The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-09-25

Is follows: Hooker was To cross the
creek on the right, az before stated
Sumner. Franklin. aud Mansfield 10 CO.
operate with and Sustain his attack. In
first the batteries were to push forward
with infantry supports, and an effort TO
be made to carry tho nights 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 cut of their re-
treat. Porter and S, kes were held in
reserve. The plan, it successful, must
result not only in the defeat but the
destruction or surrender of the rebel
army. The ground is peculiar.
The rebel line was formed on cres-
cent-shaped ridge, which in front slopes
down into All undulating valley irreg-
ularly broken by connecting ranges Of
hills. Behind the crest the rebel force
lay in uneven and strong positions,
sheltered by ridges and hills, and espec-
tally strong on the flank. Antietam
creek, a stream too deep to be forded
except in very few places, sweeps by the
base Of their position and protected it
from assault.
McClellan's forces were first formed
in front, afterwards thrown to the right
and left. There is little or no ground
on our side equal in hight to the rebel
position.
Hooker sustained, unaided. the attack
on the rebel left for nearly four hours.
His line had been formed the night be-
fore and fought to-day in the same
order. Ricketts, Division was on the
lett, Mead's Pennsylvania reserve in
the center, Doubleday's Division on
the right. These terms are, of course,
TO he understood as referring only to
IIooker's line, not to the whole field.
There was artillery at all points. Mead
gained ground in his first attack.
Ricketts, also went forward through
the woods in his front, and Doubleday,
with his guns held front against heavy
cannonade. Mead advancing, finally
met heavy body of fresh troops
thrown suddenly aud vigorously against
him, and was driven back over part
of the ground he had just won. Rick
etts' line was at the same time hard
pressed and became deserted. Mans
field, who had come over the creek the
night before, was ordered into the
woods to Ricketts, support, and Hart
SUITS Brigade, part of Donbleday's
command, was sent to sustain Mead.
Mansfield took the greatest part of his
troops to Ricketts, help, but they were
unable to extend their line, and in the
effort to push forward his men. Gen.
Mansfield was mortally wounded. Gen.
llartsnff advanced To the relief of Mead
with the 18th and 18th Massachusetts
and another regiment. The PennsyL
vania troops were retiring in hast and
some confusion. HartsuH seized a
bridge in front Of the field over which
the rebels were passing, and held it in
SPLENDID style for more than half an
hour against greatly superior attack.
His men behaved most gallautly, stand
ing on this exposed ground, firing
steadily and never wavering once.
Gen. Hartsnff was very soon severe
ly wounded. His troops retained their
position, and finally, by the precision
and rapidity of their fire, co peeled
the enemy TO retreat, Immediately ad-
vanced in pursuit while they had been
engaged. Hooker ordered up Craw-
ford's and Gor.len's brigades TO their
support. IIartsuff retained the advance
and Crawford and Gordon followed in
support. A rebel battery on the right.
which had been most annoying by an
entila.ling fire, was about the same time
sienced by Doubleday's guns, and
Hooker ordered his whole line forward.
The rebels were driven through the
corn field again into the woods bryord
where they could not easily be dis
lodged without artillery. Gen Hooker,
who all the morning had kept himself
under fire and generally in the hottest
of it, rode forward to examine the
ground in front in order to plant bat
terry. As he rode up the hill he became
a conspicuous mark for the rebel sharp.
shooters their fire increased very snd-
denly. Gen. Hooker was wounded j.,
the left foot. a bullet passing entirel,
through it. The wound was excess
lively severe and painful, and he was
compelled TO leave the field. Three
men were shot down by his side at the
moment he was wounded.
Up To this the attack has been sue
cess. The hardest fought ground was
in the undisputed possession of Hook
er's troops, and his last order, as he was
borne from the field was, that Craw.
iord's and Gordon's Brigades should
immediately advance and carry the
woods to the right. The whole linz.
had gone forward with the widest
cheering and eevry thing looked like
complete and speedy success.
AT this fortunate moment, Gen. Sum
ner arrived on the field at the head OF
his veteran corps. Pursuing the for
ward movement, he led his men imme
diately against the rebel line and To the,
support of Crawford. Sedgwick's di |
vision, the flower of the Peninsula army.
advanced on the right, Richardson and
French at considerabl interva on the
left. The first volly from Sedywick's
troops was tremendous, but it was an. |
swered by heavier one.
Crawford had found the rebels in
great force in the woods, and was al
ready in need of assistance. Sedgwick's
flank also become exposed OH the Left |
III consequence of the distance between