McClellan had been slow to
march, but, now that he was marching, he was sweeping the enemy out of
his way.
The whole Army of the Potomac felt that it was winning and McClellan
himself was exultant. Early the next morning he reported to his superior
at Washington that the enemy was fleeing in panic and that General Lee
admitted that he had been "shockingly whipped."
Full of confidence, the army advanced to destroy Lee, who lay between
the peninsula of the Antietam and the Potomac, but just about the time
McClellan was writing his dispatch, the white flag was hoisted at
Harper's Ferry, the whole garrison surrendered, and messengers were on
their way to Lee with the news that Stonewall Jackson was coming.
CHAPTER IX
ACROSS THE STREAM
Dick and his comrades had not heard of the taking of Harper's Ferry and
they were full of enthusiasm that brilliant morning in mid-September.
McClellan, if slow to move, nevertheless had shown vigor in action,
and the sanguine youths could not doubt that they had driven Lee into a
corner. The Confederates, after the fierce fighting of the day before,
had abandoned both gaps, and the way at last lay clear before the Army
of the Potomac.
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