THE RETREAT TO WASHINGTON.

General Sumner and General Franklin joined General Pope at Centreville. But the army was disorganized. The defeat, the want of co-operation on the part of some of the officers of the Army of the Potomac, had a demoralizing influence.

General McClellan was at Alexandria. On the 29th, while Pope was trying to crush Jackson before the arrival of Longstreet, waiting anxiously for the appearance of Porter, who had disobeyed the order given him, the President, solicitous to hear from the army, inquired by telegram of him: "What's the news from Manassas?"

"Stragglers report," was the reply, "that the enemy are evacuating Centreville, and retiring through Thoroughfare Gap. I am clear that one of two courses should be adopted: first, to concentrate all our available force, to open communication with Pope; second, to leave Pope to get out of his scrape, and at once use all our means to make the capital safe." 1

General Pope had opened his communications unaided by General McClellan. He had moved to the Rapidan, to enable General McClellan to withdraw from the Peninsula; had held his ground till the Rebel cavalry cut the railroad at Manassas; then with great rapidity he had moved to crush Jackson, and had failed only through the deliberate disobedience of orders by General Porter.

Lee, on the second day after the battle of Groveton, made another flank movement north of Centreville, to cut off the Union army from Washington. There was a fight at Chantilly, where the brave and impetuous Kearney was killed, and the army fell back behind the intrenchments in front of Washington, and passed from the hands of General Pope into the hands of General McClellan.

It will be for the future historian to determine the measure of blame or praise upon him, the causes of disaster to the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula, and to the Army of Virginia at Manassas. A military tribunal, composed of the peers of General Porter, has pronounced its verdict him. He has been cashiered, lost his

upon

place and his good name forever.

1 Life of Stonew: 1 Jackson, p. 179.

"WE

CHAPTER XI.

INVASION OF MARYLAND.

E are going to liberate Maryland," said a Rebel officer to a friend of mine who was taken prisoner at Catlett's Station. Throughout the South it was believed that the people of Maryland were down-trodden and oppressed, that the soldiers of President Lincoln prevented them from expressing their sympathy with the Rebellion. In every Southern home and in the Rebel army, there was one song more popular than all others, entitled "Maryland."

"The despot's heel is on thy shore,

Maryland!

His touch is at thy temple door,

Maryland !

Avenge the patriotic gore

That flecked the streets of Baltimore,

And be the battle queen of yore,

Maryland! My Maryland!

Dear mother! burst the tyrant's chain,

Maryland !

Virginia should not call in vain,

Maryland !

She meets her sisters on the plain;
Sic semper! 'tis the fond refrain
That baffles millions back amain,
Maryland! My Maryland !

General Lee had no intention of attacking Washington. It was his plan to raise the standard of revolt in Maryland, bring about a second uprising of the people of Baltimore, and transfer the war to the North. He issued strict orders that all private property in Maryland should be respected, that every thing should be paid for.

On the 5th of September, he crossed the Potomac at Noland's Ford, near Point of Rocks. Jackson led the column. When he reached the middle of the stream he halted his men, pulled off his cap, while the bands struck up "My Maryland," which was sung by the whole army with great enthusiasm.'

Lee moved towards Frederick, a quiet old town, between the mountains and the Monocacy. It was the harvest season. The orchards were loaded with fruit; the barns were filled with hay, the granaries with wheat; and there were thousands of acres of corn rustling in the autumn winds.

At ten o'clock on the morning of the 6th, General Stuart's cavalry entered the city. There were some Marylanders in the Rebel army, who were warmly welcomed by their friends. A few ladies waved their handkerchiefs, but the majority of the people of the city had made up their minds to stand by the old flag, and manifested no demonstrations of joy. Many of them, however, took down the stars and stripes, when they saw the Rebels advancing; but over one house it waved proudly in the morning breeze, as General Jackson rode into town. His soldiers dashed forward to tear it down.

What followed has been beautifully told by Whittier.

Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 197.

BARBARA FRIETCHIE.

"Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Cléar in the cool September morn,
The clustered spires of Frederick stand,
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.
Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach-tree fruited deep,
Fair as the garden of the Lord

To the eyes of the famished Rebel horde,
On that pleasant morn of the early fall,
When Lee marched over the mountain-wall,
Over the mountain winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.
Forty flags with their silver stars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,
Flapped in the morning wind: the sun
Of noon looked down and saw not one.
Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;
Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men hauled down;
In her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet.
Up the street came the Rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.
Under his slouched hat left and right

He glanced, the Old Flag met his sight.
'Halt!' the dust-brown ranks stood fast.
'Fire!' out blazed the rifle blast.

It shivered the window, pane and sash,
It rent the banner with seam and gash.
Quick as it fell from the broken staff,
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf.
She leaned far out on the window-sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will.
'Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country's flag,' she said.
A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came.
The nobler nature within him stirred

To life, at that woman's deed and word.
'Who touches a hair of yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on!' he said.
All day long through Frederick street
Sounded the tread of marching feet.
All day long that free flag tost
Over the heads of the Rebel host.
Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well,
And through the hill-gap sunset light
Shone over it with a warm good-night.
Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er;

And the Rebel rides on his raids no more.

Honor to her! And let a tear

Fall for her sake on Stonewall's bier.

Over Barbara Frietchie's grave,

Flag of freedom and union, wave!
Peace, and order, and beauty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law.
And ever the stars above look down

On thy stars below in Frederick town."

General Lee had a plan to execute, other than the liberation of Maryland, the invasion of Pennsylvania.

"We treat the people of Maryland well, for they are our brothers, but we intend to make the North howl," one of the officers said.

"Lee will cut his way to Philadelphia, and dictate terms of peace in Independence Square. Square. He will stand with torch in hand, and demand Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri, and peace, or he will lay that city in ashes," said another.

But before he could venture on an invasion of Pennsylvania he must have an open communication with Richmond. There were eleven thousand men under Colonel Miles at Harper's Ferry, who were strongly fortified. It would not do to leave them in his rear. If that place were captured he could move north.

The geographical features of the country were favorable to the execution of his plans.

Ten miles west of Frederick the South Mountain rises above the