The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-04


right and left, for distance Of more
than two LAilos. II was on the left that
they were stormed out Of their strong
bold by Rockers corps, Ooz's Kanawha
division charging upon the enemy with
Irresistible val0r. II was there that the
Twenty third Ohio, psalm singers Of
the Western Reserve, crossed bavonets
with the 23d South Caroiina, a proud
regiment, and representative Of the rabid
ultraism II the Palmetto State Il was
cavalier against Puritan, and the latter,
as in the days of Praise God Barebones,
had the best Of 1t. Yet SO desperately
did the Carolinians Eight, that before
single man surrendered, ne would beat
his gun against rock or tree 80 as 70
render il useless 10 the enemy. A pri-
vate in the Esd Ohio shot ono aud bay
onetted two Of the rebels in this stormy
encounter, and was made a sergeant for
his gallantry. The other Ohio regiments
composing the brigade displayed equal
valor and were hotly engaged Of close
quarters with the enemy several times
before he was driven over the crest of
the mountain into the valley, on the west
side Of the South Mountains. Equally
desperate was the fighting in the centre
aud on tho left Artillery was used
mainly TO cover the advance OF our
troops, aud as for the rest, the bavonet
and bullet did the work. Following the
road through Turner's Gap, some two
miles from the base Of the mountain you
come TO cleared field on the right hand
side, with farm house on the left, in the
rear Of which the mountain rises in pre-
cipitate lodges. la this cleared field was,
perhaps, as desperate fighting as charac-
terized the engagement II was the
last hold the rebels had on the noun.
iain. To surrender was to give up all
As seen in the gray light of morning,
heavy mists still hanging over il and the
clothing of the dead rebels drenched with
the night dews it presented sonlbre
aspect. II had been trodd,n as smooth
as thrashing floor. Burying parties
were still busy bringing in the dead (;
the air was tainted with the odor Of
death, and the bodies presented a ghast-
ly aspect. UpItO that time over six hun
dred Of enemy's dead had been buried
the wounded had all been removed.
Six miles south of this battle field is
Crampiou's Gap, through which passes
the read from Jefferson 10 Boherville.-
Charlottesville lies in this Gap. This
strong position was carried by Frank
Inns corps, by succession of bavonct
charges, perhaps the most brilliant Of the
war, and of which the newspapers have
alIeady furnished detailed accounts.
IL was Wednesday morning., the 18th
of September day that Willie memoir
able in the history of this war, both for
| the nature and extent Of the battle then
fought and the vast interests that de.
pended upon it, We had little leisure to
visit past battle fields; our business was
with the present one. Emerging from
the wooded heights, the valley Of Antie-
tam Creek spread out before US like an
emerald map. A little 10 the southwest
and some six miles distant, was the vii
lage Of Sharpsburg, beyond which rose q
succession of irregular hills, running Sc
closely into each other as to present al.
most the appearance of an evenly rolling
country. And still beyond, the massiy,
blue walls of theNirgina Mountains rose
up against Che cold leaden sky of lb,
cloudy, glimmeiing dawn. The battle wa,
then raging furionsly from the right TO the
left. Its outlines could be traced by tn
wreaths of smoke that rose up like whit,
mists from the river, and settled over ia,
valley. As seen from our stand point, i
described very nearly the segment Of
circle-the right resting nearly on The
Potomac and the left on the east bank %
the Antie'am, and extending down TO-
wards its confluence with the Potomac
the river of battles. There was some
thing wonderfully grand in the contiIu
Gus heavy thrOb of artillery, ~ rapid il
its pulls atoms on the air that the nices
ear could hardly distinguish between
them and mingled with this dull thun
der came the sharp rattle Of muslSetry
sounding at that distance like the explo
sion Of indefinite bundles Of fire crackers
This terrible roll and rattle Of musketrl
continued on the right and center, occa
siOnally breaking out on the left, withou
cessation, for over two hours. Namr,
from all her heights and depths answered
to the CONFUSION of battle, and the echoet
deepened and prolonged, which swep
back from mountain steep and gorge
added Undesirable sO.cmnities ano
grandeur TO the hour
We pushed forward. Passing through
Boonsboro, through which the 8th II
linois Cavalry made a magnificent dasl
on Monday, scattering the rebels lik
chat, we struck off on road to the left
leading to Keedysville, which is situa,
ted on the Antietam, three or four mile
above Sharpsburg. Wedged in amonl
artillery and supply trains, with driver
cursing at their horses and each other
brigade of infantry, the men swarmin,
around every well and sco0ping the wa
ter from every pool and wayside spring
cavalry and lancers with their red pen
ons, and ugly looking lances, which ar
not known to have hurt any body, though
they give picturesque effect TO such ,
cavacade, and the limestone dust, pull
verified to impslpable powder by tht
tread Of so many thousands, rising up il
great clouds, and almost sitting one, w,
moved slowly forward down into the val
lev through the little town, and takin,
path through the woods, followed
ravine between the hills and soon cam,
upon the hospitals, to which the woundeC
were being brought from the centre anr
right
II is sorrowful sight that one sees il
such a place. A hospital on the battle.
field comprises all that is terrible in war
broken arms and legs, bones crushed
and pulvcrised flesh torn into shrcds
eyes shot out, fingers shot oil, place o.
groans, Of agony, Of death-most mCrci.
full Of dcliver,rs-of bloody tables ana
anpulalions, Lr heroic endurance aud
stron natures graphing with great suf,
ierings. The surgeons aud nurses work
ed assiduously. Water for thirsty lips
blackcncd with gunpowder slimuants
for exhausted natures; bandages and
dressings for flesh wounds; and the
knife foe desperate eases, Stretched on
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