New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-20
Fighting Joe Hooker Glorious Again
Great Gallantry of All Officers and Men,
The Union Army Victorious IN Each
Days Fight.
ACCOUNTS OF OUR LOSSES.
r,sp Oar Special Correspondent
BLrTLf.ylELp or SHAHPsBuHo.
Wednesday evening. Sept IL. IL

Ntoneaohy evening, oeF~ ~, i"os.'
Fierce and desperate battle between 20O,0 900 mel
has ragged since daylight, yet night closes on an un
certain field. 1t is the greatest fight since Water
loo-sll over the field contested with an obstiDac.
eQnal even to Waterloo. If not wholly victor.
tonight, believe it is the prelude TO a victory TO
morrow. But what can be foretold of the future o
Sght in which from in the morning till q; nigh
tie best troops Of the continent have fought wi.hou
decisive RESULT
have no time for speculat.on-no time even Il
gsther details of the ba,:le-only time to state il
broadest teatures-iher mount and spur for New
York.
After the brilliant victory near Midtown, Gen
Mcclellan pushed forward his army rapidly, ant
reached Kcedysyille with three corps Monday
night That march lss already been described. o,
Ire day following The two armies faced each other
Idly, until might. Artillery was busy at intervals
once in the morning opening with spirit, and con
tnuipg for haf an hour with vigor, ill the Rebe
battery, az usual was silenced.
Mcclellan WE on the hill where Benjamins bat
terry was stationed and found himself suddenly under
rather heavy FIRE. 1t was still unoertsin whether
the Rebels were retreating or re-enforcing-theil
batteries would remain in position in either case and
q they had withdrawn nearly all their troops from
view, there was only tie doubtful indication Of
columns Of dust 10 the rear.
On the evening Of Tuesday, Hooker was ordered
10 cross the Antietsm Creek with his corps, and,
feeling the left Of the enemy, TO be ready 10 attack
mex. morning. Daring the day of apparent inactivity,
Mcclellan had been maturing his plan Of battle, OF
which Hooker's movement was one development.
TIE position on either side Wac peculiar. When
Richardson advanced on Monday he found the enemy
depoyed and displayed in force on cresent-shaped
,,dge, the outline Of which followed more or less
exactly the course Of Ante,sm Greek. Their line,
we're then forming and the revelation Of force in
front Of the ground which they really intended to
hold, was probably meant 70 deay our attack unit
their Arrangements 10 receive it were complete.
During that day they kept their troops exposed and
cid not move them even to avoid the artillery fire
which must have been occasionally annoying. Mex
morning the lines and columns which bad darkeneC
eornfelds and Lill crests, had been withdrawn
Broken aud wooded ground behind tie sheteriut
hills concealed the Rebel maSses. What from GU
front looked Ike only narrow summit fripged VIII
woods was a broad table-and Of forest and ravine
cover for troops everywhere, nowhere easy acces
Tor In enemy The smoothly sloping surface IN from
and the sweeping crescent Of slowly minelDg Inc
vas only delulion. II was all Rebel stronghold
beyond.
Under the base Of these hills tie deep stream
called Antetam Greek, fordable only at distan
points. Three bridges cross it, one on tho Hagers
town road, one on tie Sharpsburg pike, one to tn
lei. in deep recess of s,eeply falling Hills Hooke
passed he first 10 reach the ford by which he crossed
and /: was held by Pleasanton With reserve o
cavalry during tie battle. The second was close IN
der the Rebel center, and no way important TO yes
terday's fgh. At the third, Burnside attacked an'
finally or ,sssd. Between the fret and third la,
rros. Of tie battle lines. They stretched four mile
from right to left.
Uuaided attack in front was impossible. McClel
lan's forces lay behind low, disconnected ridges, IL
front Of the Rebel tumIits, all or nearly all IN
wooded They gave some cover for artillery ant
guns were therefore nassed on the center. Th'
enemy had the Shepherdstown road and the Hagcrs
town and WilliaIDsport road both open to him IL
rear for retreat Along one or the other, II beaten
be must fly. This, among other reasons, determined
perhaps the plan Of battle which Mcclellan finally
resolved On.
The plan WA generally follows: Hooker wat
" S'VDe Vh tre rlyL estaOusn ililneh OH tno '''y
left If possible iankiDg biz position, and to open th
Eight. Sumner, Franklin and Mansfield were t'
send their forces also to the right, cooperating Will
and sustaining Iookers attack while advancing ala'
nearer the center The heavy work in tie centel
was left mostly to the batteries, Porter nassiDg hi
Infantry supports in tie hollows. On the left Burn
side TO carry the bridge already referred to- ad
vsacing then By road which enters the pike a
6barpsburg turning at once the Rebel left flank AM
destroy ing his line Of retreat. Porter aud Sykes wer
held in reserve /, ia obvious that the complete euc
cess ola plan contemplating widely divergent move
nsns of separate corps, must largely depend OF
accurate timing that the attacks should be siultane
Gus and not successive.
Hooker moved Oh Tuesday afternoon at four, cross
Ing the creek at ford above the bridge and well TO Ill
night, without opposition. Fronting southwest hi
line advanced not quite the Rebel flank but ovel
tapping and threatening it. Turning of from th
road after passing the stream, be sent forward cava
skirmshers straight into the woods and over ia
belds beyond. Rebel pickets Withdrew slowly BE-
fore them, firing scattering and harmless shots
Turning again TO the left the cavalry went down 0
che Rebel Hank, coming suddenly close TO a batter
which met them with unexpected grape and caDii
ses. " being the nature Of cavalry " retire bt