then Longstreet rode up in the dark, and dismounted in front of the house; no one recognized him for an instant. When Lee realized who it was, he said, "Here comes my old stand-by." The next day both parties lay in front of each other, but as McClellan did not advance, the next night Lee retreated across the Potomac. Major A. J. Sellers of the 90th Pennsylvania, who was on picket, learned of Lee's retreat, wrote it on a shingle and sent it to McClellan.

The First Corps lost in that engagement 417 killed and wounded and 122 missing. The Second Corps had 15,000 on the field and lost 883 killed, 3,859 wounded, and 396 missing. The Ninth Corps had 438 killed, 1,796 wounded, and 115 missing. The Twelfth Corps had 12,300 on the field, and lost 275 killed, 1,386 wounded, and 85 missing. The casualties in the other corps were comparatively light.

ΟΝ

CHAPTER VIII.

FROM ANTIETAM TO RECTORTOWN.

N the morning of the 18th of September, 1862, the soldiers of McClellan's army fully expected a renewal of the battle. Burnside was across the Antietam on the left, with Warren's brigade of Porter's corps, ready to assist him. Hancock, who had succeeded Richardson in command of the left division of the Second Corps, was holding his ground, which gave Porter a splendid opportunity, with his fresh corps, to move forward and attack Lee's center; French's and Sedgwick's, the other two divisions of Sumner's corps, were badly used up; but Franklin's corps had suffered but little, except Irwin's brigade. The First Corps, on the extreme right under Meade, was in excellent spirits and condition. Hofmann's brigade, of Doubleday's division, had been in reserve, and consequently suffered but few casualties.

Hofmann would leave a banquet any time to fight a battle, and his brigade had greatly acquired his nature. Couch and Humphreys arrived in the morning with their divisions. They were in excellent condition, and commanded by two such generals they would have struck a fearful blow to the enemy.

With two full corps, two divisions, and one brigade, which had not been engaged the day before, McClellan was in prime condition to renew the contest. But it seems that Sumner stubbornly opposed a renewal, although in his report he does not even allude to it. McClellan feared he was fighting a greater number of the enemy than he

really was though, in my opinion, Lee had more troops in that battle than he had credit for.

Gen. H. J. Hunt, chief of artillery of the Army of the Potomac, stated that question the best. After the war was over he was down South, and they told him of the size of their armies in this and that engagement. the general, "where were your men? brave to shirk a battle, yet when your reports were made, there were only a few present for duty."

"Well," said They were too

Along Jackson and D. H. Hill's front there were repeated rumors that an armistice had been declared to bury the dead and to care for the wounded. That was an old trick of Jackson's when he got worsted; he always mourned for the wounded and the dying, but, strange to say, when his colors were advancing he never thought of them.

The enemy approached General Hancock's front with a flag. The general sent out to see about it, and on finding that it was accompanied by General Pryor, he sent General Meagher out to meet him. But it was soon learned that it was not a flag of truce; Pryor said if Hancock would send a request to care for the wounded and bury the dead, he thought it would be honored. Of course it would, for they were simply wearing the day away in the most plausible manner, so they could retreat under cover of the night. Hancock very properly sent word that he had no occasion to make such a request; that the majority of the wounded lying between the lines were Confederates. Longstreet became alarmed at the critical condition of affairs, and wrote a note to Lee to get ready to retreat across the Potomac at early candle light, and be sure to not light the candle either. Longstreet knew they would be crushed if an attack was made. Lee in the mean time came to Longstreet's headquarters, which then were with his corps, for Burnside was menacing him all the time, and at any moment might make an attack.

That night they silently stole away, and when the

morning sun shone on Sharpsburg the "Grove's Mansion," where Lee and his generals had had their headquarters, "knew them no more forever."

When it was learned that Lee had retreated across the Potomac into Virginia, McClellan ordered Porter to pursue; accordingly Griffin, with his own and Barnes' brigade, crossed the Potomac, and encountered the rear guard under Lawton, and after a sharp action, drove him and followed him in his retreat. Lawton lost four guns, which fell into Griffin's hands.

Griffin's success elated Porter very much who next morning pressed on after the enemy.

Jackson was given the position of bringing up the Confederate rear, with instructions to watch the advancing foe, for the country was full of disabled men from the Confederate army, who would join their commands in a few days if not captured; the number is even put as high as 30,000. They never crossed into Maryland. Citizens of Shepherdstown fully confirm this.

Learning that the Confederates established a hospital in Shepherdstown during the battle, I visited that place subsequent to the war to hear the citizens' statements. They said every house and barn were full of men who had been compelled to fall out of ranks to rest and seek food, in addition to the wounded from the battlefield. The ladies said they were baking for days, and taking the utmost care of the disabled soldiers, so they could return to the army. Hence Lee must keep McClellan on the Maryland side of the Potomac to give him (Lee) time to collect together onethird of his army, which was straggling and certain to be captured if McClellan forced him up the valley. For that reason Lee placed Jackson in the rear, knowing that he would make desperate efforts to prevent his forces being pursued.

Lee placed his command behind the Opequan, a tributary of the Potomac, and was thus lying in wait, with A. P. Hill's division in broad view in front, while Early was con

cealed in ambush where he could strike any advance movement on the flank.

When Porter came up Hill opened with a vigorous fire to draw him still closer, so that Early could enfilade his flank. In due time Early opened a murderous fire from his concealed position, and Porter was driven back across the Potomac. In this engagement the Corn Exchange Regiment—a magnificent body of men of Philadelphia— suffered severely. Lee had succeeded in accomplishing just what he wanted to-prevent an advance for a few days, as he might then gather up his straggling soldiers and feed his half famished army on the abundance of that rich, bountiful and beautiful country-the Shenandoah.

It was a golden opportunity, for the country was as the "Land of Goshen," and the citizens gave with alacrity as a a rule, for they were intensely Southern in their sympathies.

On the 19th General Stuart recrossed the Potomac at Williamsport with a heavy force of cavalry and infantry, supported by a few field pieces. General Couch was ordered to go in pursuit of him. But Stuart had performed the task assigned to him and avoided a battle, although he sustained losses.

The authorities at Washington, urged on by an impatient press in the North, were unceasing in their endeavors to have McClellan make a forward movement.

Although Lee had collected his stragglers and again possessed a large army, yet if he could keep McClellan from advancing a little longer it would be too late for a fall campaign, and the Confederacy might receive foreign recognition by spring. He was not only playing the part of a shrewed general, but that of a skillful diplomate.

On the 6th of October the enemy appeared in force in the valley of Sir John's Run. Waiting to see the effect of that move, Lee soon received the glad tidings that Averell had been ordered post haste to that point.

Pleasonton was weakened by the absence of Averell, and Lee knew that Stuart could then undertake a circuit