The Portland daily press., 1862-09-25
Great Battle of Antietam Creek.

Great Battle of Antietam Creek.
The following details of the great battle of
Sept. 17th-the great battle Of the century
lieved to convey as correct an idea of that ter
rible conflict as anything yet published:
THE BATTLE FIELD
was such one as called for the greatest mill
tary skill in the moving and disposing OF the
troops. Both sides required to use unceasing
vigilance and skill to prevent or counteract
the purpose of the other. A succession of hills
and valleys mostly cleared of wood, mostly
ploughed ground, covered here and there with
high growing corn, in some place wooded, but
everywhere very rolling and filed with ravines
and passes and retreats, through which an un-
expected body of men might be suddenly
thrown upon the flank or rear of an unsuspect-
ing enemy. The generals of neither party were
in want of elevations from which to observe
the shifting scenes of the fight, and the day
was evidently to be won by the most skillfnl
generalship.
The Antietam creek runs for distance di-
rectly toward our center, but turning sudden
ly southwark it passes by the town of Sharps-
burg, and near our extreme left.
Gen. Hooker's corps was formed in the after
noon preceding the battle upon the extreme
right. His corps formerly McDowell's) con-
sists of Hatch's division formerly King's,)
Ricketts, division, and the Pennsylvania Re-
serves. Gen. Burnside's command was on the
extreme left, three miles away, and in front of
the town of Sharpsburg. intermediate between
these two extremes, were Summers corps,
Franklins corps, Banks corps, and Porter's
corps. These were upon the right and left of
the turnpike, and their disposition for the bat
tie was not made until the cover of the night
should give assurance of its secresy.
PROGRESS OF PREPARATION ON TUESDAY
NIGHT.
Our army, as it approached the position OF
the rebcls,was upon the south side Of Antietam
Creek. Gen. Hooker's division was thrown
across the creek at Kelty's ford and advanced
beyond the center until dark with large body
of skirmishers thrown out in front of him. The
enemy appeared at several points in line of
battle and met with their own skirmishers
those thrown out by Gen. Hooker An i'm
portant advance was effected, and the enemy
forced back, while as yet our center was bear
ing back upon the other side of the creek.
While Hooker was making this demonstra-
tion upon our right, Burnside was also closing
in upon the enemy at the left, and the enemy
were beginning to be placed in complete
square, with our army upon three sides, while
the Potomac presented barrier no less inn
passable in the face of our immense forces than
the army itself.
The greatest resistance was experienced as
Gen. Hooker attempted to move upon the
right flank. The enemy made vigorous ef-
fort to keep open communication with the road
running northward toward Williamsport.
Hence the opposition experienced by General
Hooker. The enemy skirmished with him well
nigh until midnight
Gen. Mcclellan promptly and most oppor-
tunely, sent three army corps to strengthen
the right, Banks (then Mansfelds) Summers
and Franklins. This effectually thwarted the
purposes of the enemy. At eight o'clock they
were put in motion moved across the Antictam
and placed in those positions where they could
most effectually cooperate with Gen. Hooker
In the morning.
THE BATTLE COMMENCED,
by most vigorous attack upon the very po-
sition which Gen. Mcclellan had taken the
greatest pains to strengthen. With the open
ing day came the commencement Of the fight
ing. The cannon from many an eligible posi-
ton, Of which there was no deficiency on eth
er side of the field, commenced their work all
along the lines, with an evident concentration
of their fury upon Gen. Hooker and his sup
ports by the enemy; upon Gen. Hill and his
supports by our men. The first onset showed
how immense were the forces welded by each
of the generals-in-chief, and the impetuosity
and desperate character of the fight From
east to west, over a space of three miles, could
be seen the smoke pouring from the cannon's
mouths, and the report of the guns, peal on
peal, sometimes distinct and separate and
sometimes mingled In terrible roaring. came
from every quarter of the scene of the contest
The air was damp and the morning cloudy and
little could be distinguished beyond the hills
save the lines OF forest and the constant puiis
of smoke which rose slowly from the enemy's
guns.
MUsKETRY FIGHTING OPENED BY GEN.
HOOKER.
Soon after the cannonading had commenced
Gen. Hooker became engaged at close range,
and with terrible effect. Early i'm the day
Morris brigade, while pushing the enemy be-
fore them, was surprised by seeing the Stars
and Stripes raised above their opponents, and
simultaneously the shout raised "Stop firing
upon your friends" The brigade was ordered
to stop firing, and the advantage gained by so
treacherous and dishonorable resort, enabled
the rebels to drive our men before them, thro'
field of corn, into an open lot, in which our
men recovered from the effects of the decep-
tion, and formed again for the fight.
BANKS CORPS COMES INTO THE ACTION.
Gen. Mansfield, recently appointed to the
position held by Gen. Banks, brought his COM
mand early into the engagement, to the SUP
port OF Hooker. Gen. Mansfield was fatally
wounded soon after the first onset Gen. Will
llams assumed command of the corps, and his
division was led by Gen. Crawford, until a
wound rendered him unable to remain upon
tne neid. Ten. Green commanded the second
division of the corps. The loss which they
sustained was very severe
,sEDGwIcK's DIVISION SUPPORTS THE RIGHT.
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