Newbern weekly progress., 1862-09-27


artillery planted SO as to command
the ford.
The rear guard Of their army eyacu-
ated Sharpsburg at midnight on Thurs
day night. Our advance entered the
town at five o'clock the next morning.
Gritfin's brigade, Of General Morell's
division, was the first to enter. They
were rapturously received by the in.
habitants as they passed through. The
place was completely testooned with
the stars and stripes, which the citi-
zens had preserved from the desecrat-
ing hands Of rebels by burying them
in the cellars during their occupation
Of the place. The ladies and children
sitting at the doors OF the houses were
almost covered in the folds Of the ma
tional banner. AS the rebels had al
most completely devoured everything
in the place in The shape Of provisions,
our soldiers did not fare as well as they
otherwise would. Some Of the peo-
pie, however, had succeeded in hiding
portion of their provisions, and these
were brought forth and generously
distributed among their deliyerers.
The town of Sharpsburg suffered considera-
bic damage from our sheing in the battle OF
Wednesday. Two churches were much in
iured, and several barns set on fire and con
sumeA The only less Of life among the ihhabi-
tants was that of a little glrl, who was killed
| by piece of she'll The large stone house ot
Mr.. Kielzus was the refuge OF liity.scvcn womv6
and children, who yetprncipally In tho cellar
during the stay Of the rebels.
General Pleasanton, with his division Of
cavalry and four batteries of flying artillery,
had meantime 0yertaken the rear guard OF the
enemy in their retreat across the river, and
capiLred three hundred prisoners. They con
llnued 10 retreat still further towards the river,
wh,r, they were fired upon by the rebel bat.
tercs from the other side, forcing them to with
draw for shelter. Gen. Sykes division OF
r.guars came to the support Of the cavalry
throwing ont skirmshers towards the rlver
when the heavy guns OF Hazard and Benjamin.
twenty FOUNDER Parrots, opened upon the
rebel position and shelled them away.
During the day our army was moved to the
river, and there encamped. During last night
everything was quiet. the enemy making no
demonstration against us. In fact, they were
not IN condition to warrant any such move.
ment and were but too glad to DO let alone.
The dawping light Of this morning disclosed
the artillery Of the enemy still in position upon
the opposite side of the Potomac Opposite
to them our guns were fronting them mena.
cingly The first crossing was effected by a
force Of cavalry, but our batteries were not in
a position to protect them, and they were
forced to Withdraw. The infantry, however,
succeeded better, and after fprding the river
they threw out picketS, or rather skrmlshers,
for a mile without meeting with opposition,
By this movement six guns OF the rebels were
captured, which were taken across, and are
now placed in position to harass their late
owners. The rebels at first replied with con
siderable vigor to OR artillery, but as they
merely designed to cover their retreat. they
were more anxious to prevent the crossing O
the river than to annoy or silence our bate
riss.
The river is swollen somewhat BY the late
rain, and tording IS rather serious business
The ford at which the rebels crossed is direct
ly opposite Shepardstown, two miles from
Sharpsburx. But one wagon coulu cross at Z
time, it being very narrow, with deep ~ate'
each side Of it but as their wagon trai? wa
not very large, they managed to get every
thing over. With the exception Of the skir
mishing above mentioned there has been M
fighting since "Wednesday.
The inquiry is universal in the army as II
where the Union force reported to be on tn
Virginia side Of the Potomac can be- that the,
do not intercept the rebels in their retreat
should they be attacked in from; and rear, thel
trvachcrous Course, in availing themselves o
| an armstice granted them to bury their dea
to secure their escape, would avail them bu
, little.
, In Wednesdays fight the rebel General
Stark and Lawtcn were killed, General L.
, acknowledged that they lost ten thousan
l in killed and wounded IN that battle. Whe
. he rebel army entered Sharpsbnrg they wer
n such an exhausted and starved condition
, that some Of them who were unable to pre-
. cure TODD, actually wept from hunger, exhaus
Il, ton and disappointment.