Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-09-26

volleys we're delivered there before they
discovered their mistake
At daybreak the fight was renewed
suddenly and yehcmently, both sides
opening fire together, The number and
position of the Rebel batteries tho even
ing before had disclosed that they were
in great force on the right, and word
had been sent to Mcclellan to advance
summers corps during the night, Il
did not arrive on the field tiil 9 10 the
morning
Alcl1lellan's plan q battle was briefly
s. tollaws kcp ws "a cr4ss
SeN q, ae ~
Sumner. Franklin aud MausGela q
operate with and sustain his attack. In
fgout the batteries we're to push forward
With infantry supports, and an effort to
be made to carry the Heights on the
left. Burnside was to cross the creek
by the bridge and attack the rebel right,
moving on Sharpsburg also, which was
in their rear, and thus cnt off their re-
treat Porter and Sykes were held in
reserve. The plan, If successful, must
result not merely in the defeat, but the
destruction or surrender of the Rebel
army The ground is peculiar.
The rebel line was formed on cres-
cent-sbaped ridge, which in front slopes
down into an undulating valley irregu-
larly broken by connecting ranges of
hills. Behind the crest the Rebel force
lay in uneven and strong positions shell
tered by ridges and hills, and especially
strong on the tanks Antietam creek,
stream too deep to be forded except in
very few places sweeps by tho base Of
their position and protected it from as
sault
McClellon's forces we're first formed in
front, afterwards thrown to the right aud
left There is little or no ground on
our side equal in height to the Rebel po-
sition
Hooker sustained, unaided, the attack
on the Rebel left force nearly four hours.
His line bad been formed the night be-
fore, and fought to day in the same Or
der Ricketts, Division was on tbs left,
Meade's Pennsylvania Reserves in the
centre, Doubloday's Division on the
right These terms are, Of course, TO
Dc understood as referring only to Hook
afs lipe net 70 the whole Geld There
t5l po'nta Meala gqiA-
% ground 20 BIS G@t ATTACK
Ricketts, also went forward tbraH
the woods 10 Bis front, auG Doubleday,
with his guns, held front agansta heavy
caunonade Meade advancing, fualy
met heavy body Of fresh troops thrown
suddenly and vigorously against him and
was driven back over part Of the ground
be bad just won Ricketts, line was al
tho same time hard pressed and became
deserted Mansfield, who had come oyor
the creek the night before. vas ordered
into the woods to Ricketts, support, and
Hartsuif's brigade, part Of Doubleday
command was sent TO sustain Meade -
Mansfield took the greatest part Of his
troops to Ricketts, help, but they were
unable to extend their line, aud in the
effort to push forward his men, Gen.
Mansfield was mortally wouuned Gen.
Hartsuif advanced to the relief Of Meade
with the 18th aud 18Th Massachusetts,
and another regiment Tho Pcnnsylya-
MIA troops werJ retiring in haste and
some confusion Harlsuii seized bridge
in front Of the field over which tie Rob-
els were pressing, and held IL for more
than BALI an hour
General Hartauf was very soon Sc
yeroly wounded His troops retained
their position, and finally by The pro-
cision aud rapidly Of their FIRE, COM
polling the enemy to retreat instantly,
advanced 10 pursuit, while they bad been
engaged. Hooker ordered up Crawfords
aud Gordou's brigajos to their support
liartsuG retained the advance, and
Crawford and Gordon followed 10 sup
port A Rebel battery on The right,
which Lad been most annoying by0n en-
ilGding fire, was about tho same lno 81
fenced by Doubloday's guns, aud liook-
or ordered bis whole line forward
The Rebels were driven through tho
cOrnfold again into tho woods, beyond
where they could not easily be dislodgod
without artillery General Hooker, who
all the morning had kept himself under
FIRE, and generally IN the hottest Of II,
rode forward to examine the ground in
front ia order to plant battery. As be
rode up the bin he became o eoutpicuous
mark for The Rebel sharpshooiers; their
Gre increased very suddenly, and General
Hooker was wounded in die lcft foot,
bullet passing entirely through ID. The
wound was excessively severe and pain.
fol, and he was compelled 10 leave the
field Three men we're shot down by
his side at tho same moment he was
wounded
Up to this time ne attack had been o
success. Tho hardest fought ground
was in The undisputed possession Of.
Hookers troops aud bis last order, as
be was borne from the field was, that
Cnwlord's and Gordou's brigales should
Immediately advance and carry the woods
h The right. The whole liue had gone
forward with the widest cheering aud
fvfrvthiug Looked Ike a comnlefo and