The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-09-26
SEPTEMBER 26, 1862.

away from the field Mans6eld's were
not better. Summers command had lost
heavily; but two of his divisions were
still comparatively fresh. Artillery was
yet playing vigorously in front, though
the ammunition of many of the batteries
was entirely exhausted, and they had
been compelled to retire.
Doubleday held the right inhexibly.-
Summers headquarters were now in the
narrow field where, the night before,
Hooker had begun the fight All that
had been gained in front had been lostl
The enemys batteries, which, if ad-
vanced and served vigorously, might
have made sad work with the closely
massed troops, we're fortunately either
partially disabled or short of ammuni-
ton. Sumner was confident that he
could hold hold his own; but another
advance was out of the question The
enemy, on the other hand, seemed to be
too much exhausted to attack.
T At this crisis Franklin came up with
fresh troops and formed on the left
Slocum, commanding one division of the
corps, was sent forward along the slopes
lying under the first ranges ofrebel hills,
while Smith, commanding the other dl-
vision, was ordered to retake the corn
fields and woods which all day had been
so hotly contested 1t was done in the
handsomest style His Maine and Yer
mont regiments and the rest went for
ward on the rum and, cheering as they
went, swept like an avalanche through
the corn-felds, fellIupon the woods, clear
ed them in ten minutes, and held them.
They were not again retaken.
The field and its CHASTITY harvest which
the reaper had gathered in those fatal
hours remained finally with us. -Four
times it had been lost and won. The
dead are strewn SO thickly that as you
ride over it you cannot guide your hor-
5e's steps too carefully. Pale and bloody
flces are everywhere upturned. They
are sad and terrible, but there is nothing
which makes ones heart beat so quickly
as the imploring look of sorely wounded
men who beckon wearily for help which
you cannot stay to give.
Gen. Smiths attack was so sudden
that his success was accomplished with
no great loss. He had gained point,
however, which compelled him to expect
every moment an attack, and to hold
which, if the enemy again brought up
reserves, would take his best energies
and best troops. But the long strife, the
heavy LOSSES, incessant fighting over the
same ground repeatedly lost and won,
inch by inch, and more than all, perhaps
the fear of Burnside on the left and Por-
ter in front, held the enemy in check.
For two or three hours there was lull
even in the cannonade on the right which
hitherto had been incessant. Mcclellan
had been over on the field after Sum-
ner's repulse, but had speedily returned
to his headquarters. Sumner again
sent word that he was able to hold his
position, but could not advance with his
own corps. ag
Meantime where was Burnside2 On
the right where had spent the day until
two clock, little was known of the gen.
eral fortunes of the field. We had heard
Porter's guns in the center, but nothing
from Burnside on the left The distance
was too great to distinguish the sound of
his artillety from Porters left There
was no immediate prospect of more fight
ing on the right, and left the field
which all day long had seen the most OBJ
stinate contest of the war, and rode over to
Mcclellan s headquarters. The different
battle fields were shut out from each
Others view, but all partially visible from
the central hill which General McClel-
Ian had occupied during the day. But
/ was more than ever impressed on re-
turning with the completely deceitful ap
pearance of the ground the rebels had
chosen when viewed from the front
Hooker's and Summers struggle had
been carried on over an uneven and
wooden surface, their own line of battle
extending in semi-circle not less than
a mile and half Perhaps better no
ton of their position can be got by con-
sidering their right, center and left as
forming three sides of square. So
long, therefore, as either wing was driv
en- back, the center became exposed to 9
very dangerous enfilading FIRE, and the
further the center was advanced the
worse off it was, unless the lines or
its side and rear were firmly held
This formation resulted originally from
the efforts of the enemy to turn botE
fanks. Hooker, at the very outset
threw his column so far into the center
of the rebel lines that they were com
PEELED to threaten him on the flank to Sc
cure their own center.
Nothing of all this was perceptible
from the hills in front Some directions
of the rebel lines had been disclosed by
the smoke of their guns, but the whole
interior formation of the country beyond
the hills was completely concealed
When Mcclellan arranged his order o
battle it must have been upon informa
ton, or have been left to his corps anC
division commanders to discover fo
themselves.
Up to o'clock Burnside had made LIT
tie progress His attack on the bridgr
had been successful, but the delay haC
been so great that to the observer it ap
peared as if McClellan's plans must have
been seriously disarranged. 1t is i'm
possible not to suppose that the attack
on the right and left were meant in
measure to correspond, for otherwise tn,
enemy had only to repel Hooker on tn,
one hand, then transfer his troops an,
hurl them against Burnside.
Here was the difference between Smitl
and Burnside. The former did his worl
at once, and lost all his men at once
that is, all whom he last at all; Burnsid
seems to have attacked cautiously, in OF
l der to save his men, and, sending sue