Litchfield enquirer., 1862-09-25
5Jsvs pf tue SDesk. THE BATTLE oFaWEDHEsDAY. THE G REAgEsr AND HKAfARDEs1 FieHrING OF THE s
RETAKINGu OF 5HARPER' 'S FERRY

T5Fs-,Sss TsF @esF fsssaa1 tsss--1 =
 HGHrING c OF THE VAR.
 RETAKING or HAsPER,s FERRY Sl .,s There have been many conflicting, statements relatiyato the re- taking of Harper's Ferry, by Butnside: and some doubt has been felt in re- gard to the matter, but it is. now settled that Burnside did take it on Tuesday: On Monday afternoon, McClellan ordered Burnside to re- hess Franklin bnthe left and laoyerapidlY upon Harpsr Berry te save Col Miles, who had sent for assistance. Burnside did not stop for the darkness, but marched on for some miles, when the meg, overcome with fatigue, bivouacked by FtAe roadside. Al
 in motion for Harper's Ferry, where it arrived at about l o'clock, and Gen. Mansfield, with Gen. Reno's old division, at once engaged, the enemy, driving him, to ther surprise, across the iron railroad brd ge, and cur temporary pontoon bridge. The truth at once flashed upon1he men, as they pushed op-Aliles had surrendered almost without defence. On went our troops, until the iron bridge was reached. and here. battery was ordered forward to clear the way for a charge of twelve picked regiments under Gen. Parka. The rebels re- tired on our advance.> Our troops entered the works, found the guns safe, secured most of the stores and arms, and in short time were follow. ing the, rebels towards Winchester. .s} E,st. l Several hundreds of Miles command were fstandng drawn up in the town of Harpper's Fer ry, ready to surrender and be pasolsd and their l. joy kneWs no bounds when they discovered that we had retaken. the place. The loss in retakiug Harper's Ferry was slight, and it was evident ! thatsthe rebels only captured the town in order secure passage South. On the appearance of the national troops the retreat of ae rebels was precipitated into regular rout But as General Burnside had more than executed his orders, and as his men were woEn out, the pur- suit ceased at Martinsburg. ,e >... -s-l F .s v-,s
 Harpers Ferry was taken from Miles by Jaeksons ten strong brigades. The rebels re ported that Siegel was laundering in their rear, but that Jackson would cross the Potomac at | Williamsport, and reinforce Lee, when they were sure of driving General Mcclellan. : '.. *s' | The rebels acknowledge that their losses up to this time had been fearful in killed and wounded, but no account was taken of this by the generals, who in their desperation were de termined to sacrifice the entire rebsl army in the present issue. --y.at '7,, 1 After retaking I!arper's Ferry, Burpside's whole corps were in motion advancing up the river, to form the left wing of the Potomac, in the great battle of "Wednesday. r.. ...,sl j. WEDNESDAYS BATTLE. .-,l ra.. r
 The Tibune's special correspondent furnish es a most graphic account of this great battle o the war. Writing on Wednesday evening, he says :. ag :.- j.-T g.}s 'uIs T.f.u.I
 A fierce and desperate battle between 200 ,O0t men has ragged since daylight, yet night closes on an uncertain field. It is the greatest fyh, since Waterloo over tn. field contested with an obstinacy equal even to Waterloo. Ii not wholly a victory tonight, believe it is q prelude 10 a victory to morrow. But what car be foretold of the future of fight in which from 5 in the morning till : at night the besl troops of the continent have fought without de cisive result U '.s~' ''' a-5
 a After the brilliant victory near Middletown Gen. MeGlellan pushed forward his army rapid ly, and geacled Keedysyille with three corps on armies faced each other idly until night Artil lery was l,psy at intervals once iu the mornne opening with spirit and coptinping for half an hour with vgor, till the rebel ba;tery, as usual was s;!aners. r-r
 On th" evening of Tuesday, Hooker was or derea to GLOSS the Antieam Creek with lis coris aii:j. feeling the left of tl.a enemy. to b.
 ready tt ;as'ac31 next moriting. During the da, of appar4na Inactivity, Mcclellan had been ma tufn.ghs plan of battle, of which Hooker tl1vrln"nt was one Guyelopment.
 | T': rf,s ton on either side was peclIiar When Richardson advancal cn Monday he feun,! lile enemy teploytd and tijsplavaS il force on cresceut-shaped ridge the outline O.
 which followed more or less exactly the course of Antict;.m Creek. Their Iires were the,
 forming, and the revolution Of force in front Q
 the ground which they really intend to hold 1 ityb, r.rhi,ll ;i, n 1aluv
 their engagements to receive 1t We're complete. | McCeA4a's forces lay behind low, disconnec
 ted ridges, iu front of the rebel ysunmits. all o nearly, all unwopled. They gave some cove for artillery, and guns were therefore massed o,
 the center. The e;tcmy had the SheI,harelstov road and the iiagerstJwn and Williamson
 roads both open to him in rear for retreat ! Along one or the other, if beaten, he must fly This among other reasons, determined, perhans
 the plan of hatke which Mcclellan finally re solved on. ,.,e -.., s,,-.. -r.-ss ...-.s s...
 The plan was generally as follows Hooke
 was to cross on the right. establish himself or
 the enemy's left, if possible, flahking his posi- ton, and to open the fight. Sumner, Franklin and Mansfield were to send their forces also tt the right. co ooperatfng with and sustainine Rockers attack while advancing also nearer the center. IheHeavy work in the center was ief mostly to the batteries. Porter massine his in fantry supports in the hoows. On the Jeff Burnside was to carry the bridge already refer red to. advancing then bya road which enters the pike at Sharpsburg, turning at once the re- bel left flank and destroying his line of retreat 1 Porter and Sykes were held in reserve. - 1 Hooker moved, Tuesday afternoon, and after some brilliant skirmishing found out what he wanted to know of the rebel position, and then rested for the night, so near the rebels that his pickets captured several of them during the night. It was inevitable that the fight should reconsmence at daylight, /" We are through for tonight, gentlemen" remarked thee general, "but tomorrow we fight the battle that will de. eide the fate of the Republic" .'
 Not long after the firing ceased it sprane up again on the left. First came rapid and unu- sually frequent picket shots then several heavy volleys The General listened moment and smiled grimly. We have no troops there. The Rebels ars shooting each other It is Fair Oaks over again. ,-.8 a.a. ra,5 .5a.ao 1 Mcclellan had been informed of the nights work and of the certainties awaiting the dawn. | Sumner was ordered to move his corps at once and was expected to be on the ground at day. ! ight. From the extent of the rebel lines de. | veIoped in the evening, it was plain that they | had gathered their whole army behind the heights and were waiting for tLe shock. .f,4aa The battle began with the dawn. Mornina found both armies just as they had slept almost close enough to look into each others eyes.
 Gen. Hooker opened on the right at 5 o'clock and at g., after four hours desperate fghtino. he was wounded, and obliged to leave the field Tea. ving his command to the veteran Sumner, He had been exposed to the rebels' fira aIl d.,, 5