Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-25
pATTLEOF SHARPSBURG.

World WrltinS Ho"'
40, battle of Thursday last, afiirms that
:, mas s. one of the hardest, blood'est and
,,s, botly contested of the war; More
-, are said to have been brought into
.,ior than in any other battle ever fought
This continent. 100000 troops were
.otuallv engaged en- both sides, not inclu-
linn the reserves. Rebel prisoners
stated that their army was largely rein
forced previous to, the engagement and
,bot II numbered fully lao, 900 men, being
,be hulk of the rebel army of Virginia.
Though outnumb cred by the enemy, they
heat him by heroic gallan:ly on the part
Of the men and the splendid management
Of Gen. Mcclellan.
The battle field was such as to call for
the greatest military skill in the moving
and disposing Of troops. Gen. Hooker's
corps was formed upon the extreme right,
consisting of Hatch's and Ricketts, Divis-
ions and the Pennsylvania Reserves
Cen. Burnside's command was upon the
extreme left, three miles away, and in
front of the town of Sharpsburg. Be-
tween these extremes were Summers,
Franklin's, Banks and Porter'S corps.
Early in the morning of Wednesday
the two wings of our army advanced ST.
multaneously, placing the enemy in a COM
plete square with our army upon three
sides, with the Potomac presenting bar
rier in the rear.
The battle commenced on the extreme
right, the rebels attacking Gen, Hooker,
with desperate vigor.
Immediately the cannon from many
an eligible position, of which there was
no deficiency on either side of the field,
commenced their work all along the lines,
with an evident concentration of their
fury upon Gen. Hooker and his supports
by the enemy; upon Gen. Hill and his
snpports by our men. The first onset
showed how immense were the forces
welded by each of the generals-in-chiet,
and the impetuosity and desperate char
acter of the fight From east to west,
over a space of three miles, could be seen
the smoke pouring from the cannons
mouths, and the report of the guns peal
on peal, sometimes distinct and separate
and sometimes mingled in a terrible roar
ing, came from every quarter of the scene
of the contest. The air was damp and
the morning cloudy, and little could be
distinguished beyond the hills save the
lines of forest and the constant putfs Of
smoke which rose slowly from the enc
my's guns, and the circles gradually sep
aratine which marked the spot where
MANY of our shells had exploded high IL
the air.
The battle had commenced in earnes
and the cannonading sounded feartuliy an
solemnly upon the ear; but the MIDST 81
blime and awful time was yet to come
both for those engaged, and tor those VIII
witnessed the scene merely as spectacle
Soon after the cannonading con
menced Gen. Hooker advanced his force
upon the enemy, and opened a musketr
fire at short range, and with terri BILE e
4 feet. During its progress, rebel brl!
ade raised the Stars and tripes and e.
claimed, - Stop firing on your friends
Morris brigade was thereupon ordere
to cease firing, and the advantage game
by so treaeherous and dishonorable reso
enabled the rebels to drive Morris bri
ade before them through field OF corn il
to an open lot, in which they rallied al
formed again for the fight,
Banks corps and Sedgwick's .Divisic
are now brought up to support the rig
wing. as it was here that the battle rag
the fiercest. Sedgwick's Division W
driven back under u CALLING fire, VIII
Kirby's Battery played conspicuo
part. The rebels were moved down
winrows.
1t played upon them with most territ
effect. But the enemy, apparently new
lacking for men to sacrifice in a bold a
hazardous enterprise, threw their soldie
in masses from out the woods against t
battery. Immense numbers Il
in columns, but massed together
overwhelming numbers, rushed from
woods upon the guns which had been de
ing such heavy blows and cutting su
gaps in their ranks. The infantry ST
port of the battery fell back in contusi'
and left it alone But most rapid d
charge of shrapnel upon them piled t
rebels in dead heaps and their dash W
broken, and the battery limbered up a
moved away in safety. Sedgwick's