September 8, 1862

September 8, 1862:  Gen. McClellan is finally on the move, and the Army of the Potomac, reorganized in record time, has arrived in Rockville, only 15 miles from Washington, DC.  He has moved uncharacteristically fast, however, prompted by Halleck’s urgent orders.  But Union cavalry has not been able to locate Lee or his army, being screened well by Stuart’s riders.  At this point, McClellan refuses to believe that the Confederates have crossed the Potomac in force, and he indicates to Halleck that he is prepared to go on the defense to shield Washington and Baltimore, while he speaks of getting his army into better shape.

Meanwhile, Lee issues a proclamation, according to Pres. Davis’s wishes.  He declares his purpose:

Your citizens have been arrested and imprisoned upon no charge and contrary to all forms of law.  Believing that the people of Maryland possessed a spirit too lofty to submit to such a government, the people of the South have long wished to aid you in throwing off this foreign yoke, to enable you again to enjoy the inalienable rights of freemen, and restore independence and sovereignty to your State. . . . We know no enemies among you, and will protect all, of every opinion.

Col. Bradley Johnson, perhaps the most prominent Marylander in the Army of Northern Virginia, issues his own proclamation, pleading for the secessionists in the state to rise up:

The men of Maryland, who during the long months have been crushed under the heel of this terrible despotism, now have the opportunity for working out their own redemption, for which they have so long waited and suffered and hoped. . . . We have the arms here for you . . .  rise at once in arms and strike for liberty and right!

---Gen. Robert E. Lee writes this letter to Pres. Davis in these opening days of the Maryland invasion.  Lee demonstrates a compelling argument as well as a canny understanding of the political realities of the day:

HEADQUARTERS.
Near Fredericktown, Md., September 8, 1862.

His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President of the Confederate States, Richmond, Va.:

MR. PRESIDENT: The present position of affairs, in my opinion, places it in the power of the Government of the Confederate States to propose with propriety to that of the United States the recognition of our independence. For more than a year both sections of the country have been devastated by hostilities which have brought sorrow and suffering upon thousands of homes, without advancing the objects which our enemies proposed to themselves in beginning the contest. Such a proposition, coming from us at this time, could in no way be regarded as suing for peace; but, being made when it is in our power to inflict injury upon our adversary, would show conclusively to the world that our sole object is the establishment of our independence and the attainment of an honorable peace. The rejection of this offer would prove to the country that the responsibility of the continuance of the war does not rest upon us, but that the party in power in the United States elect to prosecute it for purpose of their own. The proposal of peace would enable the people of the United States to determine at their coming elections whether they will support, those who favor a prolongation of the war, or those who wish to bring it to a termination, which can but be productive of good to both parties without affecting the honor of either.
I have the honor to be, with high respect, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE,
General.

---The Richmond Daily Dispatch publishes this editorial with a story of a man in Pennsylvania who is arrested for trying to persuade men not to join the Army, in violation of emergency Federal law, and clearly an instance of the overbearing Yankee laws against free speech and dissent.  The Virginia paper suggests that the heavy-handed efforts by the Union to squelch sedition may in fact do more to discourage enlistment than the actual sedition:

Dr. O[ld]s, a respectable gentleman of the interior of Pennsylvania, has been seized and sent to Fort Lafayette for the crime of frankly expressing his opinions of Lincoln’s administration, and thus throwing obstacles in the way of the recruiting service. He is of the Democratic persuasion, and, of course, hostile to Mr. L’s party. The Lancaster (Penn.)Eagle, of the 14th ult, thus alludes to the subject:

     Dr. Olds was dragged from his bed and the bosom of his family at half past 10 o’clock on Tuesday night, by Wm. Scott and other hired tools of the Lincoln unscrupulous and despotic administration. This high handed usurpation of power, “might against right,” cannot but arouse the indignation of all who are capable of appreciating its enormity. . . . A large majority of the volunteers from this county now in the field are Democrats, and the same is true of the companies now being raised. And now we would ask the Republicans here — those who caused his arrest and those who applauded the out-rage — whether they are not in fact chargeable with, if not talking, at least with acting detrimental to the recruiting cause? If there is any force or virtue in Stanton’s late order upon this subject, should it not be enforced against such discouragers of volunteering, for discouraging they are, and they will not volunteer and fall into the ranks themselves.

---John Beauchamp Jones, a clerk in the Confederate War Department, writes triumphantly in his journal:

SEPTEMBER 7TH.—We see by the Northern papers that Pope claimed a great victory over Lee and Jackson! It was too much even for the lying editors themselves! The Federal army being hurled back on the Potomac, and then compelled to cross it, it was too transparently ridiculous for the press to contend for the victory. And now they confess to a series of defeats from the 26th June to the culminating calamity of the 30th August. They acknowledge they have been beaten—badly beaten—but they will not admit that our army has crossed into Maryland. Well, Lee’s dispatch to the President is dated “Headquarters, Frederick City.” We believe him.

---Skirmish at Poolesville, Maryland: At a small town near Washington, Major Chapman and two companies of the 3^rd Indiana Cavalry Regiment encounter a force of Rebel cavalry and a cannon.  Chapman charges his squadron through town to attack the Rebels, and is joined by more troops from the 8^th Illinois Cavalry, along with 2 cannon, which support another charge by Chapman’s troops: this drives the Rebels off their hill.

---Governor Bradford of Maryland calls for loyal citizens to join up with state militia units for defending the state against the Rebel invasion.