The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-09-26

tered for the purpose of getting round the
enemy's right. At this juncture generals
Mcclellan and Burnside with their staffs,rode
upon the field, where they remained during
the continuance of the battle. Cooks battery
took favorable position for shelling the
woods in advance of the division, but had
hardly got to work when the rebels fired
volley of musketry at the can
noniers. This was repeated several times in
quick succession, until at length the cannon
iers abandoned their pieces, and ran to the
rear, leaving four or five of their comrades
dead upon the ground. The drivers of the
caissons also partook of the panic, and dash
ed heaGlong through the ranks of Cox's divi
sion, which was drawn up in line of battle a
few yards to the rear. Two companies of
cavalry regiment, which were supporting the
battery, galloped thro' the line ofinfantry, thus
leaving four pieces of artillery (the other two
having been detached to another part of the
feld) to fall into the hands of the enemy
The event caused temporary, and only tenn
porary confusion among the troops. They
quickly Strengthened the line and prepared TO
resist demonstration observable on the part
of the enemy to seize the abandoned pieces.
The rebels march forward to secure their an
ticipated prize, at the same moment the Odd
Ohio and Tooth Pennsylvania regiments ad-
vanced in splendid order to repulse them
The rebels had approached to within about
ten feet of the guns when the contest COM
menced. Each side seemed desperate in its
purpose, and the struggle was most exciting.
At length the 45th New York came to the res
cue and turned the tide of fortune in our ia
vor. Both parties suffered severely in the ac-
ton. The rebels retreated in great confusion,
while our men made the woods resound with
cheers.
For the succeeding two hours the infantry
under the command of Reno ceased opera
tions, and the artillery alone continued the
duel. At = pm. the head of Gen Hooker's
column appeared coming up the turnpike to
reinforce Reno. The column took the road
branching off from the right. near Bolivar,
and proceeded to the foot of the mountains.
All along the line the utmost enthusiasm was
manifested for Hooker. Every man in the
corps was evidently impressed with the belief
that he had general able and willing to lead
them forward to face the enemy.
Immediately after the line of battle was
formed, at 3 o'clock, the right, left and GEN.
tire commenced moving simultaneously tow
ard the enemy on the slope Of the mountains.
The rebels opened on the column with two
pieces of cannon, directing the fire of one to
the right and of the other to the left of the
line. They were replied to by one of Sim
mons 2O-pounders on our left, and Cooper's
battery on our right. The enemy continued
the firing for upward of an hour, when, on
account of the severe punishment he was re-
ceiving from our guns, and the near approach
of our infantry to his piece he disappeared on
the other side of the mountain. The enemy's
shells for the most part went over the Union
troops, consequently they did not effect much
damage. Steadily onward went our long, un-
broken line of infantry, until the right wing
had gained piece of woods on the mountain
short distance from the base, when the
Bucktails, WHO were skirmishing on the right
discovered the enemy pickets. \ desultory
rafting of musketry Was next heard. which
indicated the commencemt Mt of the battle on
the part of the infantry. The column from
right to left still remained unbroken, and adj
vanced cautiously but firmly up the steep
In short time the enemys main force was
encountered, and then came heavy volleys o
musketry on the right. The Pennsylvania
reserve corps and the first brigade of Ricketts,
division were now hotly engaging the enemy
The rebels stood their ground for while,
but after a contest of thirty minutes they wa
vered, and commenced falling back in disor-
der toward the summit of the Mountains
Our force pushed them vigorously, and KEEP,
up continuous fire.
: The line did not give way for an instant
but kept moving forward and upward, ani
pouring volley after volley of musketrv into
the enemy's ranks, until at last the rebel
broke and ran to the top of the noun
tain, thence down on the other side. Reno
corps on the left did i'spart nobl.. Tie mel
were called upon to do some severe fighting
and they performed their duty with a will ant
heroism seld ,m before displayed. The en-
gasement on the left succeeded that on tn
right, and lasted about an hour and a half
the enemy contested every foot Of grouni
but eventually yielded it 20 the cong uerors
The centre column was the last to come int
the action. The same success that marke
the advance of the two wings also attenGe,
the centre. At pm. after an engagement
of three hours duration the rebels fled, leay
ing the top of the mountain in the possession
of the Union troops. Darkness prevented u
from pursuing the enemy farther at the time
y letter received by H. S. Moves of Spring
field, Mass, from his son, member of th
Rhode Island cavalry, dated at Greencastl
: Penn. 10th, gives the following account {
the escape Of our cavalry from Harper's Fe
ry previous to its surrender,and their exploit
on the road to Pennsylvania:
"We arrived here yesterday from Harper
Ferry, in company with about 230O 9th.
cavalry. Where We are going we do nj
, know, but probably into Maryland again, &
, soon as possible. We left Harper's Ferl
because We had our choice between being t:
ken prisoners of war, or of cutting our W.
! through the rebel lines-so We chose the Ia
/ ter. We started Sunday night, the nth,
/ 81 PM, and roGe all night on the run, al
succeeded in getting within few miles
o Hagerstown, all right; there We learned tn
S force of 10000 or $4,000 rebels were in D
sition, and trying to flank US, so We had
go across fields, through woods, &c, in ord
, to get them off our track. In doing this '
!, ran right straight into two regiments of i
t fantry. A few rounds from our carbin'
{ cleared the track, however,and We dashed o