New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-20

OF its beng auu came swiftly pack WITHOUT pursuit.
Artillery was sent to the front, infantry was
rapidly deployed and skirmishers went ont in front
and on either flank. The corps moved forward COM
pactly, Hooker as usual reconnoitering in person.
They came at last TO an open grass sOwn field In
closed on two sides with woods protected on the
right by hill, and entered through corn field In
the rear. Skirmishers entering these woods were
Instantly met by Rebel Shots but held their ground,
and as soon as supported advanced and cleared the
timber. Beyond, the left and n front, voleys Of
musketry opened heavily, and battle seemed to
have begun a little sooner than it wm expected.
Gen. Hooker formed bis lines with precision and
without hesitation. Ricketts, Division went into
the woods on the left in force. Meade, with the
Pennsylvania Reserves, formed in the center.
Doubleday was sent oft on the right, planting his
batteries ON tie bill and opening at once on Rebel
battery that began TO enflade the central line. 1t
was already dark, and the Rebel position could only
be discovered by the flashes Of their guns They
pushed forward boldly on the right, after losing
ground on the other flank, but made no attempt to
regain their first hold On the woods The fight flashed
and glimmered, and faded, and finally went out in
the dark.
Hooker had found out what he wanted TO know
When the firing ceased the hostile lines lay close TO
each other--their pickets so near that Six Rebels
were captured during the night 1t was inevitable
thatthe fight shouldrecommence az daylight. Neither
side had suffered considerable loss it skirmiSb,
not Sattle. ave are through for tonight, gentle-
men," remarked the General, /" bat tomorrow We
fight the battle that viii decide the fate Of the
Republic"
Not long after the firing ceased, it sprang up again
on the left. Gen. Hooker, who had taken up his
headquarters in a barn, which had been nearly the
focus Of the Rebel artillery wss out at once. First
came rapid and unusually frequent picket shots then
several heavy volleys. Tie General listened
moment and smiled grizzly. eve have no troops
there. The Rebels are shooting each other. 1t is
Fair Oaks over again" So everybody lay down
again. but all the nigh. through there were frequent
alarms.
Mcclellan had been Informed Of the nights work,
and of the certainiies awaiting the dawn. Sumner
was ordered to move his corIs at once and was ex-
pec,ed to be on the ground a. daylight From the
extent Of the Rebel lines developed in the evening
it was plain tba; they hsd gathered their whole
army bohnd the nights and were waiting for the
shock.
The battle began with the dawn. Morning found
both armies just AZ they bad slept, almost close
enough 10 look Into each others eyes. The left Of
Meades reserves and the right Of Ricketts, line
became engaged at nearly the same moment, one
with artillery, the other with infantry. A battery
was almost Immediately pushed forward beyond
the central woods over q plowed field, near the
~ h ,l.r a. .6a1 In
open field in the corn beyond, and in the woods
which stretched forward into tho broad Gelcs, like
promontory into the ocean, were the hardest and
deadliest struggles OF the day.
For half GIL hour aser the battle had grown to lie
full strength. the line Of fire swsyed neither way.
IIooker's men were fully Up TO their work. They
saw their General everywhere in front, never away
from the fire, and all the troops believed in their
commander, and fought with will. Two-thrds OF
them were the same men Tho under Mcdowell had
broken al Manassas.
The half hour passed, the Rebels began to give
way little, only little, but at the frs, indication
Of receding fire, Forward, was the word, and on
wen. the line with cheer and rush. Back across
The cOrn-held eavins dead and wounded behind them
over the fence, and across the road and then back
again into th. dark woods which closed around them,
went the retreatine Rebels.
Meade and his PeDnsylyanians followed hard and
fGst-followed till they cane within easy range OF
the woods, among which they saw their beaten
enemy disappearlng-f still, with another
cheer, and flung themselves against the cover.
But out Of thote gloomy woods came tnddenly
and heavily terrible volleys-volleys which smote,
and bent, and broke 10 a moment that eager front,
and hurled them swiftly back for half tue distance
they had won. Not swiftly, nor in panic, any
further Closing up their altered lines, they came
sowly away-a regiment where abrgade had been,
hardly brigade where whole diyison had been,
victorious. They had met from tho woods the first
yolleys Of musketry from fresh trcops-had met them
and returned them till their line had yielded and
gone down before the weight Of fire, and till their
ammunition was exhausted.
In ten minutes TIE fortune Of the day seemed To
have changed--it was the Rebels now who were ad-
yancng, pouring out of the woods in endless lines,
sweepinx through the corn-teld from which their
comrades had just fed Hooker sent in his nearest
brigade to meet them, but II could not do the work.
lie called for another. There was nothing coss
enough, unless he took 1t from bis right His right
might be IN danSer ii IL W1 "eHAeueu, o"' "''
center was already threatened with humiliation.
Not hesitating one moment, he sent to Doubleday:
" Give me your best brigade instantly"
The beet brigade came down the hill 10 the night
on the run went through the timber in front through
a storm Of shot and bursting shelI and crashing
limbs over the open field beyond. and straight into
the field passing as they went the fragments Of
IL -. lr;oodea ohattersd nv the Rebel fire and
streaming TO the rear. They passed by Hooker,
whore eyes lighted as he raw these veteran troops
led by a soldier whom he knew hs could trust. ~