The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-09-27
lDor Nrlus.
From the New York Tribune
Great Battle Of Antietam Creek,
Fought Wednesday, 18th Inst.

After the brilliant victory near Mid
dlctown, Gen. Mcclellan pushed forward
his army rapidly, and reached Kecdys-
Vile with three corps on Monday night.
On the day following the two armies
faced each o her Idly, until night
Artillery was busy at intervals once in
the morning opening with spirit, and
continuing for half ain hour with vigor,
till the Rebel ba terry, as usual, was
silenced.
Mcclellan was on the hill where Ben
jamin's battery was stationed and found
himself suddenly under rather heavy
fire. 1t was ill uncertain whether the
Rebels were retreating or re-enforcing
their batteries would remain in posi-
ton in either case, and as they had with
drawn nearly all their troops from view,
there was only the doubtful indication of
columns Of dusS to the rear
On the evening of Tuesday, Hooker
was ordered to cross the Antetam Creek
with his corps, and feeling the left of
the enemy, to be ready to attack next
morning. During the day of apparent
inactivity, Mcclellan had been maturing
his plan of battle, of which lockers
movement was one development.
The position on either side was pecu-
liar. When Richardson advanced on
Monday he found the enemy dcployed
and displayed in force on shaped
ridge, the outline of which followed more
or less exactly the course of Antietam
Creek. Their lines were then forming,
and the revelation of force in front of the
ground which they really intended to
hold, was probably meant to delay our
attack until their arrangements to receive
it were complete:
During that day they kept then troops
exposed and did not move them even TO
avoid the artillery fire, which must have
been occasionally annoying. Next morn
ing the lines and columns which had
darkened eornGclds and hill crests, had
been Withdrawn. Broken and wooded
ground behind the shcltering hills con-
cealed the Rebel masses. What from
cur front looked like only narrow sum-
init fringed with woods was u broad table
land of forest and ravine Z; cover for
troops everywhere, nowhere easy access
for an enemy. Tue smoothly sloping
surface in front aud the sweeping crescent
of slowly mingling lines was only dclu-
sion. 1t was all Rebel stronghold
beyond.
Under the base of these hills the deep
stream called Antietam Creek, fordable
only at distant points. Three bridges
across it, one on the Hagerstown road,
one on the Sharpsburg pike, one to the
lett In deep recess of stceply falling
hills. Hooker passed the first to reach
the ford by which he crossed, and it was
held by Pleasanton with reserve OF
cavalry during the battle. The second
was close under the Rebel center, and
no way Important to yesterdays fight.
AT the third, Burnside attacked and
finally crossed Between the first and
third lay most Of the battle lines. They
stretched four miles from right to left.
Unalded attack in front was i,npossi
bic. McClellan's forces lay behind low,
disconnected ridges, in front of the Rebel
submits, all or nearly all unwooded =
They gave some cover for artillery, and
guns were therefore massed on the center.
The enemy bad the Shepherdstown road
and sHagers; own and Williamsport
road both open to him in rear for retreat.
Along one or the other, if beaten, he
must fly This, among other reasons,
determined. perhaps, the plan of battle
which Mcclellan finally resolved on.