Existing comment:
The Maryland Campaign, September 4-13, 1862:
After the 2nd Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), as Union troops flee north in disarray towards Washington, D.C., Confederate General Robert E. Lee decides to carry the war into Union territory by striking across the Potomac River into Maryland. On September 4, Confederate troops begin crossing the river; by September 9, they are in Frederick, Maryland.
President Abraham Lincoln calls on General George B. McClellan to rebuild the demoralized Army of the Potomac and drive the Confederates out of Maryland. McClellan quickly organizes the troops and orders them to leave Washington. By September 6, the 1st, 9th, and 6th Corps have moved out
towards western Maryland.
As Confederate troops march north, Lee discovers that the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, has not abandoned the town. Controlling Harpers Ferry is vital to keeping Confederate supply and communication routes open. On September 9, Lee divides his army to surround and capture Harpers Ferry and move towards Hagerstown and Boonsboro. By September 13, Confederate forces have left Frederick and Union forces have moved in. |