Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-10-22

I the march was broken by the presence
our loved Gen. Mcclellan, who rode alon
the ranks amid the enthusiastic cheers {
the brave men he was leading TO victory
Gems Richardson's and Pleasantou
columns of cavalry and light artIller
were in close pursuit of the enemy, an
ever and anon could be oeard the report
Of their guns as they came'up with tn
rear-guard, each time further down til
valley. We halted for the night abou
three miles from BoonsLoro. On the lot
we advanced, and took position i'll TIA
rear of Gen. Burnside's corps, about
mile from Antietam creek. Some-prett
sharp skirmishing occurred between Gen
Cox's division and the enemy, while TIA
guns of Burnside developed the position
of the main body of the rebels.
They had chosen for their position
series of sharp points, raising from TIA,
banks OF the creek and extending bacl
to the rear of Sharpsburg in a succession
of ridges, each more formidable than tn,
first; but when viewed from the southeas
has very much the appearance of tabl,
land, the intervening rayines being in
distinguishable. These points or ridge
are for the most part surmounted by {
heavy copse of timber, which furnished
admirable shelter for foot soldiers, Will,
with batteries fianking each hill, they
were all that a general could wish for
defensive position.
Fully comprehending the strength o.
the position, Gen. Mcclellan sent Gen.
Hooker's and SUMMERS corps around to
| the left of their advance position, across
Anfinfa,,1 apaalr and ha IL Of. i.
they had succeeded in driving them fully
a mile.
We had lain down in line of battle ex-
pecting to remain until the morrow, the
tattoo had sounded and an impressive
silence had settled upon the bivouac, bro
ken only by the tread of the alarm guard,
as he slowly paced his beat, and the oc-
casional passage of an orderly conveying
some order to be executed in the coming
day. Not long were we to rest. Our ears
were soon assailed with Attention, HrSt
Jrigader" and we were soon in line and
moving around to the right, to the sup
port of Hooker and Sumner, where we
arrived about l A. NJ, and bivouacked
upon the ground held by the rebels scarce
six hours previous. An occasional shot,
or volley, in an adjoining piece of woods.
reminded us of the close proximity of the
enemy. nevertheless, the rest of the night
was passed quietly enough by US.
The morning came, fresh and beautiful
but our reYeille was not the rattle of the
drum, nor the clear notes of the bugle-
The day was opened bp fierce volley of
musketry, succeeded by another and yet
another, which soon were so continuous as
to be blended in one continuous ROLL
The struggle had commenced, and the
sun that rose shone upon field already
red with blood. Soon the heavy tones of
the cannon were mingled with the sharp
cracking roll of small arms. and the din
was terrific General Hooker was en-
gagged and hotly too. We were immedia-
ately ordered under arms, and advanced
in the direction of the fight. Hating with
in easy supporting distance, we were al
lowed thirty minutes for making coffee.
At the end of this time the volume of
sound perceptibly increased, and was be-
coming nearer. The rebels were reinfor-
ced and were slowly driving our men be-
fore them Forward" shouted Gener-
al Mansfield, and forward we went in col
umns of divisions, as cool and regular as
in drill, Changing directions to the
left, we advanced through corn-feld to-
ward narrow belt of woods, the battle
raging. Beyond and to the right of this
woods corn-feld taken by
Hooker the evening previous, and which
was now held by the rebels, having driv-
en- our boys back An open field lay be-
fore us commanded by the direct and
flank fire of the rebel artillery, and the
left flank of their infantry, and notwith-
standing the heavy fire we thus suddenly
received, the advance was made steadily
and in common time. Arriving at the
front, ployed into line of battle-the 2Sth
Pa. in front, supported by the 5th, 9TH
and Goth Ohio. THE 29th was detached
from the brigade at Frederick for guard
duty) As the line was now complete we
advanced-and our tcOrk ,cGS begin. The
2Sth gave a Yolley from their Enfields
such as never heard before it seemed
as though whole brigade had discharged
their pieces at once. ltwaS soon heard from
the rest, oar OlcH inciaded No halt was
made until the woods were ours, and the
enemy was to be dislodged from behind
a rail fence, then we occupied the crest of
the hill in the woods aud from this poin:
we directed our fires to the fence where
we could plainly see them level their pie
ces at US, and fire.
For an hour and half we thus remain
ed, and fought one side with the energy
of desperation, the other with the energy
impaired by a conciousness of right and
Justice. The contest was fair and equal,
and the right triumphed The blood red
"battle-fag of the Potomac" fell time and
again, and as often was raised defiantly-I
At last the line began to wa
yer, and Gen. Green shouted-"Charge !"
With yell of triumph we started with
leyeled bayonets, and terror stricken, the
rebels fed. Like hounds after the fright
ened deer, we pursued them for fully
three fourths of a mile, killing, wounding
and taking prisoners at every rod. Their
colors fell-a private of the Sd leaped for
ward and tore them from the staff! An
other was taken by the 2Sth.
We cannot stop to enumerate the loss
es at the fence, but must follow our "vet
eran youths" Across the fields we pur-
sued the foe, who again took shelter in a
heavy peice of timber, hanked by their
artillery A battery of II pound howit-
zers came up to our support, and most
efficient service it did render. We form
ed in the two original lines to the rear of
the battery, and lay behind a low ridge,
high to protect US from di-
rect shot, but which offered no shelter from
the fragment of shells bursting near and
over us these were continually striking
us, often grazing cap or an arm,
but as far as knowf did no particular
harm. "Men, hare you plenty Of aHamsrni-
ton P' "No, only ten rounds left" A de-
tachment was Immediately sent for more
to replenish our nearly empty boxes
Meanwhile, the howitzers were doing
when suddenly we heard
"Bm eighf rounds lgt" Twenty more
rounds would silence the rebel battery,
but they had them not. At last caisson
arrived with the twenty rounds, but it
came too late; the rebel battery was also
supported The ammunition was ex
the rebel fire more rapid, and a
veil in the distance denoted an advance
of their infantry. Shall we retreat No?
we will hold our ground or die?
On they come yelling defiantly-'tis A.
P. Hilrs division, second to none but