Lee's Invasion of Maryland
Continued from: The Emerald Guard and the Second Battle of Manassas
Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia—about 55,000 men—entered the state of Maryland on September 3, 1862, following their victory at the Battle of Second Manassas on August 30, 1862. Emboldened by success, the Confederate leadership intended to take the war into enemy territory. The invasion of Maryland was also necessary for logistical reasons, as northern Virginia's farms had been stripped bare of food by subsistence foraging by both Confederate and Union forces that had been continuously skirmishing in the Shenandoah Valley. Confederate leaders assumed that Maryland would welcome the Confederate forces warmly. They sang the tune "Maryland, My Maryland!" as they marched into Maryland. While some claimed pro-Union sentiment was winning out, the confederates, if not greeted warmly, were not treated by the citizens with hostility.
Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia—about 55,000 men—entered the state of Maryland on September 3, 1862, following their victory at the Battle of Second Manassas on August 30, 1862. Emboldened by success, the Confederate leadership intended to take the war into enemy territory. The invasion of Maryland was also necessary for logistical reasons, as northern Virginia's farms had been stripped bare of food by subsistence foraging by both Confederate and Union forces that had been continuously skirmishing in the Shenandoah Valley. Confederate leaders assumed that Maryland would welcome the Confederate forces warmly. They sang the tune "Maryland, My Maryland!" as they marched into Maryland. While some claimed pro-Union sentiment was winning out, the confederates, if not greeted warmly, were not treated by the citizens with hostility.
As Lee’s Army approached Frederick City, Maryland, strict orders were issued against leaving ranks or foraging. However, many adventurous young soldiers, including George Bedinger, left ranks to venture freely about the town before the evening roll call. The following story is told by George R. Bedinger’s former mess mate, Edward Alexander (Ned) Moore of the Rockbridge Artillery. Ned and his comrade Steve Dandridge, determined to take the “bit in their teeth” and endeavor to do the town for one day at all hazards. As they approached the town a corn field afforded good cover for them until they were well out of sight. They entered a quiet part of the city. Their apparel was a sad plight having lost their extra baggage. Steve fortunately possessed a few greenbacks and Ned Moore’s holdings were a like sum of Confederate scrip. Their encounters with the citizens they met in the city belied the statement that pro-Union sentiment was winning out. They found a neighborhood grocery store kept by two comely young women and were served a good repast of native wine, bread, butter, etc. and had a canteen filled with whiskey. Here they also found one of their comrades O’Rourke, an Irishman, who also had taken leave of his column and was enjoying the merits of the city. Enjoying a confectionery in a quiet street, a gentleman came by and offered them a bottle of blackberry brandy. They shared a bit of their melon with him and joined him in a drink of brandy. Passing along the street after this they met a venerable looking gentleman who inquired if he could be of service to them. When Ned and Steve could suggest none, he offered them some greenbacks, which they accepted. The gentleman declined the offer of Confederate dollars in exchange, and very delicately expressed hope that all of the Confederate soldiers would so conduct themselves as to show Marylanders of Union proclivities what gentlemen they really were. [i], [ii]
Steve Dandridge’s outgoing nature shown through when he remembered he had met a lady of Fredericksburg City who had visited his family home, “The Bower”. He succeeded in finding the home of the lady and was presently at the door opened by an aloof servant obviously hesitant to engage with two ragged erstwhile beggars. Steve nonchalantly stated his name was Dandridge and walking in said he wished to see Miss____ [name withheld by Ned Moore in respect of the lady’s privacy]. She presently appeared, somewhat surprised. Dandridge, though, was perfectly natural and introduced Ned as if he were a general. She informed him of another lady in the house and left to bring her in. Ned, embarrassed by this situation, begged off and left Steve to enjoy a sumptuous dinner with the ladies. [i]
Ned encountered others of his and old friends of other companies enjoying a day in the city before they were to be assembled for evening roll-call. The next acquaintance he met was George Rust Bedinger, whom he found, clad "a la mode", standing in the door of a hotel with an expression of calm satisfaction on his face. As Ned came up to him, George scanned him from head to foot, said not a word but fell back in a roar of laughter. Ned wrote of this encounter, “Gay, brilliant Bedinger, whose presence imparted an electric touch to those around him; I shall ne’er see his like again!” [i]
Ned encountered others of his and old friends of other companies enjoying a day in the city before they were to be assembled for evening roll-call. The next acquaintance he met was George Rust Bedinger, whom he found, clad "a la mode", standing in the door of a hotel with an expression of calm satisfaction on his face. As Ned came up to him, George scanned him from head to foot, said not a word but fell back in a roar of laughter. Ned wrote of this encounter, “Gay, brilliant Bedinger, whose presence imparted an electric touch to those around him; I shall ne’er see his like again!” [i]
While McClellan's 75,500-man Army of the Potomac was moving to intercept Lee, two Union soldiers discovered a mislaid copy of Lee's detailed battle plans wrapped around three cigars. The order indicated that Lee had divided his army and dispersed portions geographically (to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Hagerstown, Maryland), thus making each subject to isolation and defeat if McClellan could move quickly enough. McClellan waited about 18 hours before deciding to take advantage of this intelligence and reposition his forces, thus squandering an opportunity to defeat Lee decisively.
There were two significant engagements in the Maryland campaign prior to the major battle of Antietam: Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's capture of Harpers Ferry and McClellan's assault through the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Battle of South Mountain. The former was significant because a large portion of Lee's army was absent from the start of the battle of Antietam, attending to the surrender of the Union garrison; the latter because stout Confederate defenses at two passes through the mountains delayed McClellan's advance enough for Lee to concentrate the remainder of his army at Sharpsburg. Gen. Stonewall Jackson took possession of Harpers Ferry; then he led most of his soldiers to join with Lee at Sharpsburg after paroling the prisoners at Harpers Ferry.
There were two significant engagements in the Maryland campaign prior to the major battle of Antietam: Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's capture of Harpers Ferry and McClellan's assault through the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Battle of South Mountain. The former was significant because a large portion of Lee's army was absent from the start of the battle of Antietam, attending to the surrender of the Union garrison; the latter because stout Confederate defenses at two passes through the mountains delayed McClellan's advance enough for Lee to concentrate the remainder of his army at Sharpsburg. Gen. Stonewall Jackson took possession of Harpers Ferry; then he led most of his soldiers to join with Lee at Sharpsburg after paroling the prisoners at Harpers Ferry.
Sources:
[i] Moore, pp. 130 - 137]
[ii] Adam Stephen (Steve) Dandridge III was the great grandson of Gen. Adam Steven of the American Revolution. The Dandridge Family home was “the Bower” south of Martinsburg in Jefferson Co., Virginia (now West Virginia). Years after the Civil War in 1877 Adam Stephen Dandridge III married Caroline (Danske) Bedinger the daughter of Caroline Bowne Bedinger and half-sister of George Rust Bedinger. According to his daughter, Serena Dandridge, Stephen Dandridge was blinded in one eye from an accidentally shot arrow. Under-age, but insisting on enlisting, his parents enrolled young Dandridge in the Virginia Military Institute. His Daughter wrote: “I suppose my father was one of the few men who ever went to college with no other intention than to be expelled.” She claimed he accumulated 496 demerits in six weeks. He enlisted in the Rockbridge Artillery May 29, 1862 in Charles Town, Virginia. He stayed with the unit to the war’s end. Ref: http://civilwarscholars.com/2012/12/25-perfect-days-at-the-bower-september-october-1862/
[i] Moore, pp. 130 - 137]
[ii] Adam Stephen (Steve) Dandridge III was the great grandson of Gen. Adam Steven of the American Revolution. The Dandridge Family home was “the Bower” south of Martinsburg in Jefferson Co., Virginia (now West Virginia). Years after the Civil War in 1877 Adam Stephen Dandridge III married Caroline (Danske) Bedinger the daughter of Caroline Bowne Bedinger and half-sister of George Rust Bedinger. According to his daughter, Serena Dandridge, Stephen Dandridge was blinded in one eye from an accidentally shot arrow. Under-age, but insisting on enlisting, his parents enrolled young Dandridge in the Virginia Military Institute. His Daughter wrote: “I suppose my father was one of the few men who ever went to college with no other intention than to be expelled.” She claimed he accumulated 496 demerits in six weeks. He enlisted in the Rockbridge Artillery May 29, 1862 in Charles Town, Virginia. He stayed with the unit to the war’s end. Ref: http://civilwarscholars.com/2012/12/25-perfect-days-at-the-bower-september-october-1862/
Continued: The sequence of actions of the Battle of Antietam and the events in Shepherdstown across the River from Sharpsburg during and after the battle as wounded soldiers retreated and were provided shelter and treatment by the citizens is recounted in Antietam and a Woman's Recollections of the Battle.