Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-09-25
From the Richmend Enquirer, 22i inst.
Authentic Decisive bur Dearly Bought

Authentic Partiealars-A Decisive but Dearly Bought
Victory.
We have received authentic particulars of the san
culinary battle OF Sharpsburg alluded to elsewhere and
concerning which many painful rumors were ahoat on
Yesterday We have the qualification Of being able to
announce that lbe battle resulted 10 one of the most
complete vioors that has yet immortalzed the Con-
tolerate arms. Tie ball opened on Tuesday even
ing about six O'Clock, all of our available force. about
sixty thousand strong, commanded by Gen. Robert II.
Lee in person. aud the eremy about one hundred and
fifty thousand strong, beng engaged. The position OF
our army up0u range ct bills, forming SEMI
circle with the towards the enemy tie latter
occupying less commanding position opposite, tier
extreme right resting upon height commanding our
extreme lett The arrangement of our lie was as FOL
lows Gen. Jackson the extreme left, Gen. Long
street in the centre and Gen A. p Hill the extreme
right.
The fight on Tuesday evening kept up until
O'Clock at night when it subsidized into spasmodc Skin
missiles along The line. Wednesday morning was re-
Dewed by Gen. Jackson ard gradually became general
Both armies maintaining their respective positions aud
fought desperately throughout the entire day During
this battle Shatpsburg was fired by the enemys shell
and at one time, tie enemy obtained position which
enabled them to pour fankipg fire upon portion Of
our left wing, causing it to @aver AT this moment
Gen Starke of Miss, who bad command of jackson s
Division gaIoped TO the front of bis Brigade, and
Selling the standard rallied them forward No sooner
did the gallant GcGeral thus throw halse in the van
than four bullets pierced his body ard he fell dead
amidst his men. The eject instead Of dlscOuraglng
fred them with determination and revenge. and they
dashed forward, drove he enemy back, and Kept th,T
from the position during the rest Of the day.
1t being evident that the Young Napoleon" find
ing be could not force his way through The invOcibt
ranks of army in that direction, had Determined
upon flank movement towards Harpers Ferry, an(
thua obtain position rear, General Lee, witt
ready foresight anticipated the movement by drawing
the main body OF bis army back Oh the south side o
the PotomaC, al Sic herdsown, Virginia, whence b.
will, 6 course, pro ect the necessary combinaous f.
again defeating his adversary.
he epemy's artillery served with dissstrou
effect upon cur gallant troops; bur they replied ron
musket, howl'zer ard cannon with fapidlty end vii
that carried havoc amidst the opposing ranks 1h
hattie Of The most that has been Tough
since the opening OF the Many of cur brave me
fell. At dark the nring ceased, and in the m0rnlD
(Tbursday) 'our army ready to recomG1ence III
engagement, the enemy having teen forced back th
evening before, and the advantage OF The battle bein
still on side.
Firing consequently opened up1n the rev poso
supposed to be held by the enemy, but reply Oh
tanned and then discovered that he bad di3age
entirely from the field leaving many o! his dead aud
ed in hands ant about three hundred prisoners Til
report current yesterday that Thlr
day for the burial OF the dead unfOur he prison
stated that their force than hundred thor
sand strong and -bat NcC lean commanded the army
person
Our loss is estimated at 5000 10 killed wounded Al
missing The prisoners state that their ranks were great
decimnaed, and that the slaughter terrible. fTO
q which we may infer that the enemys loss fully
great IT Eot greater than our
The following Is list OF commanding Officers killed an
wounded in the engagement:
Gen. Stark, Of Miss, commanding JacEsons division
killed.
Brgadier General Branch of North Carolina. klIe7.
Brisadier General r. H. Anderson wounded in hip, N
dangerously
BrgadeT General Wright, Of Ga. flesh wounds brea
and leg.
Brigader General Lawton in leg
Brig. Gen. Armstead, in the tcot.
Brig Gen, Ripley, in neck, not dangerO usly.
n Brig. Gen. Ransom. Of n c., slightly.
. Col Alfred Ccmmings, in commard of WiccX's Brisad
!. eighty.