The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-10-01
Battle at MiddletoWn, ND

From the Richmond Enquirer of Sat.
urday We copy the following account OF
the battle At or near Middle,own, in
Maryland. on Sunday and Monday, Sept
l4th and 18Th:
Of the many rumors current the fol.
lowing appears to be the most authentic;
Tnat desperate battle WAS fought on
Sunday the l4lh, NJ MiddIe,o~n, Nj.
5.,ween the Confederate forces unde,
Gen. D. Il. Hill, aud the Yankees, 80 ,OUo
strong, commanded by Mcclellan. Gen
d Ii is reported to haze made thre. sep
ara,e attacks, and WAS each time repulseG
by the superior numbers of the enemy
Early tue next morning (Aondal) he
was reinforced by Gen. Long,treet, and
again attacked the enemy, ard succeed.
ed in driving him three miles from bis
| original position. The fight is said to
have Leen long aud bloody one, aud
WAS attended with heavy loss ON both
| sides.
Miidetown is on the great Turnpike
leading from Frederick city to CumJ.r
land, 3 miles from the former place in n
northern direction. About ten miles iur
ther west on the same road is boousboro,
where it was frat erronsonsly said the
dght had taken place.
Gen. ur.s division sustained. with
wonderful gallsntry, the attack Of Me.
Ctel!aa's main force, until the arrival uf
Loagstreet. when the enemy WAS driven
back with great slaughter.
p. S.-A gentleman who reached Rich
mond on Friday evening says i, is under
stood that Gen. Hills loss on SUNDAY
WAS chiefly in prisoners, II whom Cobbs
brigade furnished the principal number.
Gen. Garland Of Va, VS. certainly kilIe
Geo. jackson bad msched from Har.
psr's Ferry to ge, IN rear Of the ene,n,,
who was understood 10 be re,re.tiug be.
fore Lee.
The battle on Sunday. the 18th, has
been variousIy called the battle of Boons.
boro aud Mddletown, which took place.
in fact, between these two places, ~her.
the turnpike crosses the Blue Ridge.
Gen. Lee, in marching west from Fred.
erick city. had posted Generals u ii Hill
and Stuart at the passes "f the mountain
to hold back McCls!Iens forces. which
were advancing 70 the relief .f Hxrper's
Fsry.
Hsrpers Fsrry had some " hal b cid ou,
longer than WAS expected, and McCIsllsu's
advance becoming rapid. LIE suspected
that he might a,,emp, to fore. the pas
sage OF the mountain and fsl! upon the
rear Of Gen. McL~ws. who WIS occupyin.
Maryland Heights. and assisting in ,b-
reduction Of Hsrpsr's Ferry. He accord
ingly returned with Cen Longstree,'s D..
vision on Sunday, 20 Gen. bills support.
Approaching Boonsboro' couriers were
met from Gen. Hill announcing that the
enemy were pressing him in strong force
NJ the main pass on the Frederick and
HagersIown road. and that he required
reinforcemen,s. Longslre.l
'hereupon hurried HE march, and verv |
soon had his troops in position. By this
Iine Hills righ. had been forced back.
md here the gallant General Gsr.anJ |
lad fallen while rail- ing his brigade.
Gen. Longstreet soon succeeded iu re
'lorlng our right, which afterwards sue |
;sssfully resisted to the last the efforts Of
he enemy.
The ensmy's superior numbers enabled
'im to make his line out.,rec,h ours, both
D" our r:vh, and left, annoying US con.
from ths, direction.
The battle ragged until after night
TIE eneaa,s determined Effort TO f.rce
passage had been sue. sssfuily resisted,
aud the object had in view, the relief of
HsrPeis Ferry. WAS now rendered irnpos
sible OF accomplishment.
Late in the evening information was
gained that The snsmy had obt~in.d pos
session Of 1rsmpton's Gap. on 4 duec,
road from Frederick City TO Shnrpsbu,y.
This enabled him still TO threaten Nc
Laws rear. Gen. Lee having received
Information ths. lI~rper's Ferry would
probably fall next morning. hs dstsr,n
ined 10 withdraw Gems. Longstres. and
Hill from their position, and retire 10
where he could mere readily
unite his whole army. Sh~rpsburg is y.
bout ten miles North Of Harpers Ferry,
and about eight miles west Of Bvours.
bvro.
Lees discrimination WAS rendered the
more necessary from the fact that Gen.
era Summers corps " fresh troops had