ENGAGEMENT AT CHARLESTOWN.
After General Lee crossed the Potomac, he proceeded leisurely up the
valley and through the gaps of the Blue Ridge until he reached the
Rapidan. General Meade, marching from Gettysburg, passed the Potomac
on the 18th, and soon the two armies were again confronting
each other in Virginia.
General Imboden was sent with a cavalry force to guard the mountain
gaps on Lee's left, and in October advanced upon Charlestown, where a
Federal force from Harpers Ferry had taken position. Upon his arrival
he found them occupying the court-house, jail, and other contiguous
buildings, all of which were loop-holed for musketry, and the courthouse
yard defended by a strong wall of oak timber. He at once
demanded the surrender, but Colonel Simpson, the Federal commander,
asked an hour's time for consideration. Imboden offered five minutes,
to which was replied, "Take me if you can." The artillery was at once
opened at a distance of two hundred yards, and in a few minutes the
Federals were driven into the streets, flying towards Harpers Ferry.
They had, however, proceeded but a short distance before they
were met by the 18th Virginia cavalry and Gilmore's battalions,
and forced to surrender. The regiment thus made prisoners was
the 9th Maryland infantry. The colonel and a half dozen others, being
mounted, made their escape to Harpers Ferry. General Imboden now
returned up the Valley and sent his prisoners on to Richmond. This,
with the exception of the engagements at Rappahannock Bridge and
Germania Ford, ended the operations in Virginia for the third year.
Late in the fall the "On to Richmond" cry had been renewed throughout
the North, but active operations were deferred until the spring of
1864.
