The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-09-25

nn6TALlOHS
Eodorol army since Saturday last have bee
frsngbt with intense interest and great resui
tor The Union. You have already had IN
main particulars ofthe battles of Sunday Ever
mo but the operations Of Monday are OF SUI
e,reater importance, and having been person
al witness to all the scenes. can give you III
narticulars of all operations up to TINS morning
Tn ordsr TO give your readers an intelligen
ide. of recent operations, forward hast,
sketch of the ground now traversed by our ar
nv. which l can vouch for as correct, from per
sonsl observation. #.| -
Let me preface this, also. with one or t"'
facts which may not be fully KNOWN r
then then the
RETIREMENT or THE ENEMY Fho'i
lex
They did not retire, because we sPpptoscH
ed but in pursuance OF pau u opeI@1 Itn
fully decided upon bythem before ana slter en'er
mo MARYLAND. They evacuated the place leis
,,reIv being fully four days about it, no par
n their force being fastened by any collision
yvitb ours, save their rear cavalry guard, which
Was summariIy put to rOut on Friday evening
with far less than their usual sagacity, they
confess not to have known ofthe near approach
# our heavy force. This, l would not believe
were IL not that concurrent facts confirm il
And in their movements there was well ma
tured plan, which have fully learned.
THE PLAN. .-
The primary object was avowed when
thew crossed the Potonac-the invasion OF the
free states; or as the bastard Congress at
Richmond terms it, advancing the standard
into the enemy's country" To this end they
invaded Maryland. coming as far east as Fred>
erick-as far as they dared--and babe the splr-
il of rebellion "arise ;" but. secession leaVeh
not being potent, the rise was Rot VIslble'-
Their disgust at the apathy OF the oppressed OF
NY Maryland was supreme, but 1t made no
differences with their movements. On Tuesday
the 9th inst, Jacksous column moved for Ha>
gerstown, thence to Willamsport, crossing the
Potomac, and on Friday occupying Martins
burg, and appearing before Harper's Ferry
Of course be vent there to affect its capt1fe.-
On "Wednesday and Thursday of last week,
Lopgstreet's corps moved on Hagerstown, and
remained there. On Thursday and Friday the
corps of D. H. Hill and Anderson moved out
into the Middleton valley, between the Catoc>
tin and South Mountain. This was the posi-
ton on Saturday night The plan was to tor
hfy the gaps in the South Mountain, capture
Harpers Ferry, and thus with the control OF
the Valleys of Virginia and Cumberland, and
barrier of fortified mountains between them and
US, their incusrions Pennsylvania could BE-
made with ease and impunity. They counted
confidently on all this without interruption.
Mcclellan, they boosted had his hands tied at
Washington and invasion was now their bus
mess, and many not only men, but officers
averred that as soon as they got into free
State, they would know neither mercy nor
pity.
But they were doomed in all this to
A MISERABLE FAILURE
Jackson proceeded to do his part, and, as we
know now, did it well. But while Longstreet
was feasting his eyes with the fairness Of the
Valley of Cumberland round about Hagerstown
he was suddenly summoned to the assistance
of the beleaguered columns left behind in the
gaps
Our forces on Saturday had a brisk artillery
fight with the enemy's rear guard in the Yicin-
itY ofMiddleton, and the rebels burnt bridge
Just beyond the village, over turbulent stream
in the vain hope oil delaying our pursuit, 1t
the darkness did.
THE REBEL MOUNTAIN POSITIONS.
During Saturday night the rebels took up po-
sition in the South Mountain at three points
viz At South Mountain Gap on the main
pike to Hagerstown, an extremely formidable
position naturally, and capable of being rem
dered far more so by entertainments. Also on
the mountain crest, about one mile to the left
of the turnpike, on both sides of narrow
mountain road, which branches from the pike
lust west of Middleton, and then winds circuit
uously over the mountain and across Pleasant
Valley toKeedysville. This position was much
elevated, and rough and rugged in the extrems
the surface of the country being covered by
thick shrub underground besides being very sto
ny. The third position occupied by the enemy
was five miles further south, in the same range
of mountains, where a common country road
from Jefferson-branching at that point from
the Hampers Ferry turnpike-crosses the noun
tain range and from the proximity of village
close by is called Burkitsville Gap, This road
continues on down Pleasant Valley, unit
it strikes road leading southwark through the
same valley, from Boonsboro' to the Harpers
Ferry road, near the Potomac.
SUNDAYS BATTLES.
At the first named point, Gen Hookert
corps, consisting of the divisions of Gen Mead
Pennsylvania Reserves) Gen. King, comman-
ded by Gen. latch and General ricketts,, as
sailed and routed the enemy
At the second point the corps of the lamen'
ted Reno, fought with heroic valor, and Won q
brilliant victory. The divisions were those o.
General Cox, (from the Kanawha) General Stur
gis, formerly that of the brave Stevens) Gen
Tower, Burnside's veterans) and that OF Gen
and in exile.
At Burkittsvine Gap the steady, well tried
heroes Of many hard fought battle, under
Smith and Slocum, performed their deeds o
valor over again, The nature OF the mountain
pass is much the same as that Of the gap where
Hooker fought, except that 1t is not so wide,
nor the road nearly so good.
l will not go into the minute details Of these
fights, for the eVolutions of a battlefield have
become too familiar to bear repetition. But NJ
words can convey just idea of the odTautaN
ges of the rebel position. That they were sc
speedily driven from such stronghoids Is the
wonder of every one. Our troo's did fight
with splendid spirit-they felt renewed conf
dence in their leaders and felt stung under
the boasted and impudent assumptions OF the
invaders. and they poured volIey after yolley
into their ranks and made charge after charge
as only American soldiers fighting for liberty
and government can. ...
The length of the conflict varied from three
to six hours. The early part was chiefly main
tanned by artillery, while the musketry tire was
hottest from five, o'clock, until after dark. =
Reno and Franklin fought until nearly nine o.
clock, and it was after dark when the gallan
little General, with the black eye and vigorous
mein, met his death at the hands OF stealthy
and murderous assault of the enemy
Frederick and Washington counties, to whom
battle field is wonderful and appalling sight
visited the ground where Hooker and Reno
fought / have seen many rough and terri
bic battlefield, but never, anywhere have seer
such slaughter, (save at Malvern HilD as could
have been seen on that mountain crest where
the brave veterans of Reno fought. The enc
my, as usual, sought every advantage, particu'
larly that of numerous stone walls, behind
which, they assailed our men fercely. Blu
the impetuous charges OF some of our reg
imeuts, particularly that of the 18th Michigan
but two weeks from home, carried all before it
and the dead bodies OF the enemy on tina
mountain crest lay thick enough for steppinl
stones.
The greatest slaughter at this point wa
among Gen. Drsyton's Brigade, compose
mainly of South Csroinians and some Georgi
ans, and belonging to Anderson's and Walker
divisions, who fought here. Neither the Who'll
of this brigade was either killed, wounded, o
captured. All their dead and many of thei
wounded were still lying on the field on Mon
Javy he 90