Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-01
Additionai nebeI Accounts of the hat
tie "a Anttetam.

The Richmond Disprtch of September 23d
says:
Our people have been spoiled so thoroughly by
the constant succession of victories that have
marked the progress of our arms Tor the last four
months, that they bear even the appearance of a
reverse with less patience than we had right TO
expect from the same men whose noble fortitude
at a time when our city was actually beleaguered
by the enemy. made them the admiration of the
world. Ii Is proper, then, To institute exami
nation into the facts of our position, in order to
ascertain what real ground there may be for dis
couragement in the present state of affairs
Ii appears. then, that on Sunday, 18th Septem-
Der. the corps of ID. H Hill was attacked by the
entire force of Mcclellan that after an obstinate
resistance one wing was forced to give ground ;
that it retired slowly, fighting it fell back and
was never routed; that II was reinforced by Long
street, recovered all it had lost. and slept up
the field of battle; that General Lee having
come up. removed the two corps to position in
the at Sharpsburg; that Monday and Tues
day were spent in cannonading at long taw; that
on Wednesday general battle was fought, in
which General Lee obtained decided advantage;
and that on Thursday evening, perfectly at his
leisure, he withdrew his army across the Potomac
without being molested by the enemy. This last
fact is sufficient to prove that he could not at
least have been very badly beaten: for the Yam
kee papers, anticipating such movement, pro-
claimed IN advance that he would certainly be de-
stroyed in ATTEMPTING TO pass that river
But there are other facts 10 show that he by no
means Withdrew because he was beaten A Young
officer who was in the battle of Wednesday, and
who came to this city Sunday in charge of the
remains of General otarke. who was killed. saws
that army slept on the field Wednesday
night, fully expecting and fully prepared TO
attack the enemy next morning but when
morning came he was nowhere to be seen He
bad abandoned all his positions and left for
parts unknown. Not man was TO be seen.
Scouts sent out in various directions were un
able to procure any tidings of him The woods
were sheled in all directions, but without any ef.
feet. Ii Is evident then, that he had gone off i'm
the night. Had either sneaked of Berkeley fash
ion. or had withdrawn 10 operate on some other
portion of our line General Lee beleye ed he had
passed his flank. TO make a movement on liar
per's Ferry and get in his rear. He resolved to
anticipate him. He therefore fell back to a posi-
ton on this side OF the river, where he is prepared
10 thwart any movement he NAV attempt 10
make. Surely. there is nothing like a check far
less defeat IN all this On the contrary. il is
evident that we were victorious on Wednesday
We acted on the defensive. and the enemy tried
whole day To drive Us from our position. He
utterly failed. We held our position, and slept
VII thC -iNNuut ICdul W itucN TIE COUlcSt the
next day He not only made no more attemrts
TO drive Us from our position, but abandoned his
own in the night. with every appearance of hav
Ing deSpalred of beating Us. IL was a renewal of
the incidents recorded of the battle OF Monmouth,
IN the Revolutionary war, when our troops slept
their arms and found the British gone i'm
the morning. Yet Monmouth has always been
regarded as an American victory Our total
loss IN the battle Is set down al 5000, probably
an exaggerated estimate, which would cover the
entire casualties from Sunday 10 Wednesday
night inclusive. That Of the enemy is stated bv
eve witnesses 10 have been several times greater
Ii should not be omitted that Mcclellan left his
dead and wounded behind him-a sure proof that
he was defeated
GIN. LEE's OPINION or THE BATTLE.
The Richmond Examiner Of Sept 81 saws:
IL Is stated upon seemingly good authority that
the President yesterday received letter from
Gen. Lee. in which the latter stated that in the
battle of Sharpsburg the shock of battle was the
most tremendous that had ever occurred on this
continent, and that the result was the severest
and most damaging that the enemy had received
in the whole campaign
The enemy confess 10 a loss of 10000 killed
and wounded. which. taking into account their
notorious determination 10 suppress the truth
may safely be doubled. Our loss in killed
wounded. and missing will. il Is now definitely
known, not exceed > 900.