Summary:
Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin reports to President Lincoln on details of
the September, 1862, Antietam campaign. He mentions organizing militia at
Chambersburg to help meet Lee's advance.
The PRESIDENT:
HARRISBURG, PA.,
September 16, 1862
Capt. Palmer telegraphs me from Hagerstown as follows:
I rode to Gen. McClellan's headquarters at Keedysville at 12 o'clock last night, and have just returned, leaving there at noon. The general believes that Harper's Ferry surrendered yesterday morning, and that Jackson re-enforced Lee at Sharpsburg last night. The enemy have a strong position on the west bank of the Antietam Creek, opposite Sharpsburg. McClellan's army lies on east bank, within shooting distance, but under excellent cover. The battle will begin this afternoon. Hooker was moving to open the ball at about noon. Rebels appear encouraged at arrival of their re-enforcements. Gen. McClellan at first thought he would send a large force of Pleasonton's cavalry, with artillery, to this point--which is Jones' Cross-Roads, on Sharpsburg pike--but finally concluded not to send them so far off; but he ordered down the Harper's Ferry cavalry, 1,300 in number, to support my 300, and desires all the force that can be sent from Cumberland Valley to come here immediately. Please push this matter.
We have no infantry or artillery sufficiently well organized to march into Maryland to support McClellan, but a force of ten or fifteen good regiments, with some artillery, thrown on the flank and rear of the enemy by to-morrow night might be of immense service. If Gen. Wool can forward that number from Baltimore to-night and to-morrow night. We are busy organizing our militia at Chambersburg, and in a few days will have a respectable reserve for checking invasions. What can be done? Please advise.
A. G. CURTIN,
Governor of Pennsylvania.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 19, Serial No. 28, Pages 311, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
