Newspaper Page Text
2
mean time preseed forward, passed
Frederick, and had approach
ed quite near to Boonsboro ; (13) the
pass through the South Mountain near
this place, being in his possession, he
could liave moved through Pleasant
Valley, and taken McLaws in rear,
might, and probably would have re
lieved Harper’s Ferry.
D. 11. Hill was ordered to occapy
and hold this pass, and Longstreet
was counter inarched from Hagerstown
to support him, if necessary.
Hill on the 13th sent two of his
brigades to occupy the pass, but soon as
• certaining the strength of the enemy,
the remainder of his division was or
dered up. McClellan, early on the
morning of the 14th, endeavored to
attack and dislodge Hill. The strag
gle continued five hours, Hill alone
repelling his repeated assaults. Long
street made a long and rapid inarch,
reached Hill between throe or four
p. ml, leaving one brigade at Hagers
town. His troops went into action at
once, the fight continued till he and
Hill were then withdrawn and moved
to Sharpsburg. This resistance at
Boonsboro, or South Mountain, gave
time for Jackson to capture Harper's
Ferry.
Referring to the capture of this
place, Mr. Guernsey says: “Gen. Lee,
to keep open his communications,
thought it necessary to gain Harper’s
Ferry, and in this he committed a
grave error, for a more worthless place,
in a military point of view, does not
exist, and he could not reasonably
hope to capture the force there."
Few military men will be found con
curing in this opinion of the writer.
Gen. Lee was right to take it; it
weakened the enemy, and gave him
artillery and muskets that were so
much nefcded; it was not “worthless"
in a military point of view to the
Federnls, though the Confederates re
garded it of little value to them, and
never attempted to hold it, after the
war had actually begun. Gen. Lee
did capture the Ferry, though the
writer thought he could not “reaso
nably hope to do so ;" It would have
Jaym impossible fortheFwrison left,* to
fulTy, or to have gotten aWfy. The
writer attributes the loss of it “to the
stupidity, beyond all example, on the
part of the commander pretty harsh
language, and not applicable in this
case. The responsibility for this Har
per’s Ferry disaster, should rest on
some other party, “the cavalry escap
ed, and so could the infantry, but
for the pusilanimity of Miles, their
commander”
A small body of cavalry making
their escape, is quite different from that
of a large body of infantry, and the
charge of cowardice against the com
manding officer who lost his life in de
fending the place, and whose reputa
tion for courage had been established
years before, in leading successful as
saults upon the fortified heights of
Monterey, Mexico, is, to say the
least of it, in bad taste, and ungener
ous.
Referring to the South Mountain
(or Boonsboro) fight, the article states
that, “the passes here were forced at
two points, which cost Lee .2000 men ”
Ihere seems to be a difference of
opinion as to this; General Lee in his
report, uses the following language :
“The effort to force the passage of the
mountain had failed,” but “the su
perior numbers of the enemy would
enable him to turu either flank, and
this would have led to a change of
position. °
There were other reasons also, for
tins change of position. The Federals
‘were reported to have forced their
way through Cranipton’s Gap, five
miles in rear of McLaws; at Sharps
burg the Confederates would be on
the flank of this column, if it moved
against McLaws’, and besides, at this
P ol j l t JV tiould be more readily joined
SHARTSBUKG.
♦l tUI 8 a “• the I,ex t day
r a M .°i U £ an a Pl )eared on the west
ot south Mountain, and about 2 p m
confronted Gen. Lee at Sharpsburg
A slight artillery fire on Seaside
occurred during the afternoon. The
writer, however, says that “McClellan
spent the afternoon of the 15th and all
of the 16th idly.”
Jackson, with two of his divisions
arrived early on the 16th, Walker (two
BANNER OF THE SOUTH AND PLANTERS’ JOURNAL.
brigades) late m the afternoon.
On the 16th, notwithstanding the
Writer’s assertion to the contrary, there
was an artillery fire all day, and at
times very active. The Federals
crossed the Antietain beyond the Con
federate left, which led the latter to
transfer two brigades, from their right,
over to the left; and soon Jackson
was ordered to the extreme left ;
Longstreet being on the right and
Walker on his right. Late in the af
ternoon the artillery fire quickened,
and increased in volume. Under cover
of this fire, McClellan made an attack
on the Confederate left, and was re
pulsed. This attack was made on
Hood, who was relieved, at 10 o’clock
p. m., by Lawton’s and Trimble’s
brigades, Ewell’s division.
McLaws was delayed by having to
cross the Potomac into Virginia, and
then to recross it back into Mainland ;
the position of the enemy made this
necessary.
‘ McLaws, in the early dawn of the
17th, had come up with such of his
forces as could march, so that, when
the battle began, Lee had 38,000 in
fantry. Here are two inaccuracies,
one as to the time of McLaws’ ar
rival, and the other as to the strength
of Gen. Lee’s infantry ; the latter was
never at any time during tho battle
over 33,000, and McLaws did not reach
tho field till the battle had been going
on for some hours.
At early dawn on the 17th the
Federals opened fire from numerous
batteries on cither side of the Antie
tam, under cover ot this fire, attacked
tiie Confederate left with greatly su
perior numbers; the latter wan made
to recoil after a determined and ob
stinate resistance, and with the loss of
several general officers, killed and
wounded. Being reinforced, they re
gained the ground lost, and under a
heavy fire of the enemy’s artillery,
drove their infantry back.
The Federals were a second time re
inforced, and drove their enemy back ;
and now it was, that McLaws came
up, and he and Walker, who had been
ordered from th 6 right, drove the
,EfderaLi > Wl& sud with serious Joss,
when the battle began. The Federals
now directed their attack against the
Confederate centre. and were repulsed
with*slaughter, and then holding back
the infantry, and using artillery for
several hours, they threw forward the
former, and in greatly superior num
bers to the Confederates, and after an
hour and a half of the fiercest fighting,
and with the same scenes of successes
and reverses, finally ended by the Con
federates holding their ground, and
here, also, with the loss of general
officers killed and wounded.
While these prolonged and bloody
attempts were being directed against
the left and centre, repeated efforts
had beefl made to force a passage of
the Antietam below the Confederate
right; those were successfully resisted
by Gen. Toombs till 4 p. m.; lie was
then forced back and the Federals
rained a summit in his rear, held by
D. It. Jones, the latter having been
compelled to yield ground. A. P.
Hill arrived at this critical juncture.
Jones was reinforced and the enemy
driven back, and rapidly, to the Antie
tain, under cover of their artillery,
and a large reserve near, and in full
view ; on the right also did the Con
federates lose general officers.
Hill’s success was not pressed, ow
ing to the fatigue and exhaustion of
his troops, they having made the
march from Harper’s Ferry (seventeen
miles) since daylight. With this re
pulse of the Federals by the Con
federate right terminated the battle of
Sharpsburg, claimed in the North, but
without reason, as a Federal victory.
This battle is regarded by many as
being the most creditable to the Con
federates of any fought during the
war; and when their inferior uum
here, avms and equipments, and the
fatigue and exhaustion under which >t
was fought are considered, it must be
regarded as most remarkable.
McClellan is found fault with by the
writer for his manner of attack, “in
driblets,” “as Sumner said.” But the
meaning of the writer is not very
clear. He says McClellan’s assaults
"were desultory;” while ail accounts
characterize them as obstinate, and en
tailing upon him heavy losses; and
they were mainly “upon Lee’s left and
centre, who, by withdrawing every
man possible from his right, was able
to oppose about equal numbers.” This
was very far from being the case. He
was always greatly outnumbered, let
him concentrate as rapidly as he
might. “At last Burnside, with 14,-
000 men, was ordered to attack Lee’s
right, wliich had been so weakened as
to leave barely 25,000 men !” “for he
had withdrawn from the right to
strengthen the left and ceutre.
Gen. Lee at Sharpsburg never had
at any one time 25,000 men on either
flank, or in his centre, and it seems al
most impossible to believe that the
writer estimating Gen. Lee’s forces at
38,000, as he dia really thought so; it
is even less to be believed that Bum
side, with 14,000, should have been
ordered to attack 25,000 Confederates.
“This attack (Burnside’s) was delayed
some time, when he advanced
and swept the weak (2o,000) enemy be
fore him, and had, gained a point which
enfiladed the “Confederate position.”
“Tho battle on the left and centre had
died away, but at this moment, A.
I*. Hill, with 4000 men, came ‘hot foot’
from Harpers Ferry, and with but
half of them, struck Burnside, and fairly
drove him in the gathering darkness
across the creek.” Thus Hill, accord
to the writer, drove Burnside back
with his 14,000 men, he Hill using but
2000 of his 4000.
The Confederates remained all the
following day (18th,) in front of Mc-
Clellan’s army, and although greatly
inferior in numbers, expected to be at
tacked, and rather desired it But the
contest was not renewed, and Gen.
Lee, after dark withdrew his army and
recrossed the Potomac into Virginia.
A few days after a Federal force
followed, crossed the river at the same
placed (Shepherdstown,) and being
promptly met by the Confederates,
were driven back pell me 11 over the
river into Maryland, and with con
siderable loss, j •
The writer niiakes no allusion to this
fight, which iaay be regarded, and
properly so, ass the end of the inva
sion of the North, as it was called.
There seems to re some doubt as to
Gen. Lee’s alas a military com
mander, for s o time lie seems to
think, to use own language, that
“too high p cannot be awarded
him for the lity he displayed at
Antietaui," a gam we find that he
has express* limself as follows:
“His operatic , Maryland, at Chan
cellorsville, < gave no indication
of great inili capacity.”
c. m. w.
ENG LI: EMIGRATION.
We call attei i to the notice of Judge
DuPont, pulilis i in our advertising col
uuiks, looking tthe inauguration of a
scheme for tho Induction of Englieh la
borers and scrvfji into the State. It is well
known the Swemkiom are usually closed
by ice, after tllirst of December, and
therefore the sup# from that quarter for
(ho present year,: st end with the arrival
of those hereto mi irdered. Our indefati
gable General ntendent, anticipating
this very contiric-i r, and unwilling that
any time shonhfV ist in the prosecution
of this great en|e| ,e, early after his ap
pointment, entw! to correspondence with
parties in Engl# tho have given him as
surance that # Maount of demand for
farm laborers an tomestic servants will be
promptly supplfc All that is necossary to
add another trjbfry to the great stream
of immigration^cadi we hope soon to see
flowing lowanflail section of the South,
is, that the peofc, one and all, according
to their should giva a ear
dial support aufcnfouragement to the un
tiring efforts fe Urn, who from the first.
has plied alonelie laboring oar.
In thus ad gating the introduction of
English labon ~ we could not, by any
means, have it iderstood that we have lost
faith in the effi ency of the Swede. On the
contrary, we I e say, that so far as we
liave been inf< ued (and our inquiries on
the subject ha been special and extern
sive) those no employed in this county
have given gei ial satisfaction to their em
ployers, and w confidently hope that an
other year wil witness their introduction
by the thousaifi, instead of by twenties
and thirties, We like the
policy of drawifi our supplies from differ
ent tending to prevent iso
lation, and favoiig a more ready assimi-
lation with the (tree population.
Just here, worould give a word of cau
tion to the scnsfte portion of the colored
population. Thee are not wanting those
who, for sinistetpurposes, are endeavoring
to impress the muls of the colored people
with the idea tl|i this immigration scheme
is prompted by idesire to crowd them out
of the country Nothing can be more
false, for there It not a sensible white man
in the county b| knows and acknowledges
that the great wfct of this country is an
increase in its I boring population. There
is not one, whose opinion is entitled to any
consideration, but would regret to witness
the departure of a single honest and in
dustrious laborer, be he white or colored.—
All such reports are wickedly false.
We recommend to the papers published
in adjacent sections, and especially to our
State paper*, to call attention to this very
important enterprise. Judge DuPont is
devoting his entire time and energies to the
prosecution of the work, “ the right man
m the right place,” and from conversa
tions which we have have had with him,
we know he takes a very comprehensive
view of the subject. If he is only sustain
ed by the people, the next year will witness
a very large accession to the population of
the country. —Quincy {Fla.) Journal.
Pkppec fob Poultry.— Some keepers say
that cayenne pepper should be mixed with
the food of fowls to promote laying, while
others assert that it is too artificial a stimu
lant, and keeps the birds in as bad a condi
tion as “medicine-fed" persons are. Let us
inquire whether it is as unnatural as might
appear. Wild gallinaceous birds of all spe
cies season their diet plentifully with pun
gent aromatic herbs and buds. The fine
flavor of the partridge's flesh is owing to its
highly-spiced forest fare, such as win.
tergreen and chetlcerberries. So with other
kinds of game. Domesticated birds have
lost their peculiar game flavor, because their
diet is comparatively flat and insipid, though
nutritious, Andulion, studying the habits
of the wild turkey, tells how the mother
bird plucks the buds of the spice-bush and
gives them to her young. We have for a
number of years given pepper or something
of the kind, mixed in small quantities with
the toft food of chickens and grown fowls,
Summer and Winter, believing that it makes
the diet not unnatural, but more natural;
and that health as well as laying is promoted
by it. African cayenne is the cheapest
condiment; but ground mustard and ginger
may be occasionally substituted, for variety,
and part of the time no seasoning should
be used. Boiling water should be turned
upon pepper before using, go as to make it
less concentrared, the pepper tea, sediment
and all, being stirred into the meal, a heap
ing teaspoonful of the dry pepper to a
peck. A little salt should be added. To be
sure it is said that salt is poisonous to hens,
beeause they are sometimes killed by eating
a great deal of it. But a considerable quan
tity of salt exists in the tones of all animals.
It is agreed that it promotes ths thrift of
cattle, sheep, and swine; and for birdß it is
proved to be especially necessary for pi
geons, a tribe living on very similar food to
that needed by fowls. But we would give
sparingly, salting the dough rather less than
most persons do their own food.
Charcoal is sometimes eaten by fowls with
great avidity. It should always be kept by
them, pounded to the size of kernels of
giajg. for the varying need of jtnjiaals 'ii
rect their appetite, and tbcreforeravhat thfy'
crave will to good for them. As all birds
that live principally upon the ground swal
low much earth with their food, it probably
aids digestion; and some recommend that
the chicken dough Bhould be thrown upon
the ground. If upon a fresh spot of earth,
we nave no objection; bat tilthy, tainted
soil cannot improve it. There is a common
tradition expressed in the saying, “Hens
won't do well unless they can get at the
groundand and we know that cattle, after
being stabled all Winter, sometimes eat
fresh earth greedily, and a sod is given each
fattening calf to lick for the improvement
of their appetite. When the ground is
frozen, it is our custom to add a trifle of clean
loam of subsoil to the soft feed of fowls.
They will pick out mnch earthy matter from
a pile of coal ashes. —Hearth and Home.
Good Tastk is Drkss.—lt is mistaken
economy to furbish up a faded article be
cause it was once expensive, for the poor
remnant of the past will always tell its own
story. A neat, pretty calico or lawn, taste
fully made, is far more becoming than
tarnished finery, soiled silks, or rusty al
pacas. Where but few additions to a ward
robe can be made, they should be selected
always to harmonize with the purse first,
then the form, complexion, and whatever
else is left of the year before, that striking
contrasts may be avoided.
A French woman, however poor, has
always the appearance of freshness and
novelty. If she needs new toots and
can have but one pair, although her in
olinations points to drab or bronze boots,
she chooses black' as for economy and
taste combined her best dress is probably
black. She needs new* gloves, or a parasol,
or bonnet ribbon ; before purchasing, she
looks over her boxes, and finds, perhaps,
that her best neck-tie is pink; she cannot
wear pink gloves nor carry a pink parasol;
therefore, she wisely decides upon roses
for her bonnet, and drab ribbon, drab gloves,
and drab parasol, perhaps brightened with
a pink lining, the roses and neck-tie freshen
admirably the otherwise sombre attire,
which is in excellent taste,
A young lady may think herself very*
fashionably dressed in green gloves, blue
bonnet, and scarlet flowers, "and purple
dress, because each article in itself was
costly and well made ; but instead of be
ing fashionable it would to inexcessively
bad taste, as however we may admire the
rainbows of the sky, they are tawdry on
the street. American women of fashion
and wealth are beginning to display great
tastes in costumes , by dressing in uniform
colors, and this requires a great outlay of
money, each suit having" corresponding
gloves, bonnet, parasol, etc., furnished by
the dressmakers. But with goods so cheap
as to lie really bargains, and fashion maga
zines filled with patterns and good advice,
every facility is given to those upon whom
fortune has failed to smile, in the way of
making pretty, tasteful and inexpensive
toilets.— N. T. Tribune-.
CRAMMING.
How IT Works in Some Places—Vert
Satisfactory Results, as Shown by
; the Labors of a Board of Examiners.
As affording some light to the people who
are interested in the grammar question, and
amusement to all. we extract from the San
Francisco Bulletin the following synopsis
of a report of the Board of Education of
that city :
The truth crops out occasionally in the
replies. Although it is an unpleasant pic
ture for the contemplation of those who
have youth to educate, it may have the ef
fect of awakening thought upon this most
important subject:
The written examinations of pupils re
vealed some curious evidences of imperfect
teaching. We select a few at random, as
illustrative of the rest, and which will show
the. beauties of that system of cramming
which makes the pupil's mind a perfect kaT
eidoscope. All the‘questions and answers
were in writing.
Question to first grade—m geography (to
pupils who have studied geography five
years)—Name the six largest cities in Cali
fornia?
Answer—San Quentin, Salt Lake City,
Contra Costa, Redwood City, Bodega, San
Warcine, Sanoja, Oregon, Vera Cruz, Hum
bolt.
To one question as to the name and loca
tion of the largest cities in the Union, it was
answered • San Francisco, in Marion coun
ty, Chicago, Olympia, New York, in Illi
nois.
To the question what are the most strik
ing features in Sonth America? such an
swers as these were given: Climate, ani.nals,
people; very hot; hunting, mining ; and
wild cattle ; earthquakes ; resembles a leg
of mutton (referring to the outlines of the
continent); warm climate and panthers.
Question—Name four principal cities of
Great Britain. They were named Dublin,
Cork, Tipperary, Wales, Belfast, Ottowa.
Physical characteristics and peculiar ani
mals of Africa. They were given : Very
hot; warm climate ; negroes; pyramids of
Egypt; wolves and bears.
Hie results indicate too much text book
and too little judicious teaching.
One pupil submitted a historical paper
written in a very fine hand, but which re
cords the following: “California was set
tled about 1827 or 1830 in Lower California,
by a number of people who, hearing there
was gold there, hastened, etc.” “The lead
ing event of Lincoln’s administration was
his assassination, which took place on the
14th of February, 1866."
‘•Washington commanded the army of the
Potomac.”
“New Orleans is noted for negro slavery;
Virginia was settled by the retoliion (correct
in a measure), Rhode Island by Quakers,
Sii.s.la.ptapJ \yflryjU~s—
eigners, Louisiana by whites, FTdHda byTia
tives. During the revolution people were
starving, hanged and persecuted ; now we
are free ; no more negro slavery, and the
lands they claimed are settled.”
To the question ; What was the Alabama,
and what is meant by the Alabama claims ?
pupils gave such answers as the following :
“It was a war vessel sunk by the Monitor.
It is a claim opposing the tariff act. Claims
the Alabama wanted. A vessel which be
longed to the United States, but which Eng
land claimed. I don’t know the relation
between the ram and the claims. A ship
fitted out by England to go against the reb
els. Alabama was a land belonging to the
Confederates. She was the first iron clad,
and run the blockade off Charleston. The
Alabama claims were established by the
British to cut off the communication of the
Americans. The Alabama was an English
vessel, which would stop any American ves
sel and take off men of British birth. The
two countries had a war about it, known as
the war of 1812.” Another declares that
all the productions of the Confederate States
are given to the government. Another that
the XVth Amendment allows women to
vote. Another says California was settled
by Sam Brannan with a party of Russians.
Another that Napoleon landed at St. Augus
tine, and that California was settled there.
New Orleans noted for a battle fought there
during the Mexican war. Jefferson was a
great general. Alexander Hamilton was
sent to quell the Algerines, and was a naval
commander. Another states that in the
times of the revolution “houses were built
of the adobe style, and there was much
confusion on account of the surrender of
Cornwallis.”
The Virtue of the Sunflower.—Mr.
Martin, in a papea presented by him to the
Societe Therapeutique de France, affirms
that the common sunflower, extensively cul
tivated, has the effect of neutralizing the
unwholesome vapors which are so fatal to
health and life in marshy districts. The
Dutch, who live only by diking and drain
ing their low lands, and are therefore good
authority, pronounce sunflower culture a
specific for intermittent fever, the scourge
of Holland. They assert that it has disap
peared from every district where the experi
ment has been tried. It is not yet known
whether this is the result of its rapid growth
producing oxygen, or whether it emits ozone
and destroys those germs, animal and vege
table, which produce that miasma which
brings fever in its train. —Medical Record.
When is the most dangerous time to visit
in the country ? When the trees are shoot
ing and the bull-rushes out.
Richmond has a society called “The
Daughters of the Golden Candlestick.”
They are probably snuffers.