The Portland daily press., 1862-09-20

place on Sunday, Sept. 14th, was the first Of
the series of battles now being reported, and
seems to have been sanguinary conflict
From correspondent of the New York Times,
writing from the field of strife at the close of
the battle, we copy the following particulars: !:
The rebel position was on the sides and sum-
NIT of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on each side
of the Gap, known as Frog Gap through which
the main road on the turnpike, from Middle
town to Hagerstown, passes. The gap is dis
tant from Middletown about three miles, and
from Frederick twelve miles. The mountains
in the vicinity of the gap are steep and rugged.
and rendered difficult to ascend unless by the
ordinary thoroughfares, on account of nuner-
GUS lodges and loose rocks which afford no per-
maneDt foothold. From base to top they are
covered with thick wood thereby giving pro-
lection to the party in possession, and making
the progress ofthe attacking force doubly haz-
ardous.
The early position of the Union army, or
where tie line of battle was first formed was
on piece Of rising ground on the right and
left of the main road between Bolivar and the
mountains. The nearer we approached the
mountains the more successfully could the en-
emy bring his artillery to bear upon our col
umns. No matter what position we held, the
Blue Ridge mountains commanded that posi-
ton. 1t will be observed at once that the en-
emy had a formidable ground of defence and
nothing but undaunted courage wrested it
from them.
The first division to enter the field on our
side was Coxs of Reno's corps. Next came
the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, Ricketts, and
Kings divisions, under command of the gal
liant and brave Hooker. We had batteries sta
toned on both wings, but at no one time was
there over ten or twelve pieces in practice.
The enemy's force is supposed to have
amounted TO about 10000 men. He probably
used twelve pieces of cannon. The force of
Gen. Longstreet and DIR. Hill were engaged.
The battle commenced with artillery at 7
p. NJ, Robertson's U. 5. Battery of four light
field pieces firing the first shot. The firing
was continued for over an hour. but the enc
my did not respond until Cox's division APP
peared in the main road, advancing to take
position. Two pieces stationed in the gap
were then opened upon the column. The
troops, however, turned into field at the left
of the road, and got out ofliarm's way before
any injuries were effected. Here they remain
ed in line of battle for an hour and half In
the mean time the enemy's position having
been discovered, Robertson directed the fire of
his pieces TO the gap. Soon after the rebels
opened another battery at the right of the gap,
and subsequently still another battery at the
left. 1t was then evident that the rebels in
tended to make a vigorous stand on that noun
tain. Since the preceding day they had brought
up extra pieces of cannon, for as before stated,
they had used but three, at the most, in the
skirmishes during the week. The enemy was
now firing from nine pieces consequently,
to make vigorous reply, Haynes U. S. Bat
terry OF six pieces moved up to the left to the
assistance of Robertson.
Three times during the day the rebels were
forced to change the position of their pieces,
and late in the afternoon their guns were silent
altogether.
BY IL o'clock Cox's division had arrived at
the woods, and few minutes later had enter
ed for the purpose OF getting round the enc
mys right.
At this juncture Generals Mcclellan and
Burnside, with their stats rode upon the field,
where they remained during the continuance
of the battle.
Cooks Battery took favorable position for
shelling the woods in advance of the division,
but had hardly got to work when the rebels
fired tremendous volley of musketry at the
cannoniers. This was repeated several times in
quick succession, until at length the cannon
iers abandoned their pieces, and ran to the
rear, leaving four or five of their comrades
dead upon the ground. The drivers of the
caissons also partook of the panic, and dashed
headlong through the ranks of Cox's Division,
which was drawn up in line of battle a few
yards in the rear. Two companies of cavalry
regiment, which were supporting the battery.
also gaioped through the line of infantry, thus
leaving four pieces Of artillery (the other two
having been detached to another part of the
fieldl to fall into the hands of the enemy. The
event caused temporary, and only temporary
confusion among the troops. They quickly
Strengthened the line, and prepared TO resist a
demonstration observable on the part of the
enemy, to seize the abandoned pieces. The
rebels marched forward to secure their antici
pated prize, and at the same moment the 23d
Ohio, and Tooth Pennsylvania Regiments, ad-
yanced in splendid order TO repulse them.-
The rebels had approached TO within about
ten feet OF the guns when the contest COM
menced. Each side seemed desperate in its
purpose, and the struggle was most exciting.
AT length the 45th New York came to the res
cue, and turned the tide of fortune in our IA
vor. Both parties suffered severely in the ac-
tion. The rebels retreated in great confusion,
While our men made the woods resound with
cheers.
For the succeeding two hours the infantry
under the command of Reno ceased opera
tions, ard the artillery alone continued the du-
ell. The guns used thus far were 6, 10, and II
pouhders. Summons Ohio battery of four 20
pounuer pieces, was now placed in position on
the leit, and commenced throwing shells to the
right of the Gap, at which point the rebels had
again stationed battery. The firing for a
while was exceedingly animated hut tbe %
ponuders proved too much for the rebels. and
they were compelled, in the course of half an
hour, to change the position of their guns
AT the expiration of the next half hour their
guns were silenced
AT p NJ the head of Cen Hool-a,ss al