The national Republican., 1862-09-19
THE POSITION.

It isfully confirmed that the fight Of Sun
day was with rear guard Of the enemy,
posted to check our pursuit. This rear guard
was Gen. D. Fl. Hills division, Of twenty 1--we
regiments, or about ten thousand men. Gen.
Lopgstreet, who was near Hagerstown when
the fight commenced, came up to cover the
beaten and retreatipg division Of Gen. Hill.
These facts are obtained from rebel deserter,
q sergeant major, whose statements are relied
upon. That Gen. Longstreet marched to.
wards the battlefield, after the fight began,
and was not in it when it commenced, was al.
ready known.
The number Of Union prisoners taken al
Harper's Ferry, and paroled, is said to bt
nine thousand and six hundred. A gentleman
who conversed with many of them on their
way to Frederick, says that they denounce
the late Col. Miles as a traitor. They say
that his abandonment of the Maryland
Heights, which commanded their position
was wholly unnecessary. Col Miles is moi
alive to speak for himself, and II is ungraciou.
to attack his memory. But the murmurings
here are loud, that an enieebled old officer
like him, and with the doubts about his con
duct at the first battle Of Boil Run, shoult
have been entrusted with such command a.
that at Harpers Ferry. That there is some
thing wrong somewhere, is the universal feel
ing. ".s -...
On the outside, will be found statemen,
in detail Of the regiments surrendered at Har
per's Ferry, and Of the cannon captured thert
BY the enemy. To this is to he added oul
loss cf small arms, and we know not wha
quantity Of stores OF various kinds.
According to the reports from Harrisburg
and other sources, Gen. McClellan fought tn,
enemy with success near Sharpsburg during
the evening Of Tuesday. T..
During Wednesday. battle ragged through
tho whole day, commencing At five o'elocl
in the morning and only terminating will
nightfall, at Antietam creek. The Harris
burg dispatches speak Of the battle as haviDl
taken place near Gettysville, and say that ou
army was reinforced before or during th,
dght, by 25OOO mes, while the enemy receivet
an accession Of 10000 under jackson.
these statements are tolerably correct, it VA
battle Of large dimensions in the number
engaged. -
Various dispatches, giving details, will b,
found in our news columns. More authentic
and full accounts will be looked for with III.
deepest solicitude p,
The general impression made by the ae
counts as yet received, is not unfavorable
Our troops fought with great bravery, and /
is certain good many rebel prisoners wer
taken. Nevertheless, the facts which seen
to beagreed, that the contest was not repewe,
up to noon yesterday, and that Gen. McClel
Ian had granted an armistice for the buria
Of the dead, give to the affair somewhat the
aspect OF C drawn battle. T.. ..
II such shall finally prove to have been th
fact, it is not so satisfactory as victory, bu
it is still Tar from being disaster. Will
the public sensibilities are panied by tn
thickening accounts Of the death and wound
Of our brave soldiers it must still be recolec,
ed that such war as this is, cannot be te,
minated without severe battles, and that sue
battles are attended with losses terrible 70
both sides. Let it deepen our indignation q
the men who have brought this causeless wa
upon the country, that it entails sacrifices S
unavoidable and so tremendous.