The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-09-30
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
WINCHESTER, Sept. 22d, lS6

FURTHER PARTICULARS.
WINCHESTER, Sept. 22d, 1862.
The commands of Generals Jackson, Lawton,
and A. p. Hill left Martinsburs on Saturday
morning. 18th instant upon their road to Harpers
Ferry Gen Walker advanced his division to
the Loudoun ard General McLaws marched
towards the Maryland Heights These forces
invested the place and ultimately compelled its
surrender. Meanwhile, Gen. ID. Ii. Hill aEd
Longstreet engaged the advancing army of Nc
Clellan near BOonesborough with portion Of
their forces on Sunday, l4th instant. The en-
gagement was severe, but the object of lettering
the main force from the relief of llarpers Ferry
was fully accomplished. In this engagement the
loss on either side was heavy, and Gen. Garland,
of Lynchburg, was killed, calamity commanding
his brigade On Sunday evening the Federal
forces, commanded by General White and Col.
Miles, (who since died of his wounds, driven
back from Maryland Heights, after a sharp en-
gagement, by Gen. McLaws, finding themselves
efFcctually surrounded, consented to surrender.
The formal surrender was made on Monday
morning. Eleven thousand and upwards of priso-
ners, besides two thousand negroes (mostly
runaway slaves sixty pieces of cannon, the field
pieces Of superior kind and quality, twenty
thousand stand of small arms, best quality many
sabres and pistols, large supplies of ammunition,
quartermaster and commissary stores of considera-
Bile value, horses, &c, &c, were captured. Our
loss in this affair trifing.
After Sundays battle Gen. I.ongStreet and
D. II. Hill fell back five miles from Boonesbo-
rough on the Shepherdstown road, to the high
bluffs on this side of the Antictam river, short
distance beyond Sharpsburg. The great army of
Mcclellan, Burnside, Porter Heintzeman, &C.,
followed; and Gen Jackson made haste to Join
our forces On Tuesday evening he reached the
battle field, and attacked the left wing of the
enemy.
In the plan Of battle the left wing was COM
manded by Gen. Jackson, the centre was held by
Gen D. Ii. Hill and the right wing was Gen.
Longstreet's. The battle begun the evening be-
fore, was resumed by Gen. jackson, on the left
wing, at about three o'clock on Wednesday
morning, and about six o'clock became general
along the entire line. Our army formed the
segment Of circle, and ptesscd upon by
force greatly larger, supposed by those able to
form a correct jud gment, fully three to one.
AT about ten o'clock Gen. Jackson was rein
forced the left wing by the fine troops of Gen.
McLaws. At two O'Clock the enemy was severely
whipped that wing, and driven back fully
mile The fight at the centre was terribly severe,
but the troops of Gen. d. II. Hill rcsolutely and
to the end maintained their ground. But it was
Of the utmost moment to the enemy to turn our
right flank, in order to cut off communication
with the Virginia shore by the ford near Shop
herdstown
The pressure upon the gallant corps of Gen
Longstreet was almost irresistible, and anxiety as
to the result grew intense, when Gen. A. p. Hill
brought the reserve up from Harper's Ferry to
the relief of Cen Longstreet, at about o'clock,
to reinstate the doubtful fortunes of the day,
which, closing, left our troops in possession of all
the ground they held at the opening Of the battle
and so much of the enemy's as had been wrested
from him by jackson and McLaws.
The battle continued uninterruptedly for thir-
teen hours. Never have our troops, exhausted by
past labors they were, exhibited their courage
and endurance to such advantage; never has the
enemy contested field so obstinateIy 1t is held
by troops to be the battle Of tic ruy. Our
loss in killed was not great, though arc called
upon to lament the fall of several gallant and dis
tinguished officers. Gen. Starke, of Jackson's
Division, commanding the splendid Louisiana
Brigade, and Gen. J. OBJ Branch, of n Carolina,
are numbered with the dead. Many officers and
men are wounded; not many very severely how
ever
Our loss in killed, wounded and missing does
not exceed SIX to eight thousand, and the cncmy's
is calculated to be five times as large,
The day succeeding the battle, our troops were
under arms awaiting renewal Of the engagement
but the enemy found himself in condition to
try 1t again. The dead were buried, the wounded
removed to Shepherdstown, and with night-falI
came the general order, under which the trains
and troops were sent the river, by the next
mornings dawn, without loss or casually The
splendid success of this first pedis possesi5 in Ma
ryland reflects the highest credit on officers and
soldiers engaged, but all award the highest need
Of respect aud consideration to our great Conlnan-
DER General Lee, who present throughout
these eventful days. to whose sagacity and nro-
found military judgement all-all is due
Our troops having crossed the river safely, the
enemy soon appeared upon The thithel bank, to
commence heavy canonading, which was answer
ed by batteries, already put in position by
General Pendleton.
This artillery duel was continued throughout
considerable part of the day, but the enemy did
not attempt to cross the river. On the next morn
ing, however, the advance of the enemy was her.
aided by furious canonadng and subsequently one
or more brigades attempted to cross the river. A
part were suffered to ascend the precipitous bank
upon this side, to receive very warm reception
from the troops of Jackson, taking them in flank.
Their column, thrown into the utmost confusion,