as very
strong--one in which a small force of the enemy could hold in check and
delay for a considerable time any pursuing force--I determined to follow
the enemy by a flank movement, and, accordingly, leaving McIntosh's
brigade of cavalry and Neil's brigade of infantry to continue harassing
the enemy, I put the army in motion for Middletown, and orders were
immediately sent to Major-General French, at Frederick, to reoccupy
Harper's Ferry, and send a force to occupy Turner's Pass, in South
Mountains. I subsequently ascertained that Major-General French had not
only anticipated these orders in part, but had pushed a cavalry force to
Williamsport and Falling Waters, where they destroyed the enemy's
pontoon bridge, and captured its guard. Buford was at the same time sent
to Williamsport and Hagerstown. The duty above assigned to the cavalry
was most successfully accomplished, the enemy being greatly harassed,
his trains destroyed, and many captures of guns and prisoners made."

_July 10._--This morning, at five o'clock, the cavalry advanced from
Boonsboro', passed through Keedysville, and crossed the Antietam about
ten o'clock. At twelve o'clock we engaged the enemy at Jones' Cross
Roads. The Harris Light led the advance, dismounted. The Rebels were
driven three consecutive times from as many positions which they had
chosen. Their resistance was by no means strong nor determined. Before
night Buford moved his command to Sharpsburg, on the extreme left of our
lines, and Kilpatrick advanced to a position on the extreme right, in
the vicinity of Hagerstown, where he covered the road to Gettysburg. On
the eleventh only picket skirmishes occupied the time. But on the
twelfth Kilpatrick, supported by a brigade of infantry under the command
of Brigadier-General Ames, of Howard's Corps, advanced upon the enemy
near Hagerstown, drove them from their works, and then out of the
streets of the city, and took permanent possession. This successful
movement greatly contracted our lines, and brought our forces into a
better position. At the close of this enterprise, as we are informed,
General Meade called a council of war, at which was discussed earnestly
and long the propriety of attacking the enemy. Notwithstanding the
anxiety of the chief commander to advance and reap fully the fruit of
Gettysburg, five of his corps commanders, out of eight, argued against
the measure, and as Meade did not desire to assume the grave
responsibility of