William W. Bennett, A narrative of the great revival which prevailed in the Southern armies during the late Civil War

[196] to be moved had been taken across the river. Those whose wounds were very severe or mortal, unfortunately, had to be left behind, and fell into the hand of the enemy. Some of the wounded had never been removed from the field, having fallen on a part of the ground still held by the enemy. Many of the dead were buried yesterday, and some were transferred to this bank of the river. It was not quite three miles to the Potomac, and our wagon trains extended from Sharpshurg over to the Virginia side. There were only two roads by which we could proceed, one of which was taken by the troops and the other by the artillery and wagons. Our lines came up within a short distance of the enemy's, yet so silently and adroitly was the movement conducted that McClellan was not aware of it until next morning. It had rained in the afternoon, and the roads were muddy below, while the heavens were covered with a light fog above, both of which facilitated the enterprise. We had crossed into Maryland by the bright and early morning sun; we returned in silence and at the dead hour of night. The columns wound their way over the hills and along the valleys like some huge, indistinct monster.

Whatever was the motive to the movement, it must be regarded as one of the most successful and extraordinary exploits in the history of any country, and stamps the man that ordered and executed it as one of the greatest military leaders in our time and generation. With the exception of the wounded and a few wagons that got turned over in the darkness, not a man or wagon nor a single piece of artillery was lost. The crossing was accomplished by half-past 6 this morning, and soon thereafter the enemy's artillery opened a harmless fire from the opposite heights. The bird had flown, however, and his rage was impotent.

The Federals themselves confessed to the admirable generalship displayed by the great Confederate leader.