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LATEST NEWSFROM THE NORTH.,
Fr<m the Richmond Examiner, Sept. M.
Through the very polite attention of Captain
Casbrneyer, to whom the press of Richmond are
indebted for repeated favors, we have been able
to iret a summary of news from the New York
Herald vt the 20th instant, last Saturday, brought
up by him yesterday on the return of the flag of
truce boat.
THt GSKAT BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWO ARMIES NEAR
SHARPSBURG
, The Northern papers have full particulars of
the great battle fought near Sharpsburg by toe
two armies on last Wednesday and Thursday.
The Federal forces were commanded by McClel
lan in person, and numbered the whole command
of General Burnside, recently augmented by the
addition of several new regiments; the army
corps lately under Gen. McDowell, now under
command of General Hooker; Gen. Sumner’s
corps; Gen. Franklin's corps; Gen. Banks’ corps,
commanded by General Williams; and Sykes’ di
vision of Fin John Porter’s corps. Ther line of
battle was between four and live miles long, with
their left stretching across the Sharpsburg road.
Burnside was on the extreme left; Porter held a
commanding eminence to the right ot Burnside,
though Warren’s brigade of Porter’s corps was
subsequently posted in the woods on the left in
support of Burnside’" men; Sumner’s corps was
on an eminence next to the right or north from
Porter, and General Hooker had the extreme
right. The Northern papers say that our line was
very nearly parallel with that of the federal
forces and that our leit was directly in front of
General Hooker. With the two armies thus ar
rayed, almost face to face, the battle opened, of
which we get the following account;
General Hooker had the honor to open this
great combat He commanded the corps formerly
under General McDowell, composed of R'ckett’s
division, Mead’s (McCall’s formerly,) and King’s
division. Many of these came up in the night,
and there was perhaps a little confusion in post*
Jng them. Mead’s men say that they slept among
the rebels. Owing to this over-near neighbor
hood the pickets gut at it in the night, and kept
up a scattering fire until the battle began. Gen.
Mead who was thus nearest the rebels, was rei
relieved at daylight by General Ricker’s division,
which also immediately advanced against the ene
my, supported by the division of General King,
which eventually became engaged on the right of
General Rickets, and also by the division of Gen,
Mead. The line advanced through a piece of
woods, a cornfield, and a piece of ploughed
land, and into another piece of woods, where
it found the enemy in line of battle,
end was received with a hot file fire,
wh’ch told very severely on our men. But they
steadily advanced into the fierce fife, giving back
one equally destructive, while our batteries, par
ticularly a Pennsylvania battery, under Captain
Matthews, and Captain Thompson’s first Mary*,
land battery, played splendidly upon the enemy’s
line. Thus pressed, the rebel forces gave way,
though they certain'y did not “skedaddle.”—
Slowly, and m very fair order, they fell back, dis
puting every foot that they gave up with the
greatest obstinacy. Still our boys pushed on
ward with magnfnent courage and determinate
non, every man, from Hooker down, intent only
on victory. Occasionally a more determined re
sistance at some point in the line or some diffi
culty in thegrouud would check our advance, for
a few-moiueuts , but, with this exception, it was
almost steady from its commencement until
about ten o’clock in the morning, when General
Hooker was wounded and carried from the
field.
General Ricketts at once assumed command of
the corps; but our victorious movement had lost
its impulse.
At that time our right had advanced and swept
across the field so tar that its front, originally
almost in a line with the front of the centre and
left, formed almost a right angle with them.
While our advance rather faltered, the rebels,
greatly reinforced, made a sudden and impetuous
onset, and drove our gallant fellows back over a
portion of the bard won field. Wbat we had won,
however, was not relinquished without a desper
ate struggle, and here, up the hills and down,
through ths woods and the standing corn, over
the ploughed land and the clover, the line of fire
swept to and fro, as one side or the other gained
a temporary advantage.
Thus the battle raged till Sumner’s corps came
up to support the worn out heroes who had main
tained the fight so long against very evident odds.
How gloriously they went at it, those Peninsula
boys—Burn’s old brigade, led by gallant young
Howard, who lost an arm at Fair Oaks, and
Meagher’s Irish brigade, led by the gallant
Meagher himself, and many other heroes tried
in the fire. As the Irish brigade charged the
enemy’s line, their cheers arose in one great
surge of sound over the noise of battle, over the
roar of a wilderness of artillery, and was beard
far down the lines to tbe left, where Burnside’s
Doys were just getting at it.
Thus met, tbe rebel advance was checked and
broken, and they were driven with awful slaugh
ter. It is beyond all wonder how men such as
the rebel troops are can fight as they do. That
these ragged and filthy wietebes, sick, hungry,
and in all ways miserable, should prove such
heroes in fight, is past explanation. Men never
fought better. There was one regiment that stood
up before the fire of two or three of our long
range batteries and of two regiments of infantry,
and though the air around them was vocal with
the whistle ot bullets and tbe scream of shells,
there they stood and delivered their fire in perfect
order ; and there they continued to stand until a
battery of six light twelves was brought to bear
on them, and before that they broke. Nothing
mortal can stand a battery of six iigbt Napoleon
guns if there is plenty of grape and canister in the
ammunition cbests.
Thus Sumner effectually stayed what at one
time threatened to be a fearfully dangerous on"
> slaught. But all the ground that Hooker bad
gained was lost, and we were as we had been be
fore the misty daylight had dawned upon us.
But there is a stir and a murmur around us differn
ent from the noise of battle. There are troops m
motion behind, and here comes Franklin’s corps
When the battle began at daylight this corps was
in camp eight miles away, on the mountain over
which it had driven the rebels on Sunday last.
There it was, in all the seemingly inextricable
camp confusion, and in the valley at the foot of the
same mountain was Couch’s division, temporarily
attached to Franklin’s command. All these troops
had had orders on Tuesday night to be in readi
ness to march at a moment’s notice, and so they
lay down. But the night passed, and no orders to
move came, and the morn'ng hours went by, till
it seemed that they would not be wanted. But at
8 o’clock the order came, and here they are at
once. It was a good; march, and, unlike most
troops that make those hasty marches, they are
not too late, nor are they used up. Heralded only
t>J tbe jingle of their own canteens and their I
regular tramp, they me ve into the field. No slo
gan announces them, nor any music note tell that
tbe Campbell’s are coming. But hardy, brave,
and compa-ativtqy fresh, here they are.
Two fresh divisions at such a time—wbat can
they not achieve ? Forward at once they go, for
it was rightly reasoned that tbe enemy must be
fully as much s laken as we were. On vard went
Slocum with the three brigades that carried
Crampton’s Gap so handsomely on Sunday, and
onward went Smith with the brigades of Hand
cock, Brooks and Davidson—all glorious fellows,
who first made the enemy’s acquaintance on
Warwick’s Creek. Exhausted, no doubt, by his
last desperate endeavor, the enemy gave way.
Easily, and without tbe great outlay of life that
it tad at first cost us, the ground was won once
more.
Hitherto we have spoken only of what tran*.
spired on the right. There, after desperate
struggles, we had won wbat, considered in itself
alone, was a glorious battle, and our enemy was
(here fairly beaten.
When the batteries that participated in Hook
er’s attack at daylight first opened their tire and
were severely left, several rebel batteries opened
upon them, and also on our advancing line.
Borne of these batteries were on points quite out
of tbe battle tb*t raged on ths right. As they
opened their fire, one by one, our batteries,
posted on various '-minences, opened on them, ,
and iu their turn were openedMpon by still other ;
rebel batteries, and thus was begun a stupend- i
ous artillery fight, which soon became quite inde- <
pendent ot the battle on the right.
From every little hill a battery thundered until
the mountains around seemed to be shaken with
the roar, and the tracks of shells and shot were
woven across the vallejr like a network. So uu*
merous were the batteries, and so constant ’.heir
tire, that it was impossible to “keep up wirh it.”
However much this or that beautiful sbet might
ex cite your admiration, you could not, say who
made it or what battery was entitled to the credit.
It is probable that the artillerists were- frequently
deceived themselves and assumed as their own
shots those luckier gunners macie. You can
hardly estimate the effect of artillery tire save
where you see the masses of infantry that it
ploughs through. When, as in this battle, bat
teries fire at batteries, no result is perceptible,
and, even if a battery ceases to tire, you a-e not
sure that it is damaged. The whole artillery fire
ot Wednesday looked like a waste ot ammuni
tion, though doubtless many a bajily injured gun
was the result.
Whether any one blundered on the left it is im
possible for us to say, but the battle there got
started late and went on slowly. It was noon
when the fire of musketry first announced an ens
gagemen t at close quarters in that direction and
then the firing was not heavy and continuous, but
desultory and light in its character.
Our first advance there was made down the
slope of a hill to a bridge which crosses the An
tietam river. Beyond the river tbe enemy had so
posted his men as to sweep the bridge with a se
vere musketry fire, aud their own advance was
checked, and General Burnside seemed to hesi
tate. The peculiar brass pieces handled by the
Hawkins Zouaves —one of tbe many recent ex -
. periments in artillery—were then tried on the
rebels beyond, as the position was one in which
regular artillery could not work; but the peculiar
brass pieces achieved but little, and the enemy
remained in position beyond, and kept up a severe
and well directed fire on our men
Finally, at about 2 o’clock P. M., after much
valuable time had been lost, the bridge wascar
ried by a brilliant charge, in which the eleventh
Ohio and the eleventh Connecticut participated
very conspicuously, and lost many men.
It the greater obstacles constitute the post of
honor on a battlefield. General Burnside may
justly claim to have had that post in Wednesday’s
cattle. Once across the river, he found the enes
my in force, and in a new position of great
strength on a hill. Against this position he ad
vanced at once, and tbe old valor of the divisions
of Genera’s Cox, Wilcox and Sturgis, was once
more triumphant, and the hill was taken. No
sooner was its summit reached than a heavy bat
ter/of artillery at ..nee opened upon his ranks
with a fire that must soon have annihilated them
if permitted to continue. It was at once clear
that the hill was untenable unless the battery was
taken. At the same time the enemy m front be
gan to receive heavy reinforcements, and General
Burnside’s position became critical. To go for
ward with that heavy battery mowing his flank,
and with an equal number of the enemy on his
trout, and overwhelming numbers coming up,
would seem like a Balaklava madness. To stand
still would only be destruction, and then came
the dreadful alternative to retreat. Bitter as this
alternative was, it had to be taken, and steadily
the line swept back and the hard won hill was
relinquished; but it was now so fully under the
fire of newly posted batteries that' no enemy
, could occupy it.
i As Burnside’s line withdrew the word was pass
ed along the hill for Sykes’ men to “fall in,” and
I the tough old soldiers of tbe regular regiments,
who had been lounging on the bill, quiet spectas
tors of tbe battle, hurried gladly into line, joyful
at the prospect that their turn had come ; and
there they stood, ready to check the progress of
any sudden disaster.
i Night prevented further operations ; but let it
’ be clearly understood that we were only not ent
I tirely successful on the left—we suffered no diss
aster, nor could we suffer any, for it is the glory
, of Geo. McClellan’s plan of battle that, if the
i rebe.s bad even routed Burnside aud driven him
i m confusion completely ofl the field, our left
, would still have been safe, for there close in hand
was Porter’s corps, fresh and ready for theemer
, gency.
* We clip the following paragraphs from
the Richmond, (Va.) Examiner, Sept. 24:
i A Victory at Shepherdstown.—We have it in
. cur power to announce this morning another sig
nal victoiy for the Confederate arms; at the
i same time regret lobe obliged to say that our
knowledge of the recent movements and present
position of tbe main body of cur forces is still
vague and uncertain. We feel assured, from in
formation gathered from trustworthy sources
> that our entire force is somewhere beyond the
• Potomac and close upon the heels of McClellan's
shattered army, but upon what route and at what
exact point, we have been unable to ascertain.
i But that General Jackson was at Shepherds
town last Sunday, and there encountered and
routed a heavy column of the enemy, and subse
quently pursued its scattered regiments into
Maryland, is put beyond question by the follows
ing dispatch which was yesterday received by
the War Departwent from Colonel Davidson,
commandant of the military post of Staunton :
'Staunton, Sept. 23.
Dispatches just received from Winchester,
dated the 21st, state that the enemy crossed ten
thousand men over the river at Shepherdstown,
when he was immediately attacked by Jackson’s
corps and routed.
The loss of the enemy is very heavy; ours is
slight. Quite a number of arms were taken.—
Jackson has recrossed into Maryland.
H. B. Davidson, Colonel, &e.
Gentlemen who arrived here last evening from
the scene of tbe above battle, report that the
slaughter among the. enemy was terrible. Their
account of the affair is that one column of the ene
my, ten thousand strong, having Crossed to the
Virginia side, were attacked ana almost literally
cut to pieces, by General Jackson. That another
strong force of the enemy, attempting to come to
the rescue of tbe first, were,while fording the river,
opened on by our artillery and mowed down in
multitudes. They withstood our fire but a few
moments before breaking and fleeing in utter
rout to the Maryland shore. Our torces made
quick pursuit, and at last accounts were pressing
the enemy closely, and pouring into his rear a
murderous tire. It is told upon the same authority
that we had taken five thousand prisoners.
Rumor of Another Battle at Sharpsburg.—
A rumor reached here at a late hour last night
that another great battle bad been fought at
Sharpsburg, in which the Confederates were again
completely victorious. Alter diligent enquiry we
were unable to trace the rumor to any satisfactory
source. 7
Ihe Battle of Sharpsburg.—lt is stated, upon
seemingly good authority, that the President on
yesterday received a letter from General Lee, in
which the latter stated,, that in tbe battle of
Sharpsburg the shock of battle was the most tre
mendous that had ever occurred upon this conti
nent, and that the result was the severest and tbe
most damaging that the enemy had received in
the whole campaign.
The enemy confess to a loss of ten thousand
killed and wounded, which, taking into account
their notorious determination to suppress the
truth, may safely be doubled. Cur loss in killed
wounded and missing, will, it is now definitely
known, not exceed five thousands
Captured.—We learn that Captain Harry Gil
mer, of Brigadier General Robinson’s (late Ash
bey’s) cavalry, was, with one of his lieutenants
(Carlisle) captured while out scouting a lew days
since near Pikesville, Baltimore county, about
nine miles distant from Baltimore city. Both
were taken to Baltimore, and thence sent North
ward.
Movements on the Coast—Passengers bv the
Charleston and Havaunab Railroad report' that
there are grounds for believing that the enemy is
sending heavy reinforcements to Hilton Head
and along the shores ot Broad River. I J i ac kw
ney Island is now occupied by a large body of
troops. ■ J
These indications, taken in conjunction with
others which will be found among our Northern
news this moruing. give us a plain ar,d unmiß
- warning that the warm work on the
coast will soon begin.
(hharkfton Mertury, Sept. 25.
A NOVEL PROPOSITION,
The Fredericksburg (Va.) News suggests a
plan far obtaining foreign recognition, which, if
not feasible, is, at least, original. As such, we
give it; but we are strongly of the opinion that
the only possible plan of securing our recognition
is by fighting for it, and conquering a peace from
our enemies.
The following is the plan of the News:
Recognition not Needed. —Many idle words
and much empty talking has been uttered on this
subject. Counterfeit States rights statesmen i?)
and ignorant politicians have outraged the man
hood and' common sense of the Confederacy by
prating about “European nations" “acknowledg
ing our independence.”
Overlooking the dastard doctrine of depending
on “foreign intervention” to accomplish our suc
cess and achieve that liberty which the wisdom
of our generals and the valor of our soldiers can
alone permanently secure, we bespeak a mo
ment’s attention to a plain and simple plan, by
which “recognition” can be accomplished and
compelled.
The United States were never recognized. Eng
land France acknowledged the independence of
Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia,
and the old Thirteen States, individually, as sepa
rate States.
When the Union was formed, treaties were en
-1 tered into by foreign governments with tbe Gov
' ernment of the United States, as the agent of the
! separate States, who bound themselves by their
Constitution to abide by its obligations.
1 The independence, then, of Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas, has
been already recognized or acknowledged by Eu
ropean powers. Let them, therefore, give notice
' to tbe world that they have recognzed Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and
1 Tennessee; in fact, the old United States Govern
ment recognized them when they were admitted
' on equal terms with New York, Massachusetts,
I Ac. Let foreign powers also be informed, that all
the separate, independent States, thus recognized
f and enumerated, have formed a league and aps
r pointed an agent, which is prepared to make
i treaties with them in accordance with the terms
, of its Constitution, by which these States will be
t bound in their intercourse and relations with the
. nations of the earth.
> This plan we regard as historically and Consti
i tutionally correct, and the more necessary for the
i South and for Europe because of tbeconsolidating
tendency of military influences at present, and
i the utter ignorance and abject servility of selfs
i styled States Rights politicians, who now in.'ost
■ our public councils.
i
NORTHERN NEWS.
i
, The very latest intelligence from McClellan's
, army is up to mid-day Saturday, and is contained
1 in a dispatch received in Philadelphia, Saturday
j night. It says:
. Early last night the enemy commenced cross
i ing the Shepherdstown bridge and two fords,
, above and below it. During the night McClellan
( advanced a battery and shelled them from the
. surrounding bills.
, The dead and wounded found this morning
evidence the ability of our signal officers in di
recting the fire ot tbe guns, .
i On discovering the movement of the enemy,
early this morning, General Pleasanton was dis*
’ patched in hot pursuit, with two batteries and
J two regiments ot infantry, through a gap of high
I hills, and be succeeded in cutting off a large
!. amount of their ammunition, supplies, Ac., be
sides a small portion of General Maxey Gregg’s
South Carolina brigade.
1 General Pleasantin shelled the enemy with es-
* feet as they passed through the ravine.
8 They also state that it was believed in tbe re
? bel army that a force of Union troops bad passed
B through Thoroughfare Gap and intercepted their
’ advance, and they supposed this movement was
J under the direction of Sigel, of whom they stand
in great dread.
Harrisburg, Pa.. Sept. 20, —A M.—A dispatch
received at official quaiters up to this hour (mid
night), from a person who visited the battle field,
reports tbe rebel loss two to our one. Their dead
were left unburied, and the wounded found shel
ter in barns and woods along the whole route to
1 Williamsport, where the enemy has, no doubt,
[ crossed with the remnant of his army.
3 A great amount of ammunition was captured,
r together with a large number of prisoners, who
: have been sent to Hagerstown.
1 The last seen of the enemy they were flying in
the direction of Winchester, and it is supposed
’ they would retreat precipitately on to Richmond.
3 Our entire army had crossed Antietam creek
’ this morning, and was massed between Antietam
1 creek and the Potomac, opposite Shepherdstown,
• and there was every evidence that McClellan
j would cross-the river.
The loss of general and field officers in our ars
my is so large as to be unaccountable.
’ Rebel deserters represent the loss of the enes
1 my’s < fficers as equally severe. It was understood
' that General Burnside has crossed into Virginia
’ via Harper’s Ferry, and moving on the enemy.
Deserters report that the recent movement of
the rebels in escaping into Virginia was entirely
; conducted by Stonewall Jackson, the other chief
‘ officers, Lee, Longstreet, Ac., being either wound
’ ed or too much fatigued to be efficient.
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES FROM GEN. M’CLELLAN.
i Headquarters Army Potomac, )
September 19, 8.80 A. M. j
H. W. Halleck, General in Chief:
But little occurred yesterday except skirmish
ing.
Last night the enemy abandoned *his position,
leaving his dead and wounded on the field.
We are again in pursuit.
I do not yet know whether be is falling back to
an inferior position or crossing the river.
We may safely claim a victory.
George B. McClellan,
Major General.
[no. ii.]
Headquarters Army of Potomac, I
Sept. 19. 10:30 A. M. f
H. W. Halleck, General in Chief:
Pleasanton is driving the enemy across the
river.
Our victory was complete.
The enemy is driven back into Virginia.,
Maryland and Pennsylvania are now safe..
George B. McClellan, ,
Major General.
A dispatch from Harrisburg, the 19th, says:
Information just received from the battle-field
says our vietory is complete, and that General
Pleasanton is in hot pursuit of the enemy and driv
ing them across the Potomac.
The whole Union army is in good condition, and
the enemy has been badly punished.
Wounded at Warrenton.—A correspondent
sends us the following list of wounded now in
Payne, Newby A Co.’s hospital at Warrenton.
Virginia:
SEVENTEENTH GEORGIA.
W G Montgomery, hip.
Company B—Enoch 'Pison, left arm cutoff.
Company G—Thomas Thornton, thigh, badly;
W O Tbornto--, 'high.
Company D-B H Messer, left arm cut off.
FOURTEENTH TENNESSEE.
Company I—J Chandler, both thighs.
FOURTEENTH ALABAMA.
Company H—L C Counts, foot; N P Hardy,
shoulder.— Savannah. Republican, Sept. 25.
Death of Captain Battby.—lt is with sincere
sorrow that we chronicle tbe death of Cant. Wm.
H. Battey, of the Jefferson County Battey Volun
teers, Wright’s Legion. Despatches received from
Richmond announce that he fell in the recent bit
tie near Sba’osburg, Md. He commanded the
Legion in one of the late bitties before Richmond,
and distinguished himself for gallantry and good
judgment.
Capt. Battey was our friend and classmate in
early life. We knew him well, and can tender
a heartfelt sympathy to his bereaved widow and
children. We begin to awoke to the magnitude
of war’s calamities in contemplating the bloody
remains of such men as he. Heaven, in its mercy,
bring the horrible strife to an end.— Savannah
Republican, Sept. 21.
BITTLE OF BOONSBORO’ GAP-IMPORTANT
MO YEMENIS.
From Army Correspondence of the Savannah Republican.
Boonsboro’, Md., Sept. 14, 1862.
Orders were issued yesterday afternoon for tbe
men to cook three days’ rations. The enemy was
then encamped—a considerable portion of it, at
least—in add around Hagerstown, and the pre
vailing opinion was that we should move forward
in the direction of Harrisburg. What General
I pe’s original intentions were, it were impossible
fnr any one outside his immediate council to say;
hnt whatever they were, it would not be ventur
ing too far to say they have been temporarily
rhanHed by the bold, and apparently confident,
advance of McClellan, instead of matching upon
Harrisburg, we turned back upon our track, and
moved down tbe Cumberland turnpike towards
Frederick and Baltimore. As the column ap
proached the village of Boonsboro , at the foot of
the Blue Ridge, ten miles from Hagerstown, a
rapid artillery fire could be heard. The repert
soon obtained that it was an aflair of artillery
merely but as we advanced nearer we could dis
tinctly hear the report of small arms hotly en-
D. H. Hill’s corps bad crossed the Pos
tomac and come up to the vicinity of Boonsboro’
and constituted the rear of the army, which, with
tbe exception of Jackson’s, A. P. Hill s and Me**
Laws’ commands, was encamped along the turn
, pike from Boonsboro’ to Hagerstown. He held
, tbe gap in the mountain, therefore, through which
the turnpike passed, and was the first to encoun
ter the advancing columns of McClellan. It seems
that the Federal commander put his forces in
motion as soon as he had definite information that
i we had crossed into Maryland. Hts march was
rapid, and soon brought him to Frederick, where
> there’was a sharp engagement between the cav
alry. He followed on after us through Middletown,
i and had reached the Boonsboro’ Gap in the Blue
. Ridge, about midway between the villages of
I Middletown and Boonsboro’, when he came upon
1). H. Hill’s corps, as already stated. This was
! late last evening.
The position of onr forces at this time was not
t advantageous for a genei al engagement. Long-
> stieet and Anderson were near Hagerstown,
j twelve miles irom Boonsboro’ Gap, Jackson and
■ A. P. Hill had recrossed to the Virginia side and
' were investing Harper’s Ferry, and McLaws held
the Maryland Heights opposite to Harper’s Fer
ry fiom which point he cc-operated with Jack
, son and Hill in the movement against that post
r tion. General Lee, therefore, immediately order
i ed back Longstreet’s and Anderson’s forces to
, the relief ofD. H. Hill, then engaged near Boons
t boro’. The Blue Ridge is not high at this
place, though it is broad-backed, the passage
across by the turnpike being nearly two miles.
The enemy held the mouth of tbe Gap on the east
ern side, and some of the spurs or off shoo’s of
s the mountain next to Middletown. We held the
1 western end ot the Gap and more than one half
of the mountain. The enemy was in great fotce;
f we had only one corps, D. H. Hill’s, and some
detachments of cavalry. Longstreet and Ander
son did not arrive until near 4 P.M., up to which
i, time Hill’s corp 1- had maintained tbe unequal
i combat single-handed.
e It will he proper topremise, that for reasons
which will abundantly appear in the course of
r this narrative, it is utterly impossible at the pres-
- ent to prepare either a full or correct account of
the battle fought to-day. Tbe skirmishers were
engaged as early as 6 o’clock this morning.
• From that hour until night the combat lasted with
1 varied success. Garland’s brigade was the first
i to enter the fight, and Anderson’s, (N. C.) Ripley’s,
3 Rhodes’, and Colquitt’s, went in subsequently,and
» in the order in which their names occur. Gar
s land was killed about 9 o’clock by a minnie ball,
which struck him m the breast, as he was gal*
- lantly leading a charge. Col. Manning, ot the
Fiftieth Georgia, of Drayton’s brigade, which
» came up late in the day, was wounded. Bnyond
1 these two, I have heard of no other casualties
r among the officers engaged, though many have,
s doubtless, been killed or wounded.
1 There was but one road (tbe Cumberland pike)
by which Longstreet and Andersen could move
1 from Hagerstown to Boonsboto’; consequently
• the forces got into position slowly after the arriv-
• al. Upon reaching the vicinity of the mountain,
1 the several divisions and brigades were sent for
ward to their proper places, to reach which they
5 had to file off to the right and left by narrow
, country roads and get up the mountain side as
best they could. There were two smaller gaps—
. one on the right and the other on the left—to
> which forces were immediately sent forward. For
these reasons, it was nearly sunset oefore the
t whole of Longstreet’s corps got fully into posi
-1 tion, though the brigades, first to arrive, had
been engaged two hours or more.
c Thus, you perceive, that the enemy had not
1 only greatly the advantage in numbers, owing to
■ the absence of a large portion of our troops, but
i was tbe first to get into position. When the
Confederates would charge down the mountain,
' they were subjected to a terrific cross fire from
the Federal batteries posted on the spurs and
' elevations on the Eastern side, which rendered it
1 impossible to advance. Indeed, tor reasons suf
i ficiently apparent upon a perusal of this narrative,
lam inclined to believe that the enemy got the
' best of the fight. They will certainly claim a
' victory, and subsequent events will give some
f coloring to the clainti.
Tbe troops under D. H. Hill behaved with
great gallantry, and none more so than Rhodes’
brigade of Alabamians, and Colquitt’s brigade of
Georgians. The former brigade is composed of
the Third, Fifth, Sixth, Twelfth, and Thirty-sixth
Alabama regiments, and the latter of the Sixth,
Twenty-thtrd, Twenty-seventh and
eighth Georgia regiments, and ihe Thirteenth
Alabama. Up to this hour, I have heard of no
casualties among the officers in either command.
The artillery engaged under Hill was Cutt’s
i battalion of artillery and Bonduraat's (formerly
Montgomery’s) battery, recruited chiefly in Ala
bama. Lieut, Col. Cutt’s battalion is composed
wholly cf Georgians. The artillery was handled
with great skill and judgment. Captain Lane, a
son of Senator Joe Lane, of Oregon, commands
one of Cutt’s batteries. He is an excellent officer,
and fought his battery splendidly. The same may
be said of Capt. Ross, Capt. Patterson, and Capt.
batalion—all excellent officers, and Jed by Col.
Cutts, one of the best artillerists in the service.
He wag made Lieutenant Colonel of Artillery for
gallantry and skill m the ugly affair at Draines
ville, last December.
Evans’, Jones’, Toombs’, (except his old brig- ?
ade and himself had been left at Hagerstown as I
agua d,) Hood's and other divisions in lx>ng- |
street's corps participathd in the fight late in the
afternoon, but with what results lam unable to
inform you. The battfe continued until 8 o’clock
at eight, each side, with unimportant exceptions,
maintaining its original ground.
Jackson, A. P. Hill and McLaws had been sent
to operate against Harper’s Ferry, where the
enemy had between eight and ten thousand
troops, which it was their purpose to capture.
News had been received that Banks was moving
up with a heavy force for she relief of tbe Fed*
eral troops at that poirt. With a view, there
fore, to the concentration of his forces, and to
insure the reduction of Harper’s Ferry, General
Lee determined, at nine o’clock to-night, to aban
don his position in front of Boonsboro’, and to
move down towards the Potomac on our
which was McClellan’s left. The wagon trains
were ordered to withdraw to the river at Wils
liamsport above, recross at that place, and move
down to Shepherdstown, on the Virginia side
below, just opposite Sharpsburg, m Maryland.
This movement made it necessary for us to
leave our dead and wounded ia the hands of the
enemy. I fear also that they captured some bun -
dreds of prisoners, men who bad fallen asleep or
got out of position. The wagon train was cut by
a detachment of 1,600 Federal cavalrv, who were
making their escape from Harper’s Ferry. They
were no’ aware of the position of aflairs until they
struck the road the trains had laken. They
stopped long enough to destroy (according to re
port) about seventy ordnance wagons attached to
Longstreet’s corps These events, as 1 have al
ready intimated, lead the energy to
claim a great victory eVw the combined
Gen - Lee - P.WIA.
Sharpsburg, Md., Sept. 15.
The movement to this place last night was
successfully executed. The army is now in a
positioß where it can be concentrated, or, if need
ko wtiam mlisf can be sent to Jackson oijßck
be, where relief ca. change has renq-gd it
move down ? 0 « 1 understaa, be
forces and bis capital im», »
is now doing. F-rrv wlcli.
We have rumors from Harpet l ier v
for the present, I forbear to
cient that Jackson will probably V
turing the entire Federal force at that F ace. Je
wagons have recrossed tbe river at
and are now moving down to
three miles from this place. • • g
Sharpsburg, Sept-loio.
We have just received the gratifying n
Jacl>on’. complete sucees. “ “•TJ/be"u
He has not only reduced the place, jut
captured (it is reported) 8,700 o ’ r( j na pee
mense quantity of commissary » nd . n^J“ D I S
stores thirty odd pieces of field urtnie y
several siege guns, and sll the arms in the bands
oPhTprisoners, ’’o.her reports
of arms taken at a considerably b.gher figur ,
but you will hear from Richmond the correct
number be'ore this letter can get through to you.
The Federate were chiefly new troops, and were
commanded by Gen. Miles, tbe officer who was
suspended for drunkenness at Centreville dur g
tbe first battle of Manassas. One rumor hasin
that they were cammanded by a General of vol
onel Smith. The prisoners have been parolea
and sent on to Washington. .
There was but little fighting—indeed, nothing
but slight skirmishing. The position occuDiecl
by our forces so completely covered the place,
that no avenue of escape was left to the ene»y-
McLaws held the .Maryland Heigh ts on thisi side
of the river, and Jack°on and Hill investee the
place on the Virginia side. The enemy saw their
predicament, and were wise enough to submit to
an unconditional surrender. The men were
marched out and required to stack their arms
in presence of our troops, drawn up in line to en
force the order, if need be. .
Jackson recrossed the river this morning, ana
reached this place this afternoon. McLaws came
up later, and will move into position eaf*? "**
morrow. lam not informed where A. r. HUI is,
but it is reported he was left at Harper s r erry.
Jackson has gone up to the le't.
There has been aeavy artillery firing n? aJ ’ 1 y a ,
day. The combatants are taking up their final
positions and feeling of each o'her, preparatory
to a great battle to-morrow. The casualties have
been slight on either side. Some of the enemy a
shells bursted in this place, but no one of toe
citizens was killed. Late this afternoon-about
sunset —the enemy made a bold dash on the left,
with the hope of driving us from a commajidtng
position; but he was disappointed and driven
back. This is tbe only time the infantry have
been engaged to-day. . . , j.u
Tbe report tbakGeneral Loring had crossed tne
Potomac some days ago, was without tounda-
■ tion. I cannot tell you where he is; fori do not
know.
10 o’clock at Night.—lt seems I was mistaken
in one particular in regard to tbe capture of Hars
per’s Ferry. Instead of being a bloodless vic*
tory, I now hear from tbe most reliable sources
that a desperate battle was fought Sunday after
noon on this side of the river at Crampton 8
Gap in the Blue Ridge. Gen. Howell Cobb, with
his own brigade and about 500 men of Mabone 8;
was ordered by Major General McLaws to occupy
the Gap and hold it, if need be, at the cost of
every man in his command. It was known that
the enemy had sent heavy reinforcements for the
relief of Harper’s Ferry, and that they were
’ moving up the river on the Maryland side, and
in the direction of Crampton’s Gap, Jackson and
A. P Hill were on the Virginia side, and it was
desirable that these reinforcements should either
' be driven back or delayed until the reduction of
, the place could be accomplished. Hence the in
structions of Gen. McLaws to Gen. Cobb-
i Tbe enemy reached the Gap, 15,000 strong, at
3 P. M. Sunday, and immediately gave battle to
Cobb’s small force of 2,100. A fearfully uneqal
and terrific fight ensued. Should the enemy suc
ceed in passing the- Gap that afternoon, they
1 would reach Harper’s Ferry in time to relieve the
beleagered garrison. The Confederates appre
ciated the nesessities of their position, and freely
opposed their bodies a living wall against the
■ hostile host. Tbe battle lasteo until night. Cobb
was not only forced to give back, but he was
flanked on the right and left, and suffered terribly.
Indeed, his command was almost annihilated,
but still his brave troops fought with a desper
ation and courage which has not been surpassed
during the war.
At length night came, and the enemy had not
passed the Gap, though he bad slowly cut his way
through our mutilated ranks. Tbe object of the
Confederates bad been accomplished; they had
delayed the advance of the enemy until it was too
late for him to get through Sunday night. Next
morning the Federal forces at Harper’s Ferrv sur
rendered to tbe heroic Jackson, but Cobb did the
fighting. Let him wear the crown who wins tbe
victory.
I have seen no list of pur heavy casualties. It is
known, however, that the Hen. John B. Lamar,
of Macon, Ga., the brother-in law and volunteer
aid of Gen. Cobb, was killed. His body was
saved and taken to the Virginia side. Col. Jeffer
son Lamar, commanding the “Tom Cobb Legion,”
in the absence of Col. T. R. R. Cobb, was wound
ed and fell into tbe bands of the enemy. It is
supposed that be was mortally wounded. The
Legion suffered very severely.
But I must close. We are on the eye of a ter
rible conflict, and heaven only knows wbat the
result will be. From all I see around me, I feel
certain that one of the greatest battles of the wax
will be fought here to-morrow. The enemy are
in tremendous force—not less than 140,000 men
The Antietam river is in our front, the Potomac
in our rear. If we are defeated, the army must
perish; it successful, the stream in front and the
Blue Rtdge, at whose base it flows, will prevent
any pursuit. It is an awkward position; but the
genius of our leaders and the valor of our tioop?,
with the favor of Providence, will yet deliver us.
Tbe source of tbe greatest regret is, that wfe shall
probably have to recrosa the Potomac.
P. W. A.
BUY CON FED* KATE BONDS.
From the Richmond (Va.) Enquirer, Sept. 1«.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
reveals tbe fact that no very large amount has as
yet been invested in Confederate bonds. At the
same time money is very abundant, and the
holderg are spending it es freely as water. Not
only are tbe highest prices paid lor necessaries,
[ for which it seems there is no help, but super
| fluities are indulged in at whatever cost, so long
|as money lasts. AH ideas of economy and self
denial seem to have been dismissed, and almost
every one seems impatient to spend whatever
money ne may oe able to get hold of.
Tais course will prepare many bitter regrets
and much suffering for tbe future. Peaoe will
bring with it tbe burdens of taxation. The deot
which we are contracting in the public defence
will have to be paid, and the people will have to
pay it, and they should, as far as possible, provide
for this.
Why should not all endeavor, in these flush
times, when money is cheap, to gather up enough
of»it to puichase a Confederate bond? Interest at
eight ver cent, is allowed, and it will come tn ad»
mirably to balance the tax which, in some form,
must be levied in pretty heavy burden, to pav the
debts of the country, and meet the regular de
mands of the Government. Those who partake
of the reckless disregard for money, which now
seems so fashionable, and squander it with pro
fusion in petty indulgences which they could do
so well without, will regret their foby when the
pinching times shall come 1 They, on the contra*
ry, who resist now the prevailing mania, and
purchase the interest-bearing obligations of the
Government, as an offset against its fu'ure de
mands, will have reason to congratulate them
selves on their prudence, and, we will say, com*,
mon sense- for surely common sense would each
tnem to do so.
In short, let our people not forget those habits
of economy, end thrift, and foresight, which are
necessary to prosperity, and which cannot be dis
suffering ° F depil<ted frotn wi ’hout distress and
J. ®. Wilkins, British Consul, aud Mr. Ander—
r?n°^on rß L at,aChe S ° f the Legation at Wash
„’ii d re s P rin ßfi-><i. Illinois, oh the 12th,
thA d snh unr oQ r° oVerDor „ Ya,eß to consult upon