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494 HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
the same day, the 5th of September, that General Bragg, on a similar duty,
entered Kentucky, Lee crossed at White's Ford, five miles below, and at a
ford three miles above. His force consisted of the divisions of Generals
Jackson, Ewell, A. P. Hill, D. H. Hill and Longstreet. On the march to
the Potomac, the Confederates were everywhere greeted with loud demonstrations of joy; and when it became known that the army was destined for
Maryland, enthusiasm ran wild. Old and young, white and black, thronged
the roadsides with banners and waving handkerchiefs. Gray-haired fathers
and half frantic mothers sought sons and relatives in the various regiments
which continually passed along the hot and dusty roads. Upon entering
Leesburg the bands played, colors waved, men shouted, women wept, and all
was a scene of dust, confusion and noise. " Maryland my Maryland," " Dixie,"
the " Bonnie Blue Flag," and the " Marseillaise," were drowned in the tumult
of voices, rumble of wagons, jingling of artillery, and the heavy tramp of
infantry.
Jackson's division crossed near the Point of Rocks, broke up the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and cut off all telegraphic and other connection
from Harper's Ferry to Washington. The crossing of the Potomac was a
holiday for the Marylanders in the Confederate army. All of them were
filled with joy, and many wept with gladness when they touched the " sacred
soil of old Maryland." Old and young tossed their hats in the air with
delight, others kissed the ground, and the bands played "My Maryland,"
until the sound was oppressive. The troops were wretchedly clothed and
shod, and greatly in want of all necessaries. " Thousands of the troops " says
Lee, "were destitute of shoes." "Never," says General Jones, who commanded Jackson's old brigade, " had the army been so dirty, ragged and ill
provided for, as on this march."1
The wagons were empty, except extra ammunition; and as soon as
the troops had crossed, many of them were compelled to feed upon green
corn. Soon, however, the quartermasters and commissaries brought in from
the surrounding country supplies of provisions, which had been unknown to
the army for many months. No violence nor incivility was shown by the
Confederate agents, and all transactions were satisfactorily arranged with
Confederate scrip or Federal paper. Of the citizens of Western Maryland, a
large number favored the Federal cause, many were indifferent, and a few
warm secessionists. An eye-witness says, "The few inhabitants we met
betrayed evident pleasure at our arrival, but were extremely cautious and
circumspect in showing it. They would look on and smile as we passed, but
seemed much constrained in manner, as if feeling certain that Union men
were in their midst, quietly taking note of all actions or expressions, and
ready to divulge names at fitting opportunities. Some few young men openly
avowed their Southern feeling and joined us, but the greater number stood
1 Reports of the Army of Northern Virginia, i., p. 27; ii., p. 221.
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000525 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | 494 HISTORY OF MARYLAND. the same day, the 5th of September, that General Bragg, on a similar duty, entered Kentucky, Lee crossed at White's Ford, five miles below, and at a ford three miles above. His force consisted of the divisions of Generals Jackson, Ewell, A. P. Hill, D. H. Hill and Longstreet. On the march to the Potomac, the Confederates were everywhere greeted with loud demonstrations of joy; and when it became known that the army was destined for Maryland, enthusiasm ran wild. Old and young, white and black, thronged the roadsides with banners and waving handkerchiefs. Gray-haired fathers and half frantic mothers sought sons and relatives in the various regiments which continually passed along the hot and dusty roads. Upon entering Leesburg the bands played, colors waved, men shouted, women wept, and all was a scene of dust, confusion and noise. " Maryland my Maryland," " Dixie," the " Bonnie Blue Flag," and the " Marseillaise," were drowned in the tumult of voices, rumble of wagons, jingling of artillery, and the heavy tramp of infantry. Jackson's division crossed near the Point of Rocks, broke up the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and cut off all telegraphic and other connection from Harper's Ferry to Washington. The crossing of the Potomac was a holiday for the Marylanders in the Confederate army. All of them were filled with joy, and many wept with gladness when they touched the " sacred soil of old Maryland." Old and young tossed their hats in the air with delight, others kissed the ground, and the bands played "My Maryland," until the sound was oppressive. The troops were wretchedly clothed and shod, and greatly in want of all necessaries. " Thousands of the troops " says Lee, "were destitute of shoes." "Never," says General Jones, who commanded Jackson's old brigade, " had the army been so dirty, ragged and ill provided for, as on this march."1 The wagons were empty, except extra ammunition; and as soon as the troops had crossed, many of them were compelled to feed upon green corn. Soon, however, the quartermasters and commissaries brought in from the surrounding country supplies of provisions, which had been unknown to the army for many months. No violence nor incivility was shown by the Confederate agents, and all transactions were satisfactorily arranged with Confederate scrip or Federal paper. Of the citizens of Western Maryland, a large number favored the Federal cause, many were indifferent, and a few warm secessionists. An eye-witness says, "The few inhabitants we met betrayed evident pleasure at our arrival, but were extremely cautious and circumspect in showing it. They would look on and smile as we passed, but seemed much constrained in manner, as if feeling certain that Union men were in their midst, quietly taking note of all actions or expressions, and ready to divulge names at fitting opportunities. Some few young men openly avowed their Southern feeling and joined us, but the greater number stood 1 Reports of the Army of Northern Virginia, i., p. 27; ii., p. 221. |
