Posted on 09/15/2022 4:49:40 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
WASHINGTON, Sunday, Sept. 14 -- 10 P.M.
A gentleman who left Poolesville at 10 o'clock this morning says that heavy firing was heard there from daylight till the time he left, from the direction of Harper's Ferry.
Our latest accounts, through private channels, from Maryland, represent the rebels in retreat westward, and our troops in rapid pursuit.
It is believed that a conflict has taken place at Harper's Ferry, and that a rebel force has been ordered to that point from the South.
Our forces entered Frederick on Friday afternoon, between 4 and 5 o'clock, encountering the rebel cavalry under FITS-HUGH LEO, about three miles from the city, and attacking them with such impetuosity that they at once broke and fled. They attempted in vain to rally in the town.
About 450 of their sick and wounded was left behind.
Their horses are described as being, mere skeletons. The streets was strewn with old shoes and clothes, which the rebels had cast off and left.
The office of the Union paper, the Examiner, was partially destroyed.
The reception of our troops was most enthusiastic Ladies wore the National colors, and children were decked with maratime Union flags.
It appears that the rebels did not receive much encouragement there, and were somewhat disappointed, after having been invited over, and assured that the whole State would hail them as deliverers. LEE's proclamation had but little effect, and the whole number of recruits furnished by Frederick County was only about 70. Full one-half the rebel troops there are said to have been foreigners.
A speech was made in town by HOWELL COBB, who was very drunk and stupid.
Our forces are in fine spirits.
WASHINGTON, Sunday, Sept. 14 -- Midnight.
That the fight has been progressing in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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Highly Important: Fighting for the Last Three Days in Maryland – 2-3
Fighting in Western Virginia: Sudden Appearance of a Heavy Force of Rebels Near Gauley – 3-4
Important from Cincinnati: The Rebel Army Retreating in Confusion – 4
The War in Kansas: The Sacking of Olathe – 4
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 4
Editorial: The President and the Country – 4-5
Editorial: The Rebel Retreat from Maryland – 5-6
The Rebel Opinion of Union Generals – 6
Editorial: Light in the West! – 6
Union Triumphs in North Carolina – 6
Confederate “Autonomy” versus Confederate Scrip – 6-7
A Strange and Unaccountable Delay – 7
Amusements – 7
As the saying goes…”They ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”
Almost time for McClellan’s last shining ignominious moment.
If he were alive today he would be running the FBI.
This is the prequel to Antietam / Sharpsburg where McClellan turns back Lee’s 1st invasion of the North. Of course saying that Maryland was Union stretches the facts somewhat strongly as the state remained a slaveholding plantation society. Also in this month, there was the battle of Harpers Ferry where Stonewall Jackson convincingly defeated the Union defenders.
Still, in combined casualties, this 17 September 1862, remains the single bloodiest day in USofA history, with a tally of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing. While the Union had the larger death toll of 12k (vs CSA of 10k), it retained the battlefield and forced Lee to retreat back over the route he had already gleaned.
It would be just 9 months before Lee tries again through the Shenandoah Valley that gets him a mere 20 miles further north of Antietam to Gettysburg PA, where the CSA loses the big gamble.
Virginia Engagements. 1861 - 1862 to date
| Date | Engagement | Military Units | Losses | Victor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18-19 | Sewell's Point, VA | Union naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery | 10 total | inconclusive |
| May 29- June 1 | Aquila Creek, VA | Union naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery | 10 total | inconclusive |
| June 1 | Fairfax Court House, VA | detachments from CSA & USA armies | 8 on each side, 1 each killed | inconclusive |
| June 1 | Arlington Mills, VA | detachments from USA ( ~200 McDowell) & CSA (~9 Bonham) armies | Union 2-total (1 killed); CSA 1 wounded | inconclusive |
| June 10 | Big Bethel, VA | Union (Butler) -3,500, CSA (Magruder) -1,400 | Union 71-total (18-killed); CSA: 10-total (1-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| June 15 | Hooe's Ferry (near Mathias Point) VA | Union schooner Christina Keen; CSA Farmer's Fork Grays | none -- Christina Keen captured and burned | CSA |
| June 17 | Vienna, VA | Detachments from both Union & CSA armies | Union: 12-total (8 killed); CSA: none reported | CSA |
| June 27 | Matthias' Point, VA | Union gunboats ~50 vs. Confed garrison ~500 | Union: 1-killed, 4-wounded; CSA none | CSA |
| July 18 | Blackburn's Ford, VA (pre-Manassas) | Union Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Richardson) -3,000 vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -5,100 | Union: 83-total; CSA 70-total | CSA |
| July 21 | Bull Run/Manassas, VA | Union Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Patterson) -54,000 (18,000 engaged) vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -34,000 (18,000 engaged) | Union: 2,708-total (481-killed); CSA 1,897-total (387-killed) | CSA |
| Aug 7 | CSA burned Hampton, VA | Union (Butler) vs. Confederate Cavalry (Magruder) | Union unknown; Confederates unknown | CSA |
| Aug 8 | skirmish at Lovettsville, VA | Union vs. Confederate | Union unknown; Confederates 6-total | USA |
| Aug 25 | Mason's Hill, VA | Union (Lowe's observation balloon) vs. Confederate Army NVA (Longstreet, Stuart) | Union unknown; Confederates unknown | USA |
| Aug 31 | Munson's Hill, VA | Union Army of the Potomac vs. Confederate Dept of Northern VA | Union 5-total; Confederates unknown | USA |
| Sep 3 | Bailey's Cross Roads, VA | Union & Confederat detachments | Union 8-total; Confederates none | CSA |
| Sep 11 | Lewinsville, VA (McLean, Fairfax County) | Union 79th NY Highlanders (Stephens ~1,800) & Confederate 1st & 13th VA (JEB Stuart ~400) | Union 12-total (3-killed); Confederates none | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| Oct 21 | Ball's Bluff, VA | Union MA, NY, MI, MN & CA Infantry, RI Artillery (Stone -1,720) & Confederate VA & MS Infantry, VA cavalry & artillery (Evans -1,709) | Union 1,002-total, including Lt. Oliver Wendell Holmes (223-killed including US Senator Edward Baker R-OR)), Confederates 155-total (36-killed) | CSA |
| Nov 26 | Skirmish at Hunter's Mills, VA | Union 3rd PA Cavalry (Bell ~94) & Confederate 1st NC Cavalry (Ransome ~120) | Union 33-total (1-killed), Confederates unknown 0? | CSA |
| Dec 20 | Drainsville, VA | Union Pennsylvania Volunteers (Ord ~5,000) & Confederate VA, KY & NC Volunteers (Stuart ~4,000) | Union 71-total (?-killed), Confederates 230-total (?-killed) | USA (1st larger Union victory in VA) |
| Jan 3, 1862 | Cockpit Point, VA | Union gun boats (Wyman ) & Confederate shore battery (French ~50) | none | Inconclusive |
| Mar 8-9 | Hampton Roads, VA | Union Navy (Marsten, Worden, USS Monitor +11 ships) & Confederate Navy (Buchanan, Jones CSS Virginia +5 ships) | Union 369 total (261 killed, 7 ships sunk), Confederate 24 total (7- killed) | Inconclusive (Strategic USA) |
| Mar 23 | Kernstown, VA | Union Army of Potomac V Corps (Kimball ~9,000) & Confederate Stonewall Division (Jackson ~4,200) | Union 590 total (118-killed), Confederate 718 total (80- killed) | USA tactical, CSA strategoc |
| April 5 - May 4 | Yorktown, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~103,000) & Confederate Army (Magruder, JE Johnson ~72,000) | Union 182-total (unkn-killed), Confederate 300-total (unkn killed) | Inconclusive, Confederates retreated |
| May 5 | Williamsburg, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~41,000), Confederate Army of Northern VA (JE Johnston, Longstreet ~32,000) | Union 2,283-total (~342-KIA), Confederates 1,682-total (~252 kia) | Inconclusive (Confederates withdrew) |
| May 7 | Eltham's Landing, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (Franklin ~11,300), Confederate Army of Northern VA (GW Smith ~11,000) | Union 194-total (~29 killed), Confederates 48-total (~7-killed) | Inconclusive (Confederates withdrew) |
| May 8 | McDowell, VA | Union OH & WVA infantry (Milroy, Schenck ~6,500), Confederate Virginia Infantry (Stonewall Jackson, E Johnson ~9,000) | Union 259-total (~28 killed), Confederates 532-total (~146-killed) | CSA |
| May 15 | Fort Darling, VA | Union VA River Squadron (Rogers 5-river warships), Confederate fort (Farrand, Mahone -fort artillery) | Union 27-total (14-killed), Confederates 15-total (7-killed) | CSA |
| May 23 | Front Royal, VA | Union Dept of Shenandoah (Kenly ~1,063), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~3,0000) | Union 773-total (83-killed), Confederates 36-total (unkwn-killed) | CSA |
| May 25 | Winchester, VA | Union Dept of Shenandoah (Banks ~6,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~16,0000) | Union 2,019-total (62-killed), Confederates 397-total (68-killed) | CSA |
| May 27 | Hanover Court House, VA | Union V-Corps (Porter ~12,000), Confederate NC Infantry (Branch ~4,0000) | Union 397-total (62-killed), Confederates 930-total (70-killed) | USA |
| May 31 - June 1 | Seven Pines / Fair Oaks, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~34,000), Confederate Army of Northern VA (JE Johnston ~39,000) | Union 5,431-total (790-killed), Confederates 6,134-total (980-killed) | Inconclusive (both sides claimed victory) |
| June 6 | Good's Farm, Harrisonburg, VA | Union PA Inf, NJ Cav, Confederate Steuart's VA Inf (Ashby+) | Unknown | CSA |
| June 8 | Cross Keys, VA | Union Mountain Dept, (Fremont ~11,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Ewell ~5,800) | Union 684-total (114-killed), Confederates 287-total (42-killed) | CSA |
| June 9 | Port Republic, VA | Union Dept of Rappahonnock (Tyler ~3,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~6,000) | Union 1,002-total (150?-killed), Confederates 816-total (122?-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| June 25 - Jul 1 | Seven Days, near Richmond, VA | Union Army of Potomac (McClellan ~115,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Lee ~92,000) | Union ~18,000-total (2,100-killed), Confederates ~19,000-total, (~3,200-killed) | CSA |
| July 3 | Evelington Heights, VA | Union Army of Potomac, Confederate Army of N VA -- monor skirmish | no casualties reported | USA |
| Aug 9 | Cedar Mountain, VA | Union Army of VA (Banks -8,030, Confederate Army of NVA ("Stonewall" Jackson -16,868) | Union 2,353-total (314-killed), Confederates ~1,338-total (231-killed) | CSA |
| Aug 23-25 | Rappahannock Station, VA | Union Army of VA brigades (Pope), Confederate Army of N. VA brigades (Longstreet) | Union ~180-total, Confederates ~90-total | Inconclusive or CSA Victory? |
| Aug 26-27 | Manassas Station, VA | Union Army of VA (Taylor-killed, Pope), Confederate Army of N. VA (Stonewall Jackson, Ewell) | Union ~450-total, Confederates ~173-total | CSA |
| Aug 28 | Thoroughfare Gap, VA | Union Army of VA, (Ricketts -5,000), Confederate Army of N. VA (Longstreet -28,000) | Union ~50-total, Confederates ~50-total | CSA |
| Aug 28-30 | 2nd Bull Run, Manassas, VA | Union Army of VA, (Pope ~62,000), Confederate Army of N. VA (Lee -51,000) | Union ~14,462-total (1,747-killed), Confederates ~7,298-total (1,096-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| Sep 1 | Chantilly, VA | Union Army of the Potomac, (Kearny+, Stevens+ ~6,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Stonewall Jackson, JEB Stuart -20,000) | Union 1300-total (195-killed?), Confederates 800 total (120=killed?) | CSA |
| Sep 12-15 | Harper's Ferry, VA | Union Army of the Potomac (Miles+, White ~14,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Stonewall Jackson, AP Hill ~25,000) | Union 12,636-total (44-killed), Confederates 286-total (39-killed) | CSA (fort held) |
This was the 143rd engagement, with 63 Confederate victories versus 60 Union victories bringing, by my count, total casualties to over 193,000 including 22,000 killed in action.
Summary of Civil War Engagements as of September 15, 1862:
Engagements in Confederate states:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Virginia | 7 | 25 | 11 | 43 |
| North Carolina | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Florida | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Tennessee | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| Arkansas | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Georgia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Total Engagements in CSA | 29 | 33 | 14 | 76 |
Engagements in Union states/territories:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| West Virginia | 9 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| Missouri | 12 | 12 | 1 | 24 |
| New Mexico | 5 | 8 | 0 | 13 |
| Kentucky | 4 | 5 | 2 | 11 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total Engagements in Union | 31 | 30 | 6 | 67 |
| Total Engagements to date | 60 | 63 | 20 | 143 |
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