Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-09-26
ruB RAffLk-FIBD.

The battle was fought In tbs valley imme
d;s,sIs vest of that portion Of the Blue Ridge
know a. the South Mountain, and 70 the
east and north Of Sharpeourg, aim .. IN
semicircls, the concave side ct whieo j. Low
arts the town. Unlike most oil the Valleys
in this Blue Ridge country this valley nae
not level spot in il, but rolls INTO eminen-
CT Of all dimensions, vatered by the oeeP,
narrow and crooked Antietam. stream tn1'
has TO be crossed every ten minutes, roe
which way you will SharTeourg lies on
western side Of the valley, and little 10 the
sJuth from our point Of view. Right across
,he valley from the northeast runs the turn
nike from BJonsboro to Sharpsonr8 Two
little yillagee-Porterstown and heeterssiie'
or KeedysyIl!e-lie on tie eastern side OF the
valley, at the foot Of the South Mountains
Nearly every Iart OF the valley is under cni-
tivation. Toward the north, where our
right lay. are sine dense woods.
After the victory near Middletovn, Gen
N, Clellan pushed forward his army rapidly,
and reached Keedysvills with three corps on
Monday night. 0n the following day, the
two armies faced each other idly, until night
On the evening OF Tuesday, Hooker was
ordered to cross the; Antetsm Creek Win nia
ctrps, aud, feeling the left Ui the eren!' Dc
ready to attack next morning.
While Hooker was making this demon
stration upon our right. Burnside was
also closing in upon the enemy al the leit'
thus to have she enemy Enclosed on three
sides.
The enemy saw the Intention Of Hooker,
aud made vigorous effort to kesp open com
munication with the road running northward
toward WilliamspOrt, and were evidently
nj ssing their forces to turn our right flank.
The enemy skirmished With Hooker vel
nigh until midnight.
Gen. Mcclellan sent three army corys to
strengthen the right, BLnks' then Msns-
field ~, Summers and Frsnklin's. This was
the most important movement upon the neid
and efectually thwsrted the purposes OF the
enemy At eight O'Clock they were Pot IN
mott d, moved scroes the Antistam and
placed IN those positions where they could
most efsctusllJ cooperate With zen Hooker
| in the morning.
When the firing eeased the hostile lina
lay close to each other-their pickes so neal
that six rebels were captured during th'
night l. was inevitable tina, the hghl
| should reclmmeucs st daylight. Neither
side had suffered considerable loss IL was
| skirmish, not battle. d" We are through
| for tonight" remarked Gen. Hooker, ''ou
to morrow we fight the battle thai Will de
| eide the fate OF the republic"
Not long after the firing ceased II srrsnS
up again on the left. First came RAPIDLY
and unusually frequent picket shots. theE
several heavy yolleys. The General listene<
I a moment aud smiled grimly. q" We hss'
\ no troops there. J. be rebels are shooting
each other. 1t is Fair Oaks over again. -
So every one lay d wn again.
rRE RATTLE on wEpSLspAY.
The battle began with the dawn Morn
ing found both armies just as they had slept
almost close enough TO look into each o'h;r
eye.
For half an hour after the battle hs'
grown TO it's full strength. the line Of Or
swayed neitherwsy. HOoker's men were iull.
work.
The half hour passed, the rebels began q
give way little. only little, but at tn
first indication of a feceding Ere, forward
was the word. and on went the lIne with
cheer and q rush.
But out Of those gloomy woods came, sud
denly and heavily, terrible volleys.
10 ten minutes the fortune Of the da'
seemed to have changed-it was the rebel
who were now advancing, pouring ousof tn
woods in endless lines, sweeping through th
corn field from which their comrades just hed
Hooker sent in his nearest brigade TO NEE
them, but it could not do the work. He sal
to Doubleday, "GIve me your best brigsd
ins family"
The best brigade came down the hill {
the night on the run, went through the tim
Der in front through storm OF shot al
bursting shell and crashing limbs, over to
open field beyond, and straight into the cor
field, passing as they went the fragments {
three brigsIes shattered by the rebel FIRE an
streaming to the rear. They passed BY Hook
er,wbose eyes lighted as be saw these vetera
troops led BY soldier whom he knew
cou.d trust. IL think they will hold it,
he said.
There for half an hour they held the ridge
unyielding in purpose, eIhaustless in oOur
age.