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of Washington and Harper's Ferry, numbering over eighty thousand, exclusive of the sick and absent. Lee had therefore the difficult task before him of conducting a siege against a force posted in a strongly entrenched position, and of concentrating his army to meet the attack of vastly superior forces marching to relieve the place.

To fulfil these two objects, he abandoned the line of the Monocacy River, and moving a portion of his force under Longstreet, with the supply train, to Boonesboro,' he directed D. Hill with his division to guard the passes through South Mountain, and to cover the siege of Harper's Ferry. To ensure a distinct understanding of this plan of operations, he sent written orders to D. Hill; and this document, detailing with exactitude the proposed movements of the several portions of the army, fell into the hands of General M'Clellan. It had been conveyed to D. Hill, who, after reading it, either through a feeling of impatience at its contents, or through carelessness, threw or let it fall on the ground, and, lying there forgotten, it was picked up by a soldier of the Federal army, and forwarded at once to M'Clellan, who thus became possessed of the exact detail of his adversary's plan of operations.* This knowledge enabled General M'Clellan to direct the movements of his army with certainty.

Since the crossing of the Confederates into Maryland he had been preparing to meet them in the field, with all his disposable force. He was obliged to leave a very strong garrison in Washington, far more than was necessary, in order to allay the fears of the President

For this curious incident see General M'Clellan's report to Congress, page 353; and the article, in the Quarterly of April 1864, on America.

and his advisers, who were anxious lest General Lee, having by a feint of an advance into Maryland drawn the army from Washington, should turn round and capture the city by a coup de main. As, however, Lee's plans developed themselves more fully, and it became evident that the garrison and stores at Harper's Ferry were in danger of being cut off from the main army, General M'Clellan received the sanction of the President to move to its relief. Leaving, therefore, Banks to command at Washington, with Heintzelman to superintend the defences around Alexandria, General M'Clellan, having divided his army into three columns, marched on the Monocacy River. The right column, under Burnside's command, and consisting of the 9th corps, under Reno, and the 1st (formerly M'Dowell's), under Hooker, was directed to march by the road leading from Washington to Brookville and Frederick City. The centre, under Sumner, comprising his own corps, the 2nd, and the 12th corps under Mansfield, by the direct road through Rockville and Middlebrook, also on Frederick City; and the left under Franklin, consisting of his own corps, the 6th, and Couch's division, was ordered to keep near the left bank of the Potomac, and march by Poolesville towards the Monocacy River.

In addition to this force, General Porter followed the main army, with a corps of 20,000 men, on the 12th of September. On the same day, the right column having crossed the Monocacy, occupied Frederick City, the remainder of the army being still on the left bank of the stream, near Urbana and Barnesville. M'Clellan was as yet uncertain of his adversary's movements, and kept his army well in hand, so as to be able to concentrate it quickly for the purpose of delivering battle at the same time that he covered the approaches to Wash

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ington or Baltimore. On the 13th of September the above-mentioned order from General Lee fell into his hands, and he was thus fully possessed of the intentions of the enemy, and enabled to shape his movements accordingly.*

As the possession of Harper's Ferry appeared by this order to be the principal immediate aim of General

* A copy of this order is given in General M'Clellan's official report to Congress.

'Head-quarters, Army of Virginia, Sept. 9, 1862. 'Special Orders, No. 19.

'The army will resume its march tomorrow, taking the Hagerstown Road. General Jackson's command will form the advance, and after passing through Middletown, with such portion as he may select, will take the route towards Sharpsburg, cross the Potomac at the most convenient point, and by Friday night take possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, capture such of the enemy as may be at Martingsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to escape from Harper's Ferry. General Longstreet's command will pursue the same road as far as Boonsboro', where it will halt with the reserve, supply, and baggage trains, of the army. General M'Laws, with his own division and that of General R. H. Anderson, will follow General Longstreet. On reaching Middletown, he will take the route to Harper's Ferry, and by Friday morning possess himself of the Maryland Heights, and endeavour to capture the enemy at Harper's Ferry and vicinity. General Walker, with his division, after accomplishing the object in which he is now engaged, will cross the Potomac at Cheek's Ford, ascend its right bank to Lovettsville, take possession of Loudon Heights if practicable, and co-operate with General M'Laws and General Jackson in intercepting the retreat of the enemy. General D. H. Hill's division will form the rear-guard of the army, pursuing the road taken by the main body. The reserve artillery, ordnance, and supply trains, &c., will precede General Hill. General Stuart will detach a squadron of cavalry to accompany the commands of General Longstreet, Jackson, and M'Laws, and with the main body of the cavalry will cover the route of the army, and bring up all stragglers that may have been left behind. The commands of General Jackson, M'Laws, and Walker, after accomplishing the objects for which they have been detached, will join the

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