Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-01
Gkt Stanbarb.
THE BATTLE OF sHARPsBURG.

THE BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG.
The Richmond Enquirer gives the following &C
count of this battle:
We have succeeded in obtaining, from the most
reliable sources the following details of the great
battle of Wednesday:
On the afternoon Of Tuesday, the 10th, the enc
nv opened light'artillery fire on our line. Early
the next morning it was renewed more vigorously,
and large masses of the Federals who had crossed
the Antietam above our position, assembled on our
left They advanced in three compact lines. Tho
divisions Of Generals McLaws, R. H. Anderson, A.
P. Hill and Walker, who were expected to have
Joined Gen. Lee on the previous night had not
come up. Generals Jacksons and Ewelrs divi-
sions were thrown to the left of Generals Hill and
I,onsstrtet The enemy advanced between the An
tistam and the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown turn
pike, and was met by Gen. d. Il. Hills and the left
Of Gen. Longstrest's divisions, where the conflict
ragged, extending to our entire left The enemy
was repulsed and held in check; but prior to the
srrival of the divisions of McLaws, Anderson and
Walker, who had been advanced to support the left
wing and centre, as soon as they had crossed tho
Potomac on the morning of the 18th, that portion
of our line was forced back by superior numbers
As soon, however, these forces could be brought
into action, severe conflict ensued. The enemy
was driven back, our line was restored and po-
sltion maintained during the rest of the day.
In the afternoon the enemy advanced on our
right where Gen. Jones's division was posted, and
he handsomely maintained bis position The bridge
over the Antetam creek was guarded by General
Toombs brigade, which calamity resisted the ap-
preach of the enemy; but their superior numbers
bling them to extend their left they crossed be-
low the bridge and forced our line back in some
confusion. Just at this time between 3 and p.
NJ, General A. P. Hill, with five of his brigades,
having reached the scene of action drove the enc
my Immediately back from the position they had
taken and continued the contest until dark, restor
ing our right and maintaining our ground.
When the battle closed, after having ragged furi-
ousy during the entire day, we retained possession
of the field and the enemy retired to his former po
sition. The conduct of many of our officers is re-
ported by Gen. Lee to have exhibited the most con-
spicuous and brilliant courage. Our loss was con-
siderable, and we have to depore the fall of Gen
erals Branch and Starke, who died as soldiers love
to die in defence of their country
Generals R. H. Anderson, Lawton, Ripley, Arm
stead, Gregg and Wright, are reported to have been
wounded-none OF them, however, dangerously
In addition to the above we learn from persons who
have arrived from the field, that the following
day Gen. Lee, who remained in possession of the
field took measures to renew the engagement; but
the enemy had disappeared from his 'front.' and it is
further reported that after the removal of his wound
ed and the burial of his dead Gen. Lee determined
to cross the Potomac and had established his Head
quarters at or near Shepherdstown.
The Enquirer in another article says:
We quoted in our last from Northern paper of
date the 18th inst Papers of a previous date have
been received which state that Gen. Reno was
killed on Sunday evening, in the battle near Boons-
boro, or South Mountain as the Yankees call it. He
shot dead while issuing orders, about P. NJ.
Gen. Miles, who was struck by shell, just as he
had ordered the white flag to be raised at Harper's
Ferry, on Monday morning, had his leg Immediately
amputated, and died that night
Gen Mcclellan has been again disgracng himself
by fa'se dispatches. He is mighty hero according
to his own story, but the falsehoods are worthy his
Chiclahominy fame. The fight at South Mountain
on Sunday he telegraphs as "a glorious victory y
and he quotes Gen. Hooker as authority for saying
that ten. Lee admitted he "had been shocklngly
whipped" And as if Gen. Hooker was not enough
he quotes rumor, as stating that our loss in thai
battle was seventeen thousand men.
Now the truth is that General Lee has distinctly
said that the battle referred to repulss Of the
enemy, although he had his whole force, and we but
= portion of ours. The statement of our loss is
absurd. We had hardly that number engaged
Surely Mcclellan is tie last who can be excus-
ed for resorting to His most chastened dis.
patches are themselves as reckless as ordinary ru
NOR what must his rumors be! One of the enc.
Inv letter writers says
estimate that two thousand will cover the list oil
our casualties. think that the enemy's loss in
: khie,i and wounded will not exceed our own. Alto
gether we captured two thousand prisoners.
As there seems to be considerable confusion, ever
in some of our own papers, as to the times ant
places of the late battles, we will state them A
IIarrer's Ferry, on Sunday evneng and Monday
morning; at the Blue Ridge or South mountain
passes near BoonesbOro' on Sunday and ut Sharps
burg on Wednesday.
After the battle near Boonesborough closed, Gen
eral Lee as we have heretofore stated, withdrew hi
forces the same night to Sharpsburg On Monday
Mcclellan slowly followed. There was no fighting
that day, and none the next, except short ant
harmless cannonade in the afternoon Wednesda,
the day Of the great fight, which lasted unit
night The next morning the enemy had retired
abandoning to US the battle field.