September 20, 1862 – Surrender of Harper’s Ferry

How the Disaster Occurred.

The surrender of Harper’s Ferry surprised everybody when it was announced. It was not easy to understand how it had become necessary. Col. Miles had under his command about 13,000 men, including the cavalry that escaped. He had all the artillery necessary to a successful defence of the position, including fifty pieces of field artillery, besides all the heavy guns in the various batteries on the Heights. There was no lack of ammunition or stores, and the place should have been held against double the force that was brought against it. The batteries on Maryland Heights were finely placed and very powerful. This was the key to the position, and a capable and determined officer would have held it success fully without serious difficulty.

September 18, 1862 – McClellan Gains a Glorious Victory

Our advices from Maryland are of the highest importance. They show that the rebel army it retreating from that State much more expeditiously than they came into it, and that they are not making their escape unscathed. Gen. Burnside passed through Frederick on Saturday morning, and the whole National army pushed on after the retreating enemy by every available road, and even crossed the fields. The reception of Gen. Burnside in Frederick was a perfect ovation, the people turning out with the wildest enthusiasm ; and when Gen. McClellan entered the place, the streets and sidewalks were perfectly blocked with the enthusiastic masses, including a large proportion of ladies. The firing heard on Friday was an artillery duel between Gen. Pleasanton and the rear guard of the rebels, who were so hard pushed that they were forced to fall back to Middletown, from which place they were also driven in the afternoon. On Saturday our cavalry had two affairs with the enemy, and so pushed them that they were forced to burn half a mile of their wagon trains. This, in addition to a train of a hundred ammunition and subsistence wagons, captured by Gen. Franklin, will prove quite a serious loss tor the rebels. Our troops were in fine spirits, and much elated at the cordial reception extended to them by the people of Maryland. All danger of an invasion of Pennsylvania may now be considered past, as the rebels will no doubt have enough to do to escape the death they have courted. Gov. Curtin, however, does not relax his preparations, but is determined to put the State upon a thorough war footing.

September 16, 1862 – An Officer’s Account of the Recent Battle

DEATH OF GENERAL RENO.

Washington, Sept. 15.

An officer slightly wounded in the battle yesterday, who arrived here late to-day, represented that the fight took place three or four miles from Middletown, Frederick county, at the foot of the first mountain going west. The enemy were strongly posted there, but our men, with the most determined courage, drove them up the mountain, through a strip of woods, cornfields and open ground. The rebels made occasional stands behind walls and fences, but were driven thence to the top of the mountain and over into the valley, where, it being now night, our troops were called from further pursuit. Not one of our men faltered. This part of the contest was maintained by our troops of the centre. Two colonels were among the rebel slain found on the field this morning.

September 14, 1862 – Return of the Militia Regiments to Their Homes

Cincinnati, Sept. 13, 1862

The Cincinnati reserve regiments, four in number, have just returned to the city from the front, and are marching through the streets, headed by Major General Lew Wallace and staff.

The enemy are in retreat, and all danger to this city for this war may be considered over.

The population are out in crowds to welcome home their brave defenders, and the city presents truly a holiday appearance.

September 12, 1862 – Arrival of Troops from Gen. Grant’s Army

Skirmishing With the Rebels

The Enemy Throwing Up Entrenchments.

Cincinnati, Sept. 11. —The Wallace mounted scouts made a raid in the rear of the rebel lines last night, and burned a mill used by them for grinding corn.

There has been picket skirmishing along the whole line west of the Licking River all this afternoon. We lost two men killed. The enemy’s loss is not known.

The enemy are throwing up breastworks in front of Fort Wallace to-night. They will be shelled out to-morrow.

September 11, 1862 – The War on the Potomac

A dispatch received from Greencastle, Pa., eleven miles from Hagerstown states that much excitement prevailed there last night on account of the reports of an advance of the Confederates on the last named place. They are said to be moving by way of Cavetown, seven miles east, but up to 5 P. M. there were no signs of them in the vicinity of the town.—Another dispatch from Harrisburg confirms this statement. Considerable alarm was occasioned at Harrisburg last night by the supposition that the Confederates had reached some point on the Northern Central railroad, as the operatives had detected an expression indicating that the telegraph had been tampered with. A still later dispatch states that the Confederates had not entered Hagerstown at 6 P. M. The Northern Central railroad was still unmolested at midnight. Gen. Wool has been assigned to the command of all the troops north of the Susquehanna.

September 8, 1862 – From the 5th Maine Battery—Death of Lieut. Twitchell

We are permitted to make the following extracts from a letter written by a private in the 5th Maine Battery. The letter is dated, Fort Ellsworth, Alexandria, Va., Sept. 2.

“After fighting daily and nightly, changing our position, followed up by Jackson’s immense force—our Division always bringing up the rear, under Gen. Ricktt of McDowell’s corps, we arrived near Manassas, where, last Saturday, a terrible battle took place, mostly fought upon the left where our Division was placed, and where the enemy had concentrated his strongest force. The battle raged furiously. Our Battery was ordered into a very dangerous position by McDowell in person, and the boys fought like tigers. We got between two fires, and our horses were all shot at the guns, and our men fell fast, Lieut. W. F. Twitchell was killed, also two sergeants and from 16 to 20 privates. The infantry fell back and did not sustain us. Gen. Towers was wounded severely while trying to rally them to assist us. Lieut Twitchell behaved nobly during the engagement, and A. B. Twitchell fought like a hero, cool and self possessed all the time.—Our Captain (Leppien) was sick and not in action, but he has proved himself “true blue” during the last fortnight and full of courage.

September 7, 1862 – Col. James Cantwell has Fallen

Among those killed. Col. Jas. Cantwell, of the 82nd. This will be a heavy stroke upon his devoted family, and will be much lamented by his many warm friends in this county and other portions of the State. No braver man lived; fear was no part of his composition, his heart always in the right place, and if he had a fault it was in being too self-sacrificing to his friends.