Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-09-23
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN SEPT %, 1862

pears on the brow Of the rlCge above hem,
moves swiftly down in the most perfect order,
and though met by incessant discharges OF mus
kerry, Of which we plainly see the flashes, does
not fire gun. White spaces show where men
are falling but they close up instantly, and still
the line advances The brigades of Burnside
are in heavy column; they will not give way
before bayoDet charge IN line. The Rebels
think twice before they dash into these hostile
masses
There is halt the Rebel left gives way and
scatters over the field, the rest stand fast and
fire More infantry comes up, Burnside is out
numbered fanked compelled to yield the hill
he took so bravely. His position is no longer
one OF attack he defends himself with unfal-
terlng 6rmness, but he sends to Mcclellan for
help, Nc Clellan glass for the last half hour
has seldom been turned away from thelet.
He sees clearly enough that Burnside Is
pressed needs no messenger to tell him that
His face grows darker with anxious thought
Looking down into the valley where $1,000
troops are lying he turns a half questioning
look on Fitz John Porter, who stands by his
eide, grayely scanning the field. They are Por-
ter'S troops below, are fresh and only inpatient
to share IN this fight But Porter slowly shakes
his head, and one may believe that the same
thought is passing through the minos OF both
Generals " They are the only reserves OF the
army they cannot be spared.
Mcclellan remounts his horse, and with Pol-
ter and dozen officers OF his aft rides away
to the lett in Burnside direction. Sykes meets
them on the road-ag jod soldier whose opinion
is worth taking The three Generals talk briefly
together 1t is easy to see that the moment has
given II withheld, when the history OF the bat
tie is only to be written in thoughts and purpo-
Sos and words Of the General
Burnside messenger rides up lis message
IS | want more troops and guns. II you DO
no, send them, cannot hold my position for
halt an hour McClellans only answer for
the moment, is glance at the Western sky
Ihon he turns and speaks very slowly Tell
ueu burnside that this is the battle Of the war
H. ma,t hold his ground I'LL dark at ny cost.
/ SSH ssrd him Millers battery can do
nothing more have no infantry Then as he
messenger was riding away be called him back
% FELL him if he cannot hold hs ground then
the bridge to the last man always the
IA luEJ t-ll WV 70 ~ 81 lVotf ga A' l'op'
Tie sun is already down not halt an hour
of daylight is left. Till Burnslde's message
came, it had seemed PLAIN to every one that the
battle could not be finished to-day None sus-
pected how near was the peril OF deleai, OF sud.
len attack on exhausted iorces-hOw vial 70
che safety ot the army and the nation we're those
fifteen thousand waning troops Of FU John
Porter ID the hollow But the rebels halted in
stead Of pushing on their ylndctiye cannonade
died away as the light faded Before e was
quite dark the battle was over Only u solitary
gun Of Burnside 5 thundercd against the enemy,
and presently this also ceased, and the field was
still
The peril came very near, but 1t had passed
and in spite Of the peril, at the close the day
was partly success-not victory, but an ad-
vantage had been gained Hooker Sumner,
and Franklin held all the ground they had gain
ed and Burnside still held the bridge and his
position beyond. Everything was favorable for
Il renewal of the fight In the morning, II the
plan Of the battle Is sound, there is every rea
son why Mcclellan should win it. lie may
choose TO postpone the battle TO await his re-en-
forcements.
The Rebels may choose TO retire while it is
possible. Fatigue on both sides might DELAY the
deciding battle, yet if the enemy means to fight
vt all. he cannot afford to delay. His re-en-
lorcements may be coming his losses are enor-
nous Ills troops have been masssd in woods
and hoows, where artillery has had its most
terrific effect Ours have been deployed and
scattered From infantry fire there is less diff
ference
1t is hard to estimate losses on Il field OF such
extent, but | think ours cannot be less than six
thousand killed and wounied-it may be much
greater Prisoners have been taken from the
enemy hear Of a regiment captured entire
but doubt it. All the prisoners whom | saw
agree in saying that their whole army is there.