Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-09-26


army since Saturday last have been Taught With intense
interest and g,rat results Tor the Uu You have al
ready had the main particulars Of the battles Of sunday
evening, but the operations NJ Moudly Of still great
ef Importance, and having been pcroua witness To- n
The scenee, can give you fall particulars Of all opera
tons up 10 this morning.
In n'dcr To give your readers an intelligent idea Of re-
operations, forward hasy sketch " the ground
taycrscd by army, which can youch for cor
rect, from personal observation
Let pre- face this, also with two facts which
may not be fully known. First, then the
RETIREMENT or THg ESBMY FROM yHEDKRICK.
They did not retire because approached but IN pur
suance Of plan OF operations fully decided upon by
them before aud after entering Maryland They eyacu-
ated the place eisurey, being fully four days about IT,
no part Of their force being FASTENED by any collision
with ours, their cavalry guard, which
maTily put to rout On Friday evening
With far less than their usual sagacy, they confess
not to have known Of the approach Of heavy
force. Thus would not believe were 1t not that concur
facts confirm Their intentions dispositions, and
movements all confirm it, aud in their movements there
was weil-matured plan, which have fully learned
TnE PuAN.
The primary object that avoWed when they cross
ed the Poomac-ihe invasion Of the free states
the bastard congress at Richmond terms 1t, advancing
the standard into the encmys country To this end
they invaded Maryland, coming as far cast as Frederick
far as they dared--and hade the spirit Of rebellion
"arse," but secession leavtn not being potent, the
rise not visible Their disgust at the apathy Of the
oppressed " MY Maryland was supreme. but IL made
no difference with their movements. On Tuesday, the
9th inst, JacSson's column moved for hageTstown,
thence to Wliamsport, crossing tho Potomac, and on
Friday occupying Martinsbug, and appearing before
Haipero Ferry OF course be went there 10 a ct its
capure. On Wednesday and Thursday Of last week
Longstrcets corps moved Hagerstown and remained
there On Thursday and Friday the corps Of ID II Hill
and Anderson moved out into the ddletown valley, be-
tween the Catoctn aud South Mountain. This was
their position Saturday night The plan was 10 iorii
~ the gaps in the South Mountain capture Hapcrs Fer
ry and thus with the control Of the valleys Of Virginia
and Cumberland, and a barrier OF fortified mountains
between them and u.s. their nousions into Pennsylvania
could be made with ease aid mpunity. They counted
confidently all this without interruption. Mcclellan,
they boasted had his hands tied at Washington, and in
vsson their business aud many, not only men
but officers avcrred that they got into free
! state they would know neither pity nor mctcy. But
they were doomed in all this To
MISERABLE FAILURE.
jackson proceeded do his part, aud kuo,
now did It we'll But while Longsueet was Teasing hi
eyes with the aness Of the valley Of Cumberland roun
about Hagersown, be wac suddenly summoned TO th
assistance IT the hcleaguerCd columns le behind ia "a
Our f,rcss on Saturday hada brisk artillery and cayal
ry fight with the enemys rear guard in the vicinity
Middletown, aud the rebels burnt bridge just beyun'
the village, turbulent stream in the vain hope O
delaying our pursuit Il ddu',--but the darkness did.
RtngL HouNrAIN rosrrioNs.
During Saturday night the rebels took up position
the south Mountain at three points, viz at south MouI
tain Gap on the main pike 10 Hagestown, an eNtremel
fuunidable position naturally and capable Of being rcr
dered far by ntrenchmcuts. Also on the noun
tam crest about one mile TO the cft Of the turnpike o
both sides Of narrow mountain road which hraneht
from the pike just west Of Midde,own aud winds cit
cautiously over the mountain aud across Peasant allie
\ TO Kecdysyille This position WAS much elevated Al
rough and rugged the extreme the surface OF ~
country being covered by thick shrub underground
besides being very stony The third position occupeh
the enemy was five miles farther soith in toe same IA
|, Of mountains whtrc common country road from Jo
+, crsonhranching At that point from the Harrcis Fen
tufppkottO the mountain range, and from the pro
. init Of village close by is called purlittsylc Gap
20 This road continues on down iuto Pleasant Valley uni
a II strikes road leading southwark through the san
If valley from Boonsboro To the Hafpers Ferry road, ne
I, SUNDAYS BATTLE.
I, At the frat named point Gen Rockers corps, eousi
ting Of the divisions Of Gen. Mead, (Pennsyivunia Il
BE- serves Gen. King, commanded by Gen. Halch) an
re Gen Ricketts,, sssaled aud -outed the enemy AT a
second point the corps II the amentcd Reno fought wi
~ heroic valo aud won brilliant victory The division
le we're those 81 Gen, Cox (fom the kNnawhal Geuer
IS Sturges, formerly that of the brave steyens Gen IoNe
(Burnsdes yeteFansl and that Of Gen. Wilcox, the
'e patriot of Corcoran in battle aud ia exile.
10 Al Burkitsyilie Gap the steady we-tried heroes
m many hard fought field, under Smith and Sloeum pc
e. formed their deeds Of valor again. The nature
the mountain pass is much the that Of the ga
re- where Hooker fought, except that 1t is not 50 wide N
'- the road nearly 80 good.
e will not go into the minute details Of these fights,
IA the eyoutions Of battlefield have become too ami
% bear repeuon. But no words can convey just i'd
Of tue advantages Of the rebel position That they
speedily dIiyed from such sirongholds Is the wond
OF every Our troops did fight with splendid spirit
stung under the boas,ed and impudent assumptions
the invaders, aud they poured Noey after yOlley al
made charge after charge, as only American soldie
BIS fighting for liberty and government can.
The length ofthe CONFLICT varied om three six hou
I'd The early part was chiefly maintained by artillery, VIII
~ the musketfy IRE was hottest from hNe o'clock until
y dark. Reno aud Franklin fought until nearly nj
\ o'clock, aud il after dark when the gallant liz,
ed General, with the black eye and vigorous mien,
lt death at the hands OF stealthy and murderous
ts Of the enemy.
We rHE MANNEH or GEN RESo's DEATH.
' Let me give you correct account VI Gen. Rem
ss DEATH aud correct many false and h) ing reports.
mr. hrug had ceased about half past seven, The enemy b
nd been driven frum the field aud The fight was apparent
n over when some Of our pckets came in and report
OK the enemy again advancing Gen, Reno was ia front
he his lines wing orders for the disposition pf his diysiO
e- for the night, and when the word be advanced
VA few steps, II 70 Tec0nn0icr Wheu the enemy who
secretly approached within closc range, hf,d wolf
~ from the bushes. bullet entered Gen Renos breA
- causing instant death Our troops immediately engag
M the rebels, again drove them back, and remained ia
OF disturbed possession Of the field during the night
iss LOOK AT THE BATTLE-GROUND.
in During Monday thousands " the citizens OF FredeH
AID Washington coz mites, tu whom battle field /
tes wondering aud appalling sight visited the ground wh'
ty Hooker and Reno fought. have seen many rou
I'm ana terrible battle field, but uywhere have
ne such slaughter (saye at Malvern ~ could have be
D seen on that mountain crest where the brave
lea Keno fought. The enemy, usual sought every
re vantage, particularly that OF numerous stone walls
WI bind which they assailed our men Rucey But the 1
IVY petuoua charges Of some ~ regiments pattcula
i've that Of the 1h Michigan, but seeks from home e.
ed nod all before IT, aud the dead bodies Of the enemy
led that crest lay tbk enough for stepping son
me THE oHIvALRr PUNISHED
ao, The greatest slaughter at hi. point was among O.
DTsytop's Brigade, composed mainly Of South Car,
ok mans aud GeoTgaos, and belonging to AndeTso
thf and Walkers Divisions, who fought here. Nearly
'rh whole Of this brigade either Killed wounded
ds. tuIed All their dead and many II their wounded VI
No siil nn The hello MohdaJ morning. amung them
| fUl al NTH In nj