The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-10-04


other reasons, determined, perhaps, the plar
of battle which Mcclellan finally resolved
on. t,i as1f - NJ in t SSH
The plan was generally as follows -
Hooker was to cross on the right, establish
himself on the enemy's left, if possible
flanking his position, and to open the fight
Sumner, Franklin and Mansfield were tc
send their forces also to the right, cooper
ating with and sustaining Hooker's attack
while advancing also nearer the centre
The heavy work in the centre was left
mostly to the batteries, Porter, massing his
infantry supports IN the hollows. On ths
left Burnside was to carry the bridge al
ready referred to, advancing then by road
which enters the pike at Sharpsburg, turn
ing at once the Rebel left flank and des-
troying his line of retreat. Porter. and
Sykes were held in reserve tits obvious
that the complete success of a plan contem-
plating widely divergeat movements Of sep
arate corps, must largely depend on accur-
ate timing, that the attacks should be sim
ultaneous and not successive.
Hooker moved on Tuesday afternoon at
four, crossing the creek at a ford above the
bridge and we'll to the right, without opposi-
ticn. Fronting Southwest, his line advanc-
ed not quite on the Rebel flank but over
tapping and threatening it. Turning off
from the road after passing the stream, he
sent for ward cavalry skirmishers straight
into the woods and over the fields beyond.
Rebel pickets withdrew slowly before them
firing scattering and harmless shots. Turn.
ing again to the left, the cavalry went down
on the Rebel flank, coming suddenly close
to battery which met them with unexpec-
ted grape and canister. 1t being the nature
Of cavalry to retire before batteries, this
company loyalty followed the law of it's be-
ing, and came swiftly back without pur
suit.
Artillery was sent to tho front, infantry
was rapidly deployed, and skirmishers went
oul III iIOiit anu oil citHcI Hdbh. Iuc CoTpS
moved forward compactly, Hooker as usual
reconnoitering in person They came at
last to an open grass sown field inclosed on
two sides with woods. protected on the right
by hill, and entered through corn fisld
in the rear. Skirmishers entering these
woods were instantly met by Rebel shots,
but held their ground, and as soon as sup
ported advanced and cleared the timber
Beyond, on the left and in front, volleys of
opened heavily, and a battle
seemed to have begun little sooner than
it was expected. &. s-... ......a-.,...
Gen. Hooker formed his line with percis-
ion and without hesitation. Ricketts, Division
went into the woods on the left in force
Meade, with the Pennsylvania Reserves,
formed in the centre. Doubleday was sent
out on the right, planting his battery On the
hill, and opening at once on Rebe! battery
that began to enfilade the central line. 1t
was already dark, and the Rebel position
could only be discovered by the flashes Of
their guns. They pushed forward boldly on
the right, after losing ground on the other
flank, but made no attempt to regain their
first hold on the woods. The fight flashed
and glimmered, and faded, and finally went
out in the dark. f.....s.. -.t
Hooker had found out What he wanted
to know. When the firing ceased the hos
tile lines lay close to each other-their pick
cts so near that Six Rebels were captured
during the night, 1t was inevitable that
the fight should re-commence at daylight
Neither side had suffered considerably loss;
It was skirmish, not battle. " We are
through for tonight, gentlemen" remarked
the General, .'but tomorrow we fight
the battle that viii decide the fate of the
Republic.
Not long after the firing ceased, it sprang
up again on the left. Gen. Hooker, who
had taken up his headquarters in barn,
which had been nearly the focus of the Re-
bel artillery, was out at once. First came
rapid and unusually frequent picket shots,
then several heavy volleys. The General
listened moment and smiled grimly.-
ave have no troops there. The Rebels are
shooting each other 1t is Fair Oaks over
again" So everybody lay down again, but
all the night through there were frequent
alarms.
Mcclellan had been informed of the nights
work, and of the certainties awaiting the
dawn. Sumner was ordered to move his
corps at once, and was expected to be on
the ground at daylight. From the extent
Of the Rebel lines developed in the evening,
it was plain that they had gathered their
whole army behind the. heights and were
waiting for the shock.
The battle began with the dawn. Morn
ing found both armies just as they had
slept, almost close enough to look into each
others eyes. The left OF Meade's reserves
and the right Of Ricketts, line became en-
gagged at nearly the same moment, one With
artillery, the other with infantry. A bat
terry was almost Immediately pushed for
ward beyond the central woods, over
plowed field, near the top of the slope where
the corn field began. On this open field in
the corn beyond, and in the woods which
stretched forward into the broad fields, like
a promontory into the ocean, were the hard
est and deadiiest struggles Of the day.
For half an hour after the battle had
grown to its full! strength, the line of fire
swayed neither way. Hooker's men were