Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-09-25

| Murky clouds oVerShadOwed the sky at
mornings dawn, giving indications OF heavy
fall of rain This, if it had come, would have
delayed the Carnage which has marked this
days work. But nothing but thin misty
rain occurred, and this ia no measure inter
fered With the prosecution of the days work
of slaughter.
At daylight the fght was renewed on the
left wing, the rebels opening with artillery
trom an emlneuce Oh cur troops 10 ravine be-
low. Our artillery responded, silencing in a
] measure the enemy'S batteries. Our infantry
then steadily advanced, under the cover of the
fire from the artillery then supporting the col
umn in the rear. From position to p stion
were the rebels driven in this manner. II
the centre equal success attended our advances
against the rel e. lines. Several magnificent
bone fde bayonet charges were made by this
portion of the Union army, all of which were
successful. On the right of our lines from
nine o'clock this morning determined contest
was waged, at one time with varying success
When nightfal came on, success had been
glorious on all portions of the line, our troops
driving the rebels at every onslaught upon
| them to new position.
| Your correspondent reached the scene about
FIVE o'clock Then the firing was not half 50
incessant as it bad been during the day, but
was more rapid aad dea'enng than any have
heard heretofore in the war, exceeding Nal
Vern Hill aud Gaines Mill by far ln the
middle of this day | am told that the can
no9ading equalrd the roar of Heavens high
artillery. The position from which saw the
! Ii gut, at u point near Gen. McCielIan's head
/ quarters, whert The s:sual corps were work
ing, was magnificent enc for observation Of
Che entire t'Id OF fight Not being acqnain'
ed with the disposition OF our own aud the
rebel forces, | cannot eater Into details Of this
! the greatest battle of modern times, but hope
to 10 50 at no remote hour. | could discern
from my pace of observation the steady Gd
vance ct eur Infantry against the enemy. and
see the loud mOuthed ordnance Of the rebels
beicf forth their missiles OF death into their
ralkS. | could see the steadineSS Of our troops
| under the most CALLING and rapid fire Of the
enemy, as thy marched forward 10 +, join new
ground from the enemy. To say that our
meh fOnght well hardly expresses "a moety of
the valor displayed ca this memorable, never
to be forgotten day.
The rebels resisted our first attacks with
| their accustomed valor. stunbornnesS aud de>
peratiOn and only yielded ground when it was
literally covered with dead and manned The
artillery Oh both sides was speudIdIy worked,
aud did terrible execution.
The bulk of The lighting has been done
with artillery at close range to day, aud with
terrible IF, ct on the rebels. Some brilliant
Infantry maru Ivres have been uted or tbe
field by Cur troops during the day.
A supporting column has been at hand on
our lineS during the entire action This fore
sight of our great General more than once
saved hc fortunes of the day from going with
the rebels when they attacked apparently vul,
nerabIe points in superior force. AT one time
"A porti0a of our right wavered under push
ing charge Of the enemy. Cover was gained
near a fence, and the nen ordered to fall on
their faces. TAe encmy's fire passed general
" harmles<y over the heads Of our troops,
when they arose and poured destructive vol
ley into their opponents. throwing them luto /
such cun.usiOn that the afterCba"ge OF the
supporting column under General Cox elTec
tualiv finished the work Of destruction.
The sounds of war have ceased long since
in the earlier part Of the night. The ii
whcreou was fought this most eventiui fight, /
as far as | have examined it, presents ghast, /
" appearance, viewed by the glare of the flick
ering lights Of the sections OF the battlefield
who are already at their dreadful, yet humane !
work. Locked in the embrace OF cold, cold |
death, alike lay the bodies Of thousands Of
UuionistS and rebels, foes no longer dlsputlus
at the bayonet's point for the possession o!
the soil of old Maryland hut a few short hours
ago How calmly, contentedIy they TepOsc
now Oh the hOck side or mountain slope
| What time for sentiment, when the shrekS
ana walls of the wounded fall on my ear,
borne thither by every breeze from the noun
tain /" Let the dead bury their dead" How
the bowling winds carry the wailing cry along
as it escapes from the poor lnaimed soldiers
on the saugainary field Methinks | hear its
echoes in Northern and Southern homes, in
the homes by the Green Mountains, or the
magnolia scented cottages Of the sunny South.
A truce to moralizing. Soldier true and
brave, sleep on in your everlasting grave.
He has fought his last BATTLE lie sleeps his last Sleep
No sound can awake him to glory again"
1t is certain that the enemy will give Us
fight again in the morning, as they cannot
cross the river under our close pursuit. Would
that they would surrender and save further
etfuSiou of human blood.
To-Day it has poured rain. The rebels ap
pear to gain desperation and stnbbornneSS with
every recurring disaster. If they fight TO
morrow i: will be with increased desperation
and stubbornness. This evening they retreat,
ed rapidly through sharpsburg, our forces
she!ling them US they went.
Just as the shades of evening quickly gath
er, large fires are seen in that direction, light
ing the surrounding country with lurid glare.
The shells of our artillery have doubtless kin
died flames in dwellings and barns, destroying
the fruits of years aud months of husband
mems lebor and his happy homestead. |
would that | could go, even at this late hour
of the night, exhausted as am by the fatigue
of the saddle during five days ride of over two
hundred miles, into the details OF o struggle,
il IL Il