Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/44

 32 Southern Historical Society Papers.

army would be with General Jackson engaged in surrounding and capturing Harper's Ferry, while General Longstreet with part of his command, and Hill's Division, would be between Boonsboro and Hagerstown, with the Potomac River separating them from General Jackson. McClellan was not slow to see the opportunity the information he had by good fortune ob- tained, gave him to strike Lee's army in detail; while General Lee calculating upon McClellan's usual caution, did not expect any attack before General Jackson could accomplish the capture of Harper's Ferry and rejoin him on the north side of the Potomac.

At 12 M. on the 13th, McClellan, in the exuberance of his joy in securing the order, telegraphed President Lincoln from his headquarters at Frederick, Md., as follows : "I think Lee has made a great mistake, and that he will be severely punished for it. The army is in motion as rapidly as possible. I hope for a great success if the plans of the rebels remain unchanged. We have possession of Catoctin. I have all the plans of the rebels, and will catch them in their own trap, if my men are equal to the emergency. I now feel that I can count on them as of old. j\fy respects to Mrs. Lincoln. Will send you trophies. All well and with God's blessing will accomplish it." General G. B. McClellan shortly afterward sent a more extended telegram to General Halleck, in which he spoke of this order, and said that there was no doubt about its genuineness.

He had already ordered General Franklin with the 6th corps to attack McLaws at Crampton's Gap, as soon as he heard the guns open the fight at Boonsboro Gap, where he told General Franklin he was sending the rest of his troops to carry that position.

Franklin was also directed, after driving McLaws from Crampton's Gap, to push through and relieve Miles at Harper's Ferry, and uniting Miles' large force with his own, to destroy the bridges on the Potomac River, and to press on to Sharps- burg and Williamsport. This order to Franklin concludes as follows: "]\Tv general idea is to cut the enemy in two. and beat him in detail. I ask of yon at this important moment all your