The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-09-26

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which the rebels still held. The order
Of Franklin, however, was practically
countermanded, In consequence of q
message from General Sumner that if
Franklin went on and was repulsed, his
own corps was not vet sufficiently re-or-
ganized to be depended on as a reserve
Franklin, thereupon, was directed to.
run no risk oflosing his present position,
and instead of sending his infantry into
the woods, contented himselfwith advanc-
ing his batteries over the breadth of the
fields in front, supporting them with
heavy columns ofinfantry, and attacking
with energy the rebel batteries immedi-
ately opposed to him. His movement
was success, so far as it went, the bat
teries maintaining their new ground, and
sensibly affecting the steadiness of the
rebel fire. That being once accomplished,
and all hazard of the right being again
forced back, having been dispelled, the
movement of Burnside became at once
the turning point of success, and the fate
of the day depended on him. es
How extraordinary the situation was,
may be judged from moments consid-
Grafton of the facts. 1t is understood
that from the outset Burnside's attack
was expected to be decisive, as it GER
tainly must have been if things went well
elsewhere, and if he succeeded in estab-
fishing himself ON the Sharpsburg road
in the rebel rear.
- Yet Hooker, and Sumner, and Frank
lin, and Mansied were all sent to the
right three miles, while Porter seems to
have done double duty with his single
corps in front, both supporting the bat
teries and holding himself in reserve.
With all this immense force on the right,
but 5000 men were given to Burnside
for the decisive movement of the day.
Still more unfortunate in its results
was the total failure of these separate at
tacks on the right and left to sustain, or
in any manner cooperate with each
: other. Burnside hesitated for hours in
, front of the brigade which should have
, been carried at once by coup de main.
, Meantime Hooker had been fighting for
/, four hours with various fortune, but final
| success. Sumner had come up too late
, ! to Join in the decisive attack which his
earlier arrival would probably have con-
, verted into a complete success; and
4
Sumner. had been repulsed. Probably
/ before his arrival the rebels had trans
! ferred considerable number of troops
, to their right to meet the attack of Burn
, side, the direction of which was then sus-
, pected or developed.
. Attacking first with one regiment, then
with two, and delaying both for artillery,
Burnside was not over the bridge before
2 o'clock-perhaps not till 3. He ad-
vanced slowly up the slopes in his front,
| his batteries in retreat covering, to some
, extent, the movements of the infantry. A
i desperate fight was going on in deep
ravine on his right the rebel batteries
| were in full play, and, apparently, very
, annoying and destructive, while heavy
|, columns of rebel troops were plainly visi-
, BILE, advancing as if careless of conceal
ment, along the road and over the hills
in the direction of Burnsides forces. Il
was at this point that Mcclellan sent
him the order above given.
| Burnside obeyed it most gallantly.
, Getting his troops well in hand, and send
! ing portion of his artillery to the front,
he advanced them with rapidity and the
, most determined vigor, straight up the
hill in front, on top of which the rebels
had maintained their most dangerous
battery This movement was in plain
, view of McClellan's position, and as
Franklin, on the other side, sent his bat
, teries into the field about the same time,
the battle seemed to open in all direc-
: tions with greater activity than ever.
I The fight in the ravine was in full pro-
: gress, the batteries which Porter sup
: ported were firing with new vigor, Frank
! lin was blazing away on the right and
every hill top, ridge and woods along the
I whole line was crested and vailed with
j white clouds of smoke All day had
been clear and bright since the early
! cloudy morning, and now this whole
: magnificent unequaled scene shown
: with the splendor of an afternoon Sep
, tember Sun. Four miles of battle, its
, glory all visible, its horrors eM vailed,
: the fate of the Republic hanging on the
4 hour-could any one be insensible of its
E grandeur? o %
: There are two hills On the left of the
D road, the farthest the lowest The reb-
/ els have batteries on both Burnside is
a ordered to carry the nearest to him,
h which is the farthest from the road His
!, guns opening first from this new position
+ in front, soon entirely controlled and ST.
! fenced the enemys artillery. The infan-
: try came at once, moving rapidly and
steadily up long dark lines, and broad,
e dark masses, being plainly visible with
s out glass as they moved over the green
v hillside
g The next moment the road in which
the rebel battery was planted was oc-
!. cupied with clouds of dust swiftly de-
f scending into the valley. Underneath
: was tumult of wagons, guns, horses,
d and men flying at speed down the road.
r Blue flashes of smoke burst now and then
among them, a horse or man, or half
+ dozen went down, and then the whirl-
e wind swept on.
d The Hill was carried, but could it be
J. held2 The rebel columns, before seen
e moving to the left, increased their pace.
: The guns, on the hill above, sent an an
IS CRY tempest of shell down among Burn
a sides guns and men. He had formed
e his columns apparently in the near angles
e of two fields bordering the road-high
d ground about them everywhere except In
the rear.
1 II I