The national Republican., 1862-09-17

Correspondence Of the Associated Pressl
BoossBoRo', Np., Sept l5.--The battle Of
South Mountain wss fought yesterday, result
ing In complete victory to the Army Of the
Potomac. t.Er.' r. 3D.
The battle nsld wss locatsd In gorge Of the
mountain, on the turnpike road, between Md
dlstown and Boonsboro'. During The forenoon
the firing was BY artillery. Eodeavoring TO
O'Clock the corps under Gen. Reno was ordered
" ascend the mountain on the left, and make
al attack on the enemy flank. At 3 O'Clock,
Reno's troops got into action. The rattle Of
nusketry for about half an hour WEN terrible,
when the enemy gave way, leaving our men In
possession Of that portion Of tho ridge.
The loss on both hides In this action was con
siderable. We had no general or field oincer
injured al this point, excepting Major General
Reno, who was killed. MIME ball passing
through bis body.
General Hooker, commanding hcDowell's
corps, and the Pennsylvania Reserves, ascond-
ed the mountain on the right, for The purpose
Of making an attack on the rebels loft. He
got his Troops into position. and moved upon
the enemy about Two hours before snnd0wn.
Here, as In the Casa on The other ridgo OF the
mountain, our troops were successful, driving
The rebels suffered bcre more than al any
other point Of the battlefield. Gen. Hatch,
commanding division under Hooker, was
wounded In theleg
General Gibbons brigade, composed Of the
Sccopd, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin, and the
Nineteenth TIdiaDs regiments, wero ordered 10
move up the gorge Of the mountain. Tbs bri-
gsde did not get into action until after dark,
which lasted Ill nearly O'Clock. His brigade
lost about one hundred and twenty killed and
wounded. Among be- dead IL Capt. Caldwell,
Of the Secoud Wisconsin. Tho rebels were
driven back for about mile, wbeu Gibbons
brigade was relieved BY portion Of Sumner's
corps, who held the position during The night.
The rebel troops engaged were l.cugstreats,
D. II. and A. r. Hills corps. Had our troops
had two hours longer Of daylight, the greater
portion Of the rebel army would have been
their sidee. The only mode Of escape being
through narrow dedle iD the mountain. which
the artillery would have soop made impossi-
BILE. %. II
Among the rebel officers known 10 be killed
was General Garland, OF Leesburg, and Col.
Strong, Of the Nineteenth Virginia. The LAT.
tcr's body was obtained 10 day BY fsg OF
truce. At daylight this morning our worst Tears
we're realized. The rebels under cover Of night
bod left Oh their way 10 The Potomac. They
went 10 this place, two mlles from the noun.
taps, and there took the road toward Sharps-
burg. They left all their dead on the field, and
those Of their wounded not being able to walk
wore found In the churches in Boonsboro Gen.
Mcclellan Was on the field during the whole
day and night, conducting oil the movements
in person. Between twelve and diteen hun
dred prisoners were taken during the day, the
mn nj hmm . N al
Hooker.
Yesterday, Gen. FrsDklins corps advanced
to mountain pass eix miles Dearer Harper 9
Ferry, where he engaged the enemy, holding
that pass for about three hours, resulting 10 q
complete rout Of the enemy and heavy Ioes.
Gus iooe In this evtivu obvut two hundred
and City killed and wounded. The rebel loss
during the day and night was fully fifteen
thousand killed, wounded, and missing. Gen.
Lee acknowledged to the citizens Of Boonsboro
that they had been defeated with terrible los1
Our loss In killed and wounded will probably
reach three thousand.
at daylight, Gen. Pleassnton, with the Eighth
Illinois cavalry, and Capt Fiiohsll's battery,
stsrtsd after the enemy. Al BoOnsboro', he
came up with the Ninth Virginia cavalry With
Q battery, acting as rear guard. The Illinois
cavalry charged after them, through the town,
and two miles out on the Hagerstown turnpike,
capturing two Of their guns, and killed, wound.
ed aud took prisoners about thirty OF their
cavalry. Gen. Richardson's division, being 10
advance. took the road ttsm this place toward
Shaspsburg, two snda.hslt miles from which
town he came up with the enemy In large
force, who occupied long ridge Of hills
They showed a line Of battle one -snd.a-hall
miles long, The afternoon was spent ascer
Iaining the poeition and force Of the rebels, not
q sufficient number Of our troops having come
up to bring on an engagement.
Tuesday AoRSIS9 During last night The
larger part Of the army arrived on the ground.
II is now nine o'clock and no engagement has
yet taken place. The rel els are rapidly NOV
ing across the river.