t If
B, W. MOORE. pHitnn
O. B 000DLANDER. Edltor'
vol.. xxxni. wnoLt: no hg
miNCIPJES, not MEN.
TERMS- $1 2r pir Arrvir. :' j rid in m t ut
CLKAItKIKU), V WIDMDAY, APIil!,2! lC3
M:v.sr.i; i vol hino ij.
OFFICIAL REPORT CF GIN.
CLELIAN.
Mc-
Xhedtfmeh0f the'ECuaSoHw? T'ont tlio invasion of Pennsylvania and tinetly heard at lliiriia' Feuynd tliut lot worn thoc.cd and the adjoining hill,
on'a Landing to the Close of the Biit- dive Ihem out of Maryland. Being hon-j they wore thus made aware tliut wo vure was fully Mjoces.l'j;.
tleof Antictam. 'When Lee Was Em- ored with Iho charge of iho campaign, I : n p i onclj rnK rapidly. It whs confidently j Kickotts' division pressed up the tuoun
en OUt Of Maryland- mined at once upon iho fldditional expected Dint this lace could hold out taiti about fir. m., urriving at Hie crest
Usadqvartlm A it m"yo r i tin Potomac. 1 i''''" '"'I'd "!'on f i I h cheerfulness ' until wo had carried the mountains mid wi,h tlfl c(t of llU ,.ntn,imnd j,, ,im(, ,
October 15, 1.SC2. J "'"I ,r"'l .vrl no1 "I'ho'it folding tho 'vera in a position lo make a ilntui diluent participate in iho closing scene or the en
Gvirl: 1 have tho honor lo submit weight o( the respns.hd n ies thus assumed, for its relied". The left, therefore, was or- gapemenl. Relieving Hatch"! division,
preliminary report of (he military opcrs'und being defply improved with tho uing. derod to move through JollVrsnn to tho Ki.dctls romainod on tho .'round, holding
tioniundiTtny oli-ir' Hinrothoovnouaii''i'deof lhf i-.ii.-involvpd. South Mountain, at Cramptoi.s T.iss, in i)(,tlu (ield during tho iiij;hl. The
tlon of llarritou'n Landing. j Unviii nia.l ihn n.-opary Arrange", j fiont of l'.m kultsville, n hil ttio oontro or ) mountt.i.f sidoR Umim irnlliintly pn-.$d over
..Tho tno.iirodiroctfd hy the Gi'rv'nd-iti. jmpnls f.r tho ('ofonce of tho city in the right moved upon tho muin or Turner's (,v lt,okor on tli rV'ht o( the gap and
Chief n ocoiilod kuc 'osslully, with on- now condition of thinf--, 1 pushed forward ' l'a'fl, in front of Middletown. liirinp l,.no on tho loft wore sloop and diflicult
tire sal'.-ty to my oommand ard if nuilok h firt and ninth corn-, under Generals these movements 1 lnd not imposed long j tJH PXirom. Vv'e could make hut lit
rial, between the l ltlrnnd 10th of Ai. ' Iiono nnd Ho.iker. formin? the rij-'hV win?, i idmcIips on the i:oIiiini)i. Tho uhsoluie ti ) our arlillcry, whilo our trotipa
ut. 'J ho lino of withdrawal oeleeie ' wi; f under (Jon. Pnrnsido, to I.ooshurg, on tho Heredity of rcfiUing ami piving soma lit- j Wl;ru sui.d to a warm arlilleiy lire, a
that of the mouih of tho Chiekahoiiiiny,
Wjlliatnsbtirg and Voiktonn. I'pontl.ii
linn the main bodv of the arm, with iS!
it tiain, was moved, Ileintzlcmnn's r oi ps
(irocMng the Cliickahomirany at Jnne's
bridge, and covering by its march tho
movement of the main column. The pax,
tag a of tho lower Chiekahominy was ef
fected by meai.s of a lint lean bridge two
tboiidand feet in leng'h. The trai:alerof
the army to Yorktown was coinpleted by
X9th of AuguM. Tho embMkalion of the
troops and material ut Vorktown and For
trew Monroe win at once commenced, and
nl)d as rapidly as the means of tiam-porta-lion
admitted, everything was cent fei
ward to Acq'iii crerk and Alexandria.
No mere hketch ot an undertaking of such
magnitude, and yet of ho dedicate a milit
ry character w ill outliee to do justice. I
must now content myself with a simple
noti e of it, deferring a full description for
toy oflicial ropor' of the campaign before
'Richmond a labor which 1 propose lo
undertake as soon as events will allord me
the necessary time. Jus' ic.o to the achieve
ment of (he Aimy of tho Potomac and
the bravo men who composed it require
that tho cII'k iid record of that campaign
fhci.lJI c rreparod with more care than
ciroumM.ireei havo hitherto permitted
me to bosloiv upon it. The delay will not
havi; been fck a- injurious to the publie
"iiH'Tii, iniisniucii as ia iii'qui'M icpor.
from time t i time I have kept tho depart
ment advised rj events ns they occurred.
.."I ro.ichcd Ae(pii". creek with ny .s'.all'on
the 24'h of Aei..i'-t, reported icy anival.
and r.-ki d for h i Oi the 27th of An
gUt received, Iff in ihe '.Josoral-insCiiief
jetmi-siim to pi'ieoel to Alexandria,
wheie 1 r.t once fixed iny headquarters.- -The
lrofp oinpo-ing the Army of the
Totomfio ivere meanwhile ordered forward
ii) rein fore the army under General Tope.
( Complete wms this order carried out
that on theuOth of August I had remain
ing under my command only a camp guard
of about one hundred men. Ku'Whing
els had been nt to reinforce Genual
Tope. In addition, 1 cxhnuM'l all the
means at my disposal lo forivaul suj plief
to tli n t offiitr, my own headquarters team
ven being used for that purpose. Upon
the ui.fo! tr i nritc Isue of that campaign
1 received uv intiiinlion from the Oetietal '.
Sll-Chief tint my services ere desired for
the' jpntposM of arranging fi r the di fence
of the .Mpi'ub Tl.ey were at oncocher
fully given, although, while await ii.g deli
idle i list i net ions ul Alexundria, 1 bad cri'
detvored, is just cen, lo promote a favor
able result in th operation then pend
ing, and had thus contributed, though in
directly, yet i"i far v. 1 could, to the de.
fence of Washington. Or. the 2d of Sep
teniber tho formal order uf the War Ihs
pnrtment planed me in command of 'he
fortifications of Washington "and of all
the troopR for th defence of tho cepitol."
On the l't of September 1 had been ir
true ted Hut I had nothing to do with the
troopi engaged in active operations under
Geneial Pope, but that my command was
limited lo tho immediate garrison of
Washing ton. On the next dny, however,
I waa verbally instructed by tho President
and the General-in Chief to assume corns
tnand of Gen. Pope's Irn ps (including my
own Army of the lotomnc) as noon as they
Approached tho vicinity of Washington, to
go out and meet them, and to post them
as I deomed best to repulse the enemy
and insure Ihe -afety of the city. i
At this time the task imposed upon me
vm limited to the dispositions necessary
to resist ft direct attack of the enemy up
on tho capitol. Such, indeed, was (he
,.11,. ;,i; ,., . 1 t ,. , l , r .
of our forces in the fr ml The v I
garrison! wero nt once strcnghened and
. . , . , .. . ... ,.
EiTr:..
" .'i ,
niinn nnv
nd to as to bo readily thrown
threctenod point. New defences were
1 j
v , 1 1 .1
mrOWIl tin u-lint'A rlinn-irt,t nppoa&nrv A
..' , , , V , r ' .or weeus. u wa not
Zll Vu hftoco!rrrr to ador either thru ,,7,,t,.
ZmZJ T T i , lhCtUlJfC' t ' "Xy d'r"
vl : r -upon the ,, ii too kte to Anything crcept to trV ,o
,'e d,MrPr"nC f ,h relieve foni.
from the u-.ni ol W hiuelon, nnd their I directed frtilb-.v t ,p :.i. f,u.,
nfnge into Maryland, enlarge I the
sphere of ojiraiinnif and made an active
Mnu.uiir . a.....,. 1 ...... am l'..lii..,..
it'i mft. : HiPnco Uio first corpj, by
1'iiouki illo, f.'ookosvil!() and Kidgeville, to : long-continued marching and severe tiht- j ,nr undercover. P'v order of (ion. lUirc
Freileriek ; and the Ninth corps by Innijing, topell.or with the uncertainty us to j Cule, Oil. boil's hi igad'e of Hatch's division,
' reus, on New Market and Frederick.
j The Second and Eleventh corp, under
. denernlaSumner and VV ibianif", on tlieOtli
were moved Irom Jenalleytown to hock
ville ; thence by Middleburg and Urbana
on Frederick, the Eleventh corps, moving
by a Inderal road between Urbana and
New Market, Inn" maintaining tho com
munication between tho centre nnd right
wing ns well as covering the direct route
from Frederick to Washington. The Sixth
corps, under Goneri Franklin, was moved
to Damestown on the Gth in-t., thence by
Oawsonrille and P.arnsvillo on Puckeys
t07n, covering the road from the mouth
of the Mooocacy lo llorkville, and being j paged, be furnished. Tho South Mountain
in position to connect with and support I range, near Turner'.? Ta-s, averages per
the centre, should it have been necessary ! haps a thousand foil in height, and forms
(a was supposed) to force Mic lino of the strorg natural military Lanier. The
Monoeaey. (.'ouch's division was thrown i prai I ioable passes are not numrrotiH, and
forward lo OlTut's Cross lioads and Pooles I me readily defensible, the gaps abounding
ville by the riv-cr road, thus coveting lhat j iu fine positions. Turner's Pass is Ihe
approach, watching the fords of the Poto-1 more prominent, being that by which the
tn.ic; and ul'.i.m.'.t cly following nnd sup-J national road crosses the mountain. It
port in it the Sixth eiris. The objects of
these movements was to feel the enemy
to compel him lo dovelopehiti intentions
at the same time that the troops a ero in six miles below. wa ' important lo fur
position ready to cover Baltimore or Wash nidi means of leaching tho flank of
ii.gton, lo attaik him should ho bol l the the enemy, and having, as a lattcrid move.
Jiueol Uio ju.i...,r, i, (viiiin i.tui into mciit, direct relations lo the attack on the
Vciiulj Ivania if necessary. On the 12th a principal , while it r.t t ho same time
poi tioi' of the right wing entered Fi-eder-' presented the ino lUreci piaetieable
iek. after a bi i- f skirn i.-li :d tli..- out-k irtt. ! route for fhe relief of lurper's Ferry.
ol the. city and in its : treats. On the l.'llh ' Early in the morning of September 1 1,
the main bodies of the right in;. and e-n. J Gen. Plens inlon, with a eavaliy force, io
ne pasted through Frederick. In this ! cinnoilered tho po-ition of the enemy.
city tho manifestations of Union feeling
were abundant and gratifying. Tho
troops received the moil enthusiastic weK 1
ci me at the hands of the inhabitants. On j
ibe 13lh the advance, consisting of I'leass
anion's cavalry and horso artillery, af'er j
some skit in ii hing, cleared the main p1!'
age over the CVoctin hills, leaving no tes
rious .ibtiuetion to the movement of the
main bedy un;d tho lac of iho South
Mountain range was reached. j
While at Frederick, on thp 13th, I ob-
tnined reliable iuforuialioii of Iho mute-
inenl and intentions of tho enemy, which
made it. clear that it was necessary to foreo
he ps-age of the South Mountain range,
in. d gain po-ession cf Boonsborouch and
R'il reoville befoie any relief could be af
i.'ideii to ii.ii per n
Fe
rry.
On ihe mon.i,, f il1P 13,, I ,eceived ; f'ont' wllic1' gaVl' liS -on of nn '"'
vei..l message from Col. Mile com- ' l,orlanl Pr il,t lor 1,11 ' I:'r operations.
mandingat Ut'n Fe, rv inf. rmi'n" me Frc9U 'dies of tlie enemy now appearing,
that on .he preceding af-'ernooa theMa Cox'8 (livifion' though held aubbornly.
ryhilid Heijhts had been abandoned, ufirr
repelling tin nitack by the rebels, nnd that c,0l'k' r' M'' Wil,;ox''' division of Reno's
the whole force was concentrated at ll.tr- cnrl was ni l'nrwl,t ''J" - "'"'nside
por's Ferry. Iho Mavvh.nd, Loudon n.d to aupport (Vx. and heiwoen 2nnd3 i-. m.,
Bolivar Heights being all in possession of , SUirgi' ,llvi!ion ,vas SPnl
the pnemy. Tho messenger stated that' Ihe con!et was lnainlained will) perse
there was no apparent reason for theaban- verance until dark, the enemy having tho
doomentof tho Maryland Heights, and advantage as to position, nnd fighting with
lhat, lliough Col. Miles asked for assist- obstinacy; but the group 1 won was fully
ance, he said he could hold out cerlainlv maintained. The loss in killed nml wotins
I two days. I directed him to make his
way back, if possible, with tho infornia-
lion that I was rapidly approaching, and
would undoubtedly relieve the place. By
threo other courier! sent the same mes-
sago, with tho order to hold cut lo the
last. j
1 do not learn that any of these messeno
gcrs succeeded in reaching Harper's Per-1
ry. IthouU here flak that on the l'2ih 1 u as '
directed to asmime command of the qarrunn nt ,
Haiprr't Ferry, butth.il or Jtr reached me atlsr'
fall communication tcith the garrison vat cvt cjT, I
Before I left Washington, and whilo it
e WaS VP. limn I .wnlnn.nn.1,l I I . ., I ll.!
i.uu.ii ciimw iiiui. uie
PaiTlson r Ha-per'a Ferry bhould be withs
, urawn, Via HBCGl'StOWn. 10 ftld in OOVprinn
the Cuml rri,..ri . n V I
mo Cumberland valley; or that, taking
-ith the division of ,
luiiroau ernige, 11 slioulrt fall back to the
ir....i 1 1 1 .1 . . . ...
fall back to the j
to the last.
luflmuu iiog.us, ana there hold its own I
in this nos it inn il ivm.!,I I .... .
' umn
1 :i...ir r. . . -
by our advanced guards us a f 1,7 1 1 :1 to tho
garrison that relief was nt hand. This was
rltttii) ttrwl I h.nin flovl nnr firito ivns 1 ?H-
, I lo rest to troops Horn down by previous
; the actual position, elrongth and intention
I of the enemy, rendered it incumbent up
, on mo to move slowly nnd cautiously un'il
the. he.idquaitcrs reached Urbana, ii here
I firht obtained tiliablo inforuiali'.'i) that
tho enemy's object was io move upon Hur
per's Ferry and tho Cumberland valley,
and not upon Palthr.oic, Wathinyton or
Gettysburg.
In the absence cf the full report of coips
commanders, a simple outlino id' the bril
liant operation! which lesultedin thecar
rying of the two pnsres through the South
Mountain is all that can at thin time, w ith
justice to the troops and commanders en.
! was neooarilv indicated as the route cf
advance of our ixnin army.
The larrviiiji of Cramiton' l ass, five or
whun he liscoveie.l ihetn to occupy the
crests of commanding hills in ( he gap or.
either side of the national road, and upon
advnr tageous ground in the cer.lro upon
and near tho roal, with artillery bearing
lIl,o:i ho approaches to their position,
whether that by the main ro.id or that by
Die country road.-, which led around up to
Iho crest upon the right nnd left. At
about 8 o'clock, a, n., ( ox's division ol
Iteno's corps, a portion of Hurn-ide's col
umn, in co-operation with Ihe reconnoiss
sauce, which by Ihis limo hud be.iomean
attack, moved up the mountain by the old
Kharp-burg road to the 1 e It of the main
loan, dividing ns l Ley advanced into two
columns. These columns (Scammon's and
Cook's brigades) handsomely carried the
enemy's position on tho crest in lb
iieeame critical, ami ic!ween ana 1 d.
ded here w.is considerable on both side?,
and it was here that Major General Ri no.
who hail pone forward to observe Ihe opes
rations of his corp', and to give such di-
rectinns ns were necessary, foil pierced
with a musket ball. Tho loss of this brave
and distinguished oflieor tempered with
wtneas ihe exultation of sadness. A pal-
'ant soldier, an abln eneral, endeared to
troop! and associates', hit death is Mt
n "n irreparable- los.
About throe o'clock.!'. n Honker!
corps, of Purnside's column, moved up to
the right of the main road ly a country
1 1' i. . I. .1
iiniii, niuo.1, uunuiriB 10 lueilglll, lliOII
turning up lo the left, circuitously wound
lla wnv hpvnnd Iho rrn.l sf lU r n.o ll, I
1
Mountain House, on the main road. Gen. '
Pennsylvania Reserves, lo attack the emi-i
nence to the rii:lit of this entrance to the I
. , . . , .
gup, wnicn was uono most tiandsomety 1
I
nnd successfully.
rnlr,ck,, lr, , of IIatch,, divih;on
WM se"l-e Portion up around the road, '
to turn the hill on the led, while tho re-1
mainder ndvsnced as.kirmL-hcr.-up the '
biil.md ty-rq-M the rr-t. -..pportod bv
loublcday'H and Phelp's hii-ades. The
movement, nfte r a shnrp contest on the
crest nnd in (tin fnl.l.i i 1 . ,-l..tM.,. ci.tr.
s we ls t(, that of infantry in tho woods
J ntc j,, the al'iernoon, advaticd upon the
j ,.e,tic 0f ,np enemy's portion op the main
1 IVployinu' his brigade Gibbon ac-
j lively engaged a superior force of the ene
my, which, though stubbornly tesisting,
was steadily pressed back until some hours
after dark, when Gibbon remained in un,
disturbed possession of the field, lie was
iLcn relieved by a brigade of Sedgwick. 'a
division. Finding themselves outflanked
both on Ihe tight nnd left, tho enemy
abandoned their position during the night,
leaving their dead and wounded on the
field, and hastily retreated down the moun
tain. In tho engagement at Turner'! Pass our
loss wns three hundred and twenty-eight
killed, and one thousand' four hundred
and sixly-three wounded and mi.-.-ing ;
that of the enemy is estimated to be in
all about three thousand. Among our
wounded, 1 regret to say, a ero Urifa lier
General.!. P. Hatch und other valuable
officer-''
The carrying of Crnmpton's Pass bv
Fraiiklin wi executed rapidly and dccis-j lo Jlagerslow n, and protected by woods, from Poller's corps, (the rer-ervet) to
ively. Sloctim'sdU i-ion was formed upon ! and other irregularities i f the ground, i btientheo ihe right. This left for the re.
the right of tho road leading through the j Their extreme left rested upon a wooden ! serve the small division of regulars who had
right of the gap, Smith'i upon the left. A i eminence near the ci-s muds to the nonh ! been engaged in supporting during the day
lino, formed of I'.artlett's and Torbitt's j c-f J. Miller'b farm, the disianeeat Ihiijthc batteti in the centre and a singlo
brigades, supported In Ne ton, r. hose ac ! point between the road and tho Potomac, ! brigade of Murcll's divisions. Before I
tivity was con pieuous (.ill of Shaum's which makes herea gr ?al bend lo the east, I led the right to return ti theoentre, I be
divlsion,) advanced steadily upon the on I being about three fourths of u mile. iC into sati.-fied that the lino would Lo
emy at a charge oi: the right. The enemy i Their tight rested on the hills U the rit bt ', held without these two br gades, and c Tin
were driven fre.it! Iheir joition at the base of Nlu.-psburg, near Snuvely's farm, covers ! termanded ihe order, '.h.ch was iu course
of the mountain, where they weie pioiec- ing I he crossing of Antietiim and ihe aps'cif execution. The ell'ecl of Bur, side's
led by a stone wall, ami steadily forced proaches to I he town from tho southeast. ' m ivement on the enemy 's right was to pro
hack up the mountain until they reached The ground between their immed nUe ; vp"1 t ho further r.mssing of their troop!
the position of their battery near the road, front and fhe Antictam creek is undul.i- on tho left, and ire held what we hadgains
well up ihe mountain. Here they mude ting. Hills intervene whose crest in gen- eJ-
a stand. They were, however, driven crai are command jd bv the crests of others ' Bciriiside'scoi p, consisting of Wilcox'!
back, retiring their artillery in rcwLn un-' in their rear. On ail favorable points Su,'fc'ij' a,'d Rid nan's division and Cox,!
til, after nn notion of three l.onra, the crest ! their aridUry was p-.sied. Ii became ev ! K divi-ion, w..s entrusted wit'i tho
was p.vned, and iho enemy ba-tily fled j ident, trout ihe fine of the enemy and '-J'1''111 f CAt '! '"r ,!l, ide acros
down the mountain on other the side. On 1 lb.- strength of their po-hion, that desi.er-' tllu Allli':tai"' "e "' K,,i't back's firm, and
the left of Iho road Brook's and Irvin's
brigade's. ofSmith's divi-ions, formed for
the ptft f lion of Siocum s flank, charged
up Iho mountain in the same steady man-!
ner, driving the enemy before them until
the crest rt-if' cat ' led. The loss in Frank-
lin'scoipi was one hundred and fifteen
killed, four hundred anil sixteen wounded
and two misMii.'. Tho enemy's loss was
about tLe tame. One piece of artillery
and four colors were captured, and knap'
sacks, anil even haversacks, wero aban-
loned as the enotny wero driven up the
hill.
On lit mor.iing of the 1.1th i wits infoi-'
mod by Union civilians living on thesideg
of tlie mountains Hi it tho enemy were re
treating in the greatest haste and in dis
ordered masses to tho river. There was
such a ina-sof te.-timony on this point
that there seemctl no doubt as to the fact
The hasty retreat of the enemy's forces
front the mountain, and the withdrawal
of the remaining troops from between
BooieiLorotirli mid Hagerstown to a posi
tiou alien they could resist attack and
covor the Shephordstow-n ford, and receive
the reinforcement-, expected from Harp
er's Ferty, ere lor a time ir.terpreted as
evidence of the enemy's disorganization
and demoralisation.
As soon as it was definitely known lhat
that Iho enemy had abandoned tho moun
tains, the cavalry and the corps of Sumr.er,
Hooker nnd Mausliehl wero ordered to
pursuo them, via tho turnpike ami I'oon'
boro', as promptly as possible. The corps
of Pumside. and Porter (the latter having
but one weak division present) were ord
ered to move by Iho Sharj-sburg road, and
Pro n 1 1 1 11 tn lull-in into )!.. ,uur.l ....11....
.-.
occupy Rohrersville, nnd to endeavor t(
relieve Harper'. Ferry. Bumsido and
Porter, upon reaching the road from
Boonsboro' lo Rohrcrsville. were to rein
1. 1 . . . .
iorce rraiiKim or to move on .-i)arrf-iiurc.
o
according (o circumstances. Franklin
moved toaards Brownsville, m.d found
there a force largely .uperior to Li. own
drawn up in a strong posilion to receive
him. Here the total cessation of tiring in
tl - din, ti m ol Harpei'- lVn v i,,d e.ted1
but lo; clearly the nhnmefid ulid pretna- when the two corps diovp the enemy
lure surrender of I hat post. hack the g dl ml and diiing 'i-lied vet
The ciivhIi v advance overtook a body of (mm M ni-lie;d l -inu bis lif- in the eoi't.
the enemy's cavalry at Poonsboio', uliicli General II. .is unhappily, about 'his I'nio
il disper-ej. nfier a brief skirmi-h, killing wounded, nnd (Minpelleil to lo ivn th' fi-ld
and wounding many, Inking somo two where his services hud'been con'pio i n
hundred and tidy prisoners and two guns, ami important. About an hour after ihj..
Uicluiid-on's division of Snninei -'s corps, time Sunircf's corps, consisting of Kndg
passing Poiin-boro' to Kerlysvillo, found a wiek's, Kiehar json's and French's li v 1 s
few mile beyond the town ihe enemy's ions, m rived on tlio fielti Hichardsou
forces displayed in line id' buttle, strorg aome time after the other two, as he wn
both in ii'Speet to t umbeis nnd posiiinn, unatle to start as soon ath -m. Sedg'vick
and awaiting nttnek. Upc.n reeeivingre- on the i ight, penetrated the woods in front
port of tho disposition of the enemy, I of Ilnoker'a and Manslield'i tioops.
diiecied all the corps, except Franklin's, j French and Richardson wera placed to
upon Slnirpsbu'g, leaving Franklin to ob-' the left ot Sedgwick, thus attacking the en
serve and check the enemy in his front, emy towards the r left centre. Crawford'
and avail himself of any chnnce that might and S3dgvick's lines, however, lelded to
( fl r 1 hi. d hoped to come up with the a deslruuiive fiio of masses of iho enemy
enemy during the ljth. in sufficient force in tho voods, and sutlet ing gteally, (Oens
to beat them again and drive them into er.'ds Sedgwick and Crawford being among
the river. My instruction! were that if the wounded') the troops fell back in dn
the enemy were not on the march they order. They nevertheless rallied in the
were to be at once attacked ; if they were woods. Tho enemy's advanco wa. bow
found in fo'ce and position the corps were over, entirely chocked by tho destructive
lo be placed in position for attack ; but fire of our artillery. Franklin, who had
no kttuck was to be made until I reached been directed the day before to join iho
the front. j mail army with two divisions, arrived on
Oiiarrivingatthefiontinthe afternoon the field from Brownsville about an hour
I found but two divisions (Richardson's after, and Smith's division replaced Sedg
and Sykes') in josition. The rest were wick' and Crawford'! line. Advancing
halted in the road, Ihe head or the cotum j bte.ijily, it swept over theground just lost
some distance in the rear of Richardson. but now permanently retaken. The di
After a rapid examination of the position j visions of French and Richardson main
I found that it was too lale to attack lli it (aitied with considerable- loss the er-oswi
day, and once directed locations to be so- j positions which they hud !' gallantly
lecUd for our batteries of position, and in gained, amo:)(; the wounded being General
dieated the bivouacafor tho dilh rent corps, Riohnrdjon.
massing them near and on both sides orj The condition of things on tin. right t
the Sharpsburg pike. The corps wt io not wards the middle oi the uftei noon, uot
all in llieir place.- unu'l the next morning, withstanding the success wrested Irom the
some limn after sunrise. enemy Ly tho stubborn brave ry of tho
On the l'ith the enemy had tlight ly i troop j, was ut this l.ma unpromising,
changed their line and were posted upon ! SuuiaerV, Hooker's and Mansfield's corps
iho. heights in the rear of ihe Ai-'.h.Um had lost heavily, several general officers
creek, their left and centre bearing ui on bavins been carried from the field. I was
and m Irom of the icad from Sl.arpsbui g
ate lighting alone could di ive ihem fion,
the hold, "and a!i fe.t tt.atn ei-e.nt H
terrible bait
n -
' was nt IiuhI.
jn ,)rot.t,,.(,m,, lo ;l ,,.nrvha of .
vents of this and succeeding day, I rau.
here repeat what I have observed in ic
porling ujion the other suljecta of this
communication, that I attempt in this
prelitninaiy report nothing more than a
sketch of the main feature-of this jreat.
engagement, reserving fir tuy officii re
port, ba-ed upon the reporls of iho corps
comiiiairueis, thai full dcsjrptinn of de
tails which shall place upon letird the a
cheivemenis of individuals and particular
bodies of troops. Tie.- du-ign Wits to make
the jtlncli upon I he enemy's lufl at le.ist
to ctcute a dii-e'-sion in favor Tf'tho main
attack, with the hope ol something more-
by a.-suiling the ei.emv's right, and, as soon
as one or both of the flank movements
A-ere fully succesf j, to attack their cen
tre with any reserve I might then have on
baud.
I'he morning of. he 10th (during hicl,
there was considerable artillery tiring) was
spent in obtaining information as to the
ground, rectifying the position of the
troop,, ami perfecting tho urrangemenU
for the attack.
On tlie afternoon of Iho loth Hooker's
corp', consisting of Ricketl's and Houblo-
day's divisions and the renn-ylvtnia Re-
selves, under Meade, was ier.1 across the
Atilietatn cret k by a ford and bridgo to
tlie right of Kedyesville, with orders to
attack und, if pos-iblo, turn the encmy'a
left. Mansfield, will) his corps, was sent
in the evening to support Hcoker. Arriv-
ed inposition.Meiid'Mlivisionoftliereiiiii
sylvitnirt Reserves, which was at the head
of Hooker, s corpg, bocarue engun I inn
sharp contest with the enemy, which las-
trd until after dark, when it had succeed-
ed driving in a portion of the opposing
line, and held Ihe gt- tmd1
At daylight the contest was . renewed
between Hooker nnd the enemy in bis
front. Hooker's attack was succc.-sf ul for
a time, but masses of the enemy, thrown
Upon his corps, checked it. Manvfield
1 i . .u 1 1 up bi- cot;- to Hook. -r'- tip;-'i
atone lime compelled to draw two brigide-
usfft"'' '"fc' 1 he enemy 's right. ti, ,3 oi der hav
'"8 bee" communicated lo him at, 10 o'
. ,
clock A If.
The v .dley of tlm. AnlieNm, nt nnd near
tho biidge. is narro-v, with high banks.
On the right of tho stream the bunk it
wooded and commands the appnachej
bnh to the bridgo and the ford. Tho
steep sloj.es of ihe bunk wero Lined win.
rifle pits, und I restwoi ksol'rai'san J-tonps.
The-e, together with the woods, weie fide l
with the enemy's inl'arlry, while their bat
teries commanded and euhladod ihobrido
and ford and their npproachos.
The advance of tho troops brought or.
an obstinate and sanguinary contebl, and
from the great natural advantage! of the
position it aas near one o'clock before the
ht-ightson the right bank were carried.
At about 3 o'clock 1'. M. tlie coi pj ag.iirt ad
vanced with success, the l ight driving 1!.
enemy before it, and pushing on nearly tc
Sha; psb'irg. while the left,, after a hard er.
counter, also compelled the enemy tore-
tiro Ut-lOlfi ll TliP fliomv lint a toMriit,.
wei0 .peeelily reinforced", und wiih over-
wlMng nmbS, Ncw lmlleri(,g of thejr
arlilleiy, also, were brought up and opend
It became evident that our force was noi
sufficient to enable the advance (o reach
tho town, and he order to retire 10 tho
cover of tho hill, which was taken fiotn
the enemy earlier in the afternoon. This
movement was effected without confusion,
and position maintained until iho enemy
roireuted- Gen. Burnside had sent to mr
for reinfo reenif Ms late in the afternoon;
Mut the condition of things on tho rigtit
wa, not such as cnaMo nm to atford them,
Durinilhe wholo day our artillery wai
everywhere bravely and ably handled
In'iced, I cannot pcak too highly of the
efficiency cfour Laltc-ries, and thegrca
service they rendered. . On more than one
occaslion, when our infantry wa broken,
they revered its ro-formation and drove
back the enemy.
'! no cavalry had liltlo field for operation
during Ihe engagement, I ul was employed
in supporting the horso artidoiy batlerie.!
iu the centre, and in driving up ttisp.
glere, while .-aitinp frpAr,,in,jr for of h
er -,;r, ;