New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-23

the bridge is too steep 10 be ascended by horse'
and must be literally climbed to be surmounted oy
man. The roadway from the bridge turns abruptly
TO the right and left, and rises the hill along its side
very gradually. The Rebel infantry at first occu-
pied the bridge itself, and the bank Of the creek on
our side, and Rebel battery was posted on the opPo-
site hill directly above the BRIDGE 30 as to play upon
our infantry as it approached the BRIDGE either from
directly before it or from our right of the bridge.
Some trees interviewed on our left of the bridge i'm
medistely down upon tho creek, but the approach
down the bill on our side was bare in all directions,
and exposed TO the view Of the enemy's gunners.
The bridge is stone arched and stone parapetted
structure, strong, rough, country bridge.
The Rebel prisoners state the number stationed to
hold the bridge against at from $50 TO 800 III
fantry. 1t is hardly credible that a point to which
any importance was ATTACHED on either SIDE should
be entrusted to 70 small force. And the in.
credibty is heightened by the havoc that made
among ut least four Of our regiments, yet am in
clined to believe that not much higher figure than
the last would cover the actual number. think
there was not more than one regiment assigned TO
that duty, and as regiments 60 in armies that have
been over year in service, 1t did not probably
number more than 800 men; the chance is less
notice that both our officers and men engaged in
that contest are totally wanting in their usual claim
of superior numbers against them-aclam commonly
enough true whenever they have found much diff
clly in making head against the foe, and in fact,
seem to concur in repeating what the Rebels state,
ard there significantly letting the matter drop. On
our part, Burnside had couple Of batteries on
q bill on our left Of the bridge at something less than
right angle with it, and very little to our right
Of the bridge was another battery on another point
Of tie range of hills just opposite to the enemys
battery. The parapets formed excellent breastworks
again. our batteries on either hand and were protec-
ton against smsll-arns from the same direction.
The creek was fordable hereabout-it has rained
since--l several places some Of them, however,
nee ssi,iiing waist-deep wadng. 1t was attempted
to cross in this manner, as well as by the bridge.
Tie I'd Indiana who were rst ordered TO the attack,
did not get down to the water. That regiment and
the 9th New IIampshire were required, but not ur
Ill they lad made come impression Oh the Rebel de-
tense, and left it weaker against succeeding reg-
ments The 5lst Pennsylvania the first 10 cross.
TIE 5ls New-York supported its Pennsylvania
namesale or numbersske, and was close with 1t.
but litde lees forward. Tie bridge itself WAS not
the only yar OF the creek defended against our At
tempt 10 cross Our left was resisted all along iis
banks for many rods above and below. The enemy
selected this as the front Of this part Of his line for
its strong natural defenses and also having reference
10 the Inc Of wcods mile or 20 in bis rear for hid
log place and an n;rcnchmeni, in he driven
back in spite Of bs best bona fde efforts TO stand firm
or having reference TO the woods as his real
battle line, int which he hoped TO decoy
a, in pursuit OF whatever sucoess We might obtain
either in spite Of him or in pursuance Of his strategy
Tie bridge il no more noticeable than any other
portion Of the creek on our efi wing excepting that
ito stone parapsts added 90 much artificial defense 10
the natural defense of the abrupt and rough line
Of bill and wood along the stream. The movement
for the capture Of this line of position was CON-
rnenced between 10 and II in the morning, and il
was not crowned with success throughout, until be-
tween 3 and in the afternoon, but the wonder il
that il was taken at all II while crossing this
creek, up 10 bis waist in water that Capt Griswold
received his death-wound. His regiment Con
necticut llth) was one Of the regiments under
Gen Rodman that attempted TO, and finally succeed
ed after several hours fighting, in crossing, half
mile or 20 below the bridge. Our cannonading on
our len ~ far exceeded the anticipations Of our
Generals in rapidity and duration, lit will do now
10 sayl that Gen. Burnside exhausted all his ammu-
milton for SEINE Of his guns before the day fairly
done. As for the Rebels, they probably could not
have fought general battle NJ all, and would not
have made stand, but for their immense acqusi-
tions at Harpers Ferry. Whatever Of mourning
this battle has caused in the hundreds and thousands
of families in the land for those who may never re-
turn TO them; whatever Of discomfort they may suf-
fer from the death or disabled condition Of TO- 900
husbands and fathers; whatever Of these and train
Of evils, may flow from this greatest and bloodiest
Of the battles Of tbis unparalleled preposterous
olution it is all Immediately chargeabe to the sur
render of IIarpers Ferry.
1t is strange what difference there 10 in the com.
position of human bodies, with reference TO the
rapiity that change goes on after death. Several
bodies OF Rebels strewed the ground the bank, in
the vicinity of the bridge. They fought behind
trees, and fence rail and stone.heap bauicades, AS
many "A bullct-mark in all these defenses amply
atested but all that awaited not to avert death from
these poor creatures. They had been dead at least
nyeight hours when looked at them. Almost
all Of them had become discolored in the face and
much swollen but there one young man with
bis face so lie-like, and even his eye 50 bright it
seemed almost impossible that he could be dead. 1t
was the loveiest-looking corpse ever beheld. lie
was young man not 25 the SOFT unshsved, brown
beard hardly asserting yet the uness of its owners
manhood. The features were too small, and the
character Of the face Of too small and delicate an
order to answer the requirements of masculine
beauty. In death his eye the clearest blue, and
would not part with its surprisingly gentle, anna
bic, good, and charming expression The face was
t.inca