The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1862-10-10

evening a similar number arrived. We learl
that many OF them owe their wounds to tn
internal Yankee contriyance known as tn
sshell- balls" filled with poisonous sub
Stance, and arranged so as to explode in th
= flesh upon striking bone, creating NORTH
cation In short time; consequently, wound
of this nature are more generally fatal.-
Richmond Examiner.
The Glgse of.ssEse Greatest Battle
i AT fase Wat.
The correspondent Of the New York Tri
bune gives a highly interesting account o
the close of the great battle of Sharpsburg-
1t shows how narrowly the Federal arm,
| escaped utter defeat:
In another moment rebel battleline ap
pears on the brow of the ridge above them
moves swiftly down in the most perfect or
/ der, and though met by incessant discharges
Of musketry, of which we plainly see til.
/ 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 bef,re bayone,
! charge in line The rebels think twice be-
fore 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
eutnumbered, flanked, compelled to yield the
hill he took so bravely.: His position is no
longer one Of attack; he defends himself with
unfalterir g firn1ness, bat he sends to McCleI-
Ian for help. McCleElan's glass for the last
half hour has seldum been turned away from
the left.
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 10 900
troops are lying, he turns a half questioning
look on Fi!z John Porter. who stands by his
side, gravely scanning the field. They are
Porter's troops below, are fresh, and only
impatient to share in this fight. But Porter
slowly shakes his head, and one may believe
that the same thonght is passing through the
minds Of b til Generals: t.They are the only
reserves Of the army; they cannot be spared.
Mcclellan renlounts his horse, and witt,
Porter and d,zen officers of his staff rides
away 10 the left in BtInside,s direction
Sykes meets them on the road-a good soldier,
whose opinion is worth taking. The three
Generals talk briefly together. It is easy to
see that the moment has come when every
thing may turn on one order givensor with
held, when the history of battle is only to be
written In thoughts and purposes aud words
of the General.
Burnside's messenger rides mp. His mes
sage is, Il war troops and guns. IF you do
not send them / cannot hold my position for
half an hour" McClelan's< only answer for
the moment is a glance at the western sky
Then he turns and speaks very slowly, 'sTe!l
Gen. Burnside that this is the battle of the
war. He must hold his glcund until dark at
any cost. ! will send him Miller's battery
| can do nothing more | have no infantry"
Then as the messenger was riding away he
called him baek-sTeIl him if he cannot hold
his ground, then the bridge to the last man
always the bridge! If the bridge is lost
all is lost"
The sun is already down; not half an hour
of daylight is left. Till Burnsid's message
came it had seemed plain To every one that,
the battle could not be finished to-day
None suspected how near was the peril Of
defeat, of sudden attack on exhausted forces
how vital to the safety Of the army and the
nation were those fifteen thousand waiting
troops of Fitz John Porter in the hollow
But the rebels halted instead of pushing on,
their yindictive cannonade died away as the
light faded. Before it was quite dark the
battle was over. Only a solitary gun Of Burn
sides thundered against the enemy, and pre-
sently this also ceased, and the field was still.
The peril came very near, but it has passed,
and in spite Of the peril, at the close, the day
was partly a success-not a victory, but an
advantage had been gained. Hooker, Sum
nerand Franklin held- all the ground they
had gained. and Burnside still held the bridge
and his position beyond. Every thing farora-
bic for a renewal of the fight in the morRing.
If the plan Of the battle is sound, there is
every reason why Mcclellan should win it,
lie may choose to postpone the battle to await
his reinforcements
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 at all, he cannot afford to delay
His reinforcements may be coming, his losses
are enormous. His troops have been massed
in woods and holows, where artillery has
had its most terrific effect. Ours have been !
deployed and scattered. From infantry fire
there is less difference
It's hard to estimate losses ON field of
such extent but | think ours cannot be less
than 5000 killed and wnunded-it may be
much greater. Prisoners have been taken
from the enemy. hear Of regiment cap
tured entire, but doubt it.
Excitement i'm Washington.
The Fredericksburg News, chronicling the