either in plan or execution, the Rebel camp near Williamsport would have been alarmed in time to prevent the capture of the whole or a great part of the train.

As the sun rose, bright and warm, the scene upon the pike was very enlivening. The long train of heavily loaded wagons rumbling over the hard smooth road as rapidly as they could be urged forward, enveloped by throngs of cavalry-men with a solid column in their rear, the clouds of dust, the cracking of whips, the cries of the drivers, and the shouts of officers and men, formed a striking contrast to the long march in the silence and darkness of the previous night.

The command reached Greencastle at 10 A. M. of the

15th, with the captured train, about two hundred prisoners, and a large drove of beef cattle. It was welcomed by the citizens of Pennsylvania with the utmost enthusiasm. They were in a state of great excitement and apprehension, caused by the near approach of the Rebels, and the cavalry were joyfully hailed as their deliverers from the threatened danger. Long before reaching Greencastle, the people thronged the road, handing up fruit, cakes, and pies to the soldiers. Every house in the town and vicinity was thrown open to officers and men, and loads of the choicest provisions were taken to the camps.

At one large farmhouse, where the writer breakfasted. sumptuously next morning, he was informed by his host that he had given breakfast that day to one hundred men. These attentions were very acceptable and highly appreciated, for all were worn out with hard marching, and the command was without rations, excepting the captured cattle and flour.

The distance marched was estimated at between fifty and sixty miles, the route taken being very circuitous; and it may well be believed that the command arrived at Greencastle in an exhausted condition, especially the horses, which were unfit to move for several days.

The captured train proved to be the reserve ammunition train of General Longstreet, and its loss seriously crippled that distinguished officer in the operations then imminent against the Army of the Potomac. Indeed, it has been stated on good authority that the news of the escape of this column of cavalry from Harper's Ferry, and of the capture of this train, induced the War Department to order General McClellan to make an immediate attack on Lee's army.

The intelligence was communicated in the following despatch from General Wool, dated Baltimore, September 15, 1862:

MAJOR GENERAL HALLECK, General-in-Chief: The following despatch has been received from Colonel A. Voss, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, dated Greencastle, Pa., September 15. "Harper's Ferry is from all sides invested, by a force estimated at thirty thousand. By order of Colonel Miles, I left it last evening at eight o'clock, with the cavalry, fifteen hundred strong, to cut my way through enemy's lines. I succeeded in reaching this place about nine this morning, having passed the enemy's lines about three miles northward from Williamsport, and capturing a wagon train of over sixty wagons loaded with ammunition, and six hundred and seventy-five prisoners. Colonel Miles intends to hold the Ferry, but is anxiously looking for reinforcements."

No cannonading heard to-day. If cavalry are fit for service, I will order them to General McClellan. Colonel Davis says his regiment is used up, and as he has lost everything, asks where he shall go to refit. As soon as I learn their condition I will give them orders accordingly.

This expedition and its success well illustrate the powers and uses of cavalry. To move rapidly to a distant point, and strike a sudden blow where it is least expected, is its peculiar function. The Rebels were, as they supposed, in secure occupation of a peaceful country, with no enemy within twenty miles, and this particular cavalry force was understood to be safely locked up in Harper's Ferry, thirty miles away. Surprising results may often be accomplished with cavalry, by proper effort; and the result of this enterprise was surprising alike to those engaged in it, and to those who felt the force of the blow.

The Military Commission, sitting in Washington in September and October, 1862, referring to this affair, said: "The commission regard this escape of the cavalry as being worthy of great commendation to the officers. conducting the same."

General Walker, of the Confederate army, in his article. on "Harper's Ferry and Sharpsburg," in the "Century" for June, 1886, speaking of Colonel B. F. Davis, says:

"This enterprising young officer crossed his cavalry to the Maryland side of the Potomac, and followed the road on the berm side of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, leading north to Sharpsburg. Mention of this very meritorious action is made in neither Federal nor Confederate accounts of the capture of Harper's Ferry that have fallen under my notice. Davis not only escaped capture, but passed through Sharpsburg at daylight of the 15th, and in crossing the Hagerstown and Williamsport road he destroyed the greater part of Longstreet's reserve ordnance trains."

General Walker is in error as to the time of the cavalry's reaching Sharpsburg, which, we have seen, was about 10 P. M. of the 14th.

It is true that there is no official report of this affair, but the facts above given are taken from the most authentic sources, official and otherwise; and it is hoped enough has been written to rescue the action from oblivion, and to show that among the immortals who "fit and ran away," the "Harper's Ferry skedaddlers" are entitled to a place.

THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.

BY HUNTINGTON W. JACKSON.

[Read May 1, 1883.]

THIS is the anniversary week of the battle of Chan

cellorsville. Twenty years ago this evening, Stonewall Jackson made his famous attack upon the right wing of the Army of the Potomac; twenty years ago this evening, he fell. It is not difficult to recall the events of those twilight hours: the sudden onslaught and flight; the excitement and confusion; the noise of battle; the hurrying forward of reinforcements; the massing of artillery to stay the victorious charge and prevent an overwhelming defeat; grateful night at last calling a truce,

"And thousands had sunk on the ground overpowered,
The weary to sleep, and the wounded to die."

But I will not anticipate the story of the battle.

In the spring of 1863, a pleasant ride of a few hours from Washington by steamboat down the Potomac River, passing Mount Vernon on the way, would bring you to within a short distance from the town of Fredericksburg, situated on the banks of the Rappahannock River. The course of the Rappahannock is from the northwest to the southeast, and it empties into Chesapeake Bay. The hostile armies were encamped in full view of one another, upon the range of hills half a mile or more back of the river on either side, and running parallel with it.

On January 25, 1863, General Hooker succeeded General Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac ; and on the following day this characteristic letter was addressed to the new commander by President Lincoln: