Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-09-26


on the centre and right by Generals Hooker
and Sumner, who. after sharp contest of two
hours, drove the enemy about one mile The
rebels rallied shortly, and with terrible loss re-
gained most of the ground. A this time the
fearless and indomiiable Gen Hooker receiv-
ed shot 10 the ankle aud was carried from
the field The command of his troops now
devolved upon Gen Sumner. Gen. Richard
son, commanding a division, was severely
wounded at the same time
Gen. Sumner determined TO rctake the lost
ground, and ordered the troops to advance,
which they did with a viii, driving the rebels
before them with great slaughter They not
only retoolI the ground bat drove them quar-
Ter OF a mile beyond. In this action General
Mansfield was shot tbr0ags the lungs and died
soon after He was al the bead oi his troops
with sword waving over his head. cheering on
his men at the tine he received his Woand
During this time the troops und,.r Generals
Burnside and Porter had not been Idle. They
drove the enemy from the line of Aniieiam
creek on the main road TO SLarpsburg, built
bridge. the old one having been burnt, aud
occupied ihe opposite bank. The loss here
considerable.
The t-oopsnow held both sides Of the creek.
TO get possession OF the ridge of hills on the
right and Iest band sides OF the road, from
where the rebels were laundering away with
artillery, was a task not easily accomplished.
General Sykes brigsde with the assistauec Of
General Sumner, crossed the ridge on the right
hand side, after considerable trouble and loss
the rebels running in all directions.
1t was now five O'Clock, and all the enemy's
IL ~
the lett hand side of the road. To perform
this duty General Burnside was assigned
The artillery opened and the infantry advanc-
ed, and the point was carried at charge
They were, however, forced 10 retire before a
largely superior force. Knowing that if they
lost this ridge complete rout Of their army
would be the result, they fought with great
desperation.
Darkness now overlook the two armies, aud
hosiilities ceased, as If by mutual consent
The battle lasted from O'Clock in the morn
ing until Z o'clock at night, without a mo-
ment's cessation.
Tie conduct of all The troops, without ex-
ceptieu, was all that any general could wish.
Several regiments of new troops, who we're in
action for the first time, behaved admirably.
Hundreds of Marylanders were present TO
witness the battle, which could be seen from
many Of the surrounding hills. The sbard
rattle of fifty thousand muskets, and the thun-
der Of n hundred pieces of artillery, nor the
consequent excited movements Of such armies
is not often witnessed
Ii is impossible at this writing to form any
correct idea of our loss or that Of the enemy,
buf il is heavy on both sides. Ours viii pro-
bablv reach in killed and wounded 10000
That of the enemy viii not exceed it.
The enemys dead, which nearly all fell into
our hands, were thiekly strewn over the fields,
laying in heaps in many places.
Our wounded were Immediately carried
from the field, and the best possible attention
given them.
When Gen. Hooker fell Gen Mcclellan
Immediately proceeded TO the right, where he
was enthusiastically received, and by his
presence added much to our success in recover
ing the ground lost. He was on the centre
and on the left as well, anxiously watching the
progress of the battle and giving directions
as to the manner Of attack. lie is in his tent
tonight for the first time since he left Freder
ick city.
We took some fifteen hundred prisoners
during the day, whilst the enemy obtained but
few.
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
There was no fighting Thursday, both
parties being engaged in burying their dead,
a truce having been agreed upon for that pur-
pose; and Friday morning when our forces
prepared to renew the contest it was discover
ed the enemy had taken advantage of the
time afforded by the truce to withdraw the
main body of their forces, Ibe greater part of
whom had crossed the river
There is no doubt that on Thursday and
Friday a large portion Of the rebel army
crossed the Potomac into Virginia, ard imme-
diately commenced throwing up fortifications
with view to cover their retreat; and they
arc said to have a large number Of heavy seige
guns in position. many of which were taken
from Harper's Ferry.
Another authority from that point states a
considerable body yet remains on the Mary
land side, and are busy entrenching themselves
to provide against the Federal troops. Rebel
prisoners say that their fortifcations on the
west (south) side OF the river are prepared
also for protection against Sigel, whom they
believe is advancing from the north.
After the fight of Wednesday the rebels
did not get away uninjured They were pur-
sued by both cavalry and artillery, and were
forced to abandon large quantity of muni-
tions and several guns. Hundreds of sirag-
lers were picked mp, most of whom stated that
they could have escaped if they had wished to,
but did not. They are tired Of tic war, and
prefer Federal confinement to the extreme
hardShips of soldiers in the rebel ranks.
Nearly 5000 dead rebels were found on the
battle field of Antietam, while hundreds had
been buried. Their loss in killed and wound
ed will reach from 10000 10 10000. Our
loss is rated from 1000 to 10000.
Before leaving Harper's Ferry, the rebels
completely stripped ii Of all war material, aud
also attempted to destroy the bridge. They
partially succeeded, but failed to blow up the
piers. This was ascertaiaed by the reconnois-
sance which pushed into uarpers Ferry on
Friday. The rebels had left, with the excep-
tion of a large number of sick aud wounded
who were left without medical attendance or
supplies of any kind. They were cared for by
our troops.
The BATTLE FIELD OF SUNDAY.
(Army Correspondence of the Baltimore American }
The late battle field of Sunday presents a
most sickening aspect, the work of burying
the dead having not yet been half finished =
The field extends over an area of several miles
and a portion of it is thiclIly dotted with
trenches and graves, into which the bodies
have been thrown, whilst other portions have
not yet been reached by the working parties
Four days having now elapsed, with hot sun
their condition can be better imagined tlau
described. They lie in all manner of coutor-
tions, some of them as black as ink AM