Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-09-24

in front of the field over which the rebels were
pressing, and held it in splendid style for
more than half an hour against greatly su-
perior attack His men behaved most gal
lantly, standing on this exposed ground fir
ing steadily and never wavering once.
General Hartsuff was very soon severely
wounded His troops retained their position,
and finally by the precision and rapidity OF
their fire, compelling the enemy TO retreat In
stantly, advanced in pursuit. While they
had been engaged Hooker ordered up Craw
ford's and Gordon's brigades to their support.
Hartsuff retained the advance, and Craw
ford ard Gordon's followed in support. A
rebel battery on the right, which had been
most annoying by an enflading fire, was
silenced by Donbleday's guns. and Hooker Or
dered his whole line forward.
The rebels were driven through the cornfeld
again into the woods beyond where they
could not be easily dislodged without artil.
lery. Gen. Hooker, who all the morning had
kept himself under fire and generally in the
hottest of it. rode forward to examine the
ground in front in order to plant a battery
As he rode up the hill he became a conspic.
uos mark for the rebel sharpshooters; their
FIRE increased very suddenly and Gen. Hooker
was wounded in the left foot, bullet passing
entirely through it. Three men were shot
down by his side at the same moment he was
wounded.
Up to this time the attack has been a sue
cess. The hardest fought ground was in the
undisputed possession Of Hooker's troops. and
his last order, rs he was borne from the field,
was that Crawford's and Gordnn's Brigades
should Immediately advance and carry the
woods to the right The whole line had gone
forward with the widest cheering and every
thing looked like complete and speedy sue
cess. AT this fortunate moment Gen. Sumner
arrived on the field at the head of his veteran
corps. Pursuing the forward movement, he
led his men Immediately against the rebel
line to the support Of Crawford Sedgwick'
Division, the flower of the Peninsula army,
advanced on the right, Richardson and French,
at considerable interval, on the left. The
first volley from Sedgwick's troops was tire
mendous, but it was answered by heavier
one.
Crawford had found the rebels in great
force in the woods, and was already in need
of assistance. Sedgwick's flank also became
exposed on the lett in consequence of the dis
tance between him and the other divisions
The rebels perceived their advantages; and
at the same time pressing Crawford and at
tacking on Sedgwick's broke Crawlord's line,
which fell back in confusion on Sedgwick.
The 34th New York on the left was forced
to give away at the same time, and the woods
were yielded to the enemy.
General Sedgwick was severely wounded in
the shoulder, leg and wrist, but refused to
leave the field till his division retired.
General Howard then took command, and
ordered the division in the rear. Major Sedg
wick, aid of General Sedgwick, was shot
through the body, but is not mortally woun,
ded. Many Of the regiments suffered most
severely. The 18th Massachusetts, lost nine
out of seventeen officers, whose names are Civ
en- in the list annexed. Colonel Kinks, of
the 18th Massachusetts,, was killed. Colonel
Wistar, lst California, was severely wounded.
The Gath New York could gather but thirty
four men when rallied.
French and Richardson meantime held a
position we'll to the left and less in advance,
and kept it. General Richardson, not long
after, was severely wounded in the shoulder
while leading a bolting regiment. General
Dana, Of Sedgwick's Division, was wounded
but not severely. General Sumner found
himself obliged by this reverse to withdraw
his lines to their first position, where he held
thsn firmly. He had been exposed during
all the action to the hottest Of the fire. Col
oDel Revere, Of his staff. WAS wounded in
arm; Captain Audcnricd i'll Ghs lrg.
General Franklin arrived with his corps
about | o'clock, sending General Slocum's
Division to the left and in front. General
Smiths was advanced over the same ground
that had just been lost. His gallant Maine
and Vermont trnopS went in 1T u double
quick, driviRg the rebels before them. and on
the fences and beyond the woods. and again
took the point, this time not to be given up.
III
Meanwhile the forces in front of the whole
had b"en gaining some ground, Hard fight
ing all along the line has continued atintervals
through the day. French and Slocum were
well toward the centre. IL was time to hear
from Burnside, who had been long delayed in
his effort to carry the bridge.
At four o'clock, Mcclellan sent orders to
Burnside to cross at once, at all hazards, and
capture or silence the battery in front. The
bridge was captured in gallant style, but with
the loss of Colonel kingsbury and 500 killed
and wounded. Burnside, when nee across,
advanced on the rebel right along the Sharps
burg road and up the slopes of the hill. A
position of great Importance was carried at
first by his impetuous attack, but was after
wards abandoned as the rebels were able to
bring TIVE heavy masses OF troops from the
centre and left to oppose Burnside.
Oar attack on the left having ceased for the
time, Sumner and Franklin were ordered by
Mcclellan to hold their own, and the advance
of Burnside was relied on to decide the day.
Darkness was near before he was over the
creek, and the forces against him too strong
for his number He, therefore, was obliged
to content himself with defending the bridge
and his position beyond, and the final attack
was postponed till to morrow. The fire on
both sides died away gradually, and at seven
o'clock the battle was over for the day. Its
results have stated above; it was everywhere
very desperately contested, and the loss on
both sides very large. Ten Generals on our