The last two or three days have been pregnant with rumors
and speculations of an exciting character. Some officials on the watch-towers,
sentinels and generals, have been alarmed; but on the whole the people have
manifested a fair degree of confidence and composure. We have authentic news
that a long and sanguinary battle has been fought.1 McClellan
telegraphs that the fight between the two armies was for fourteen hours. The
Rebels must have been in strong position to have maintained such a fight
against our large army. He also telegraphs that our loss is heavy, particularly
in generals, but gives neither names nor results. His dispatches are seldom
full, clear, or satisfactory. “Behaved splendidly,” “performed handsomely,” but
wherein or what was accomplished is never told. Our anxiety is intense. We have
but few and foggy dispatches of any kind these troublesome days. Yesterday and
day before there were conflicting accounts about Harper's Ferry, which, it is
now admitted, was thrown to the Rebels with scarcely a struggle. Miles,2
who was in command, is reported mortally wounded. . . . General Mansfield is reported slain. He
was from my State and almost a neighbor. He called on me last week, on his way
from Norfolk to join the army above. When parting he once shook hands, there
then was a farther brief conversation and he came back from the door after he
left and again shook hands. “Farewell,” said I, “success attend you.” He
remarked, with emphasis, and some feeling, “We may never meet again.”
_______________
1 The Battle of Antietam was fought on the 16th
and 17th.
2 Colonel Dixon S. Miles. He died of his wounds,
Sept. 16, 1862.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30, 1864,
p. 139-40
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