The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-09-27

wounded behind them, over the fence,
and across the road, and then back again
mo the dark woods which closed around
them, went the retreating Rebels.
Meade and his Pennsy lvanians followed
hard and fast-followed till they came
within easy range of the woods, among
which they saw their beaten enemy DIS
appearing-foliowed still, with another
cheer, and flung themselves against the
| cover.
But out of those gloomy woods came
suddenly and heavily terrible volleys-
volleys which smote, and bent, aud broke
in moment that eager from, and hurled
them swiftly back for half the distance
they had won. No. swiftly, nor in
panic, any further. Closing up their
shattered lines, they came slowly away
"a regiment where brigade had been,
hardly brigade where whole division
had been, victorious. They had met
from the woods the first volleys of mus
kerry from fresh troops-had met them
and returned them till their line had
yielded and gone down before the weight
of fire, and till their amuuni. ion was
exhausted.
In ten minutes the fortune of the day
seemed to have changed-it was the
rebels now who were advancing, pouring
out of the woods in endless lines, sweep
ing through the corn-fpld from which
their comrades had JUS fed. Hooker
sent in his nearest brigade to meet
Thorn ht,t do Ia.
He called for another. There was
nothing close enough, unless he took i;
from HIS right. His right might be in
danger if it was weakened, but his CEN
tire was already thea cned with annibia-
ton. Not hesitating one moment, he
sent to Doubleday 6 Give me your
best brigade instantly"
The best brigade came down the hill
to the right on the run, went through
the timber in front through II storm of
shot and bursting shell and crashing
limbs, over the open field beyond, and
straight in the corn.Geld, passing as
they went the fragments of three
brigades shattered by the rebel fire, and
streaming to the rear. they passed BY
Hooker, whose eyes lighted as he saw
these veteran troops led by soldier
whom lie knew he could trust. /" |
think they will hold il, he said.
Gen. llartstut' took his troops very
steadily, but now that they were under
fire, not lurriedly, up the hill from
which the coru-iie.d begins to descend,
and formed them on the crest. Not a
man who was not in full view-not one
who bent before the orm. Firing at
first in volleys, they fired them at will
with wonderful rapidly and effect
The whole line crowned the hill and
stood out darkly against the sky, but
lighted and shrouded ever in flame and
smoke. There were the 10Th and l3 h
Massachusetts and another regiment
which | cannot remcmbcr-old troops
all of them.
There for half an hour they held the
ridge unylelding in purpose, exhaust
less in courage. There were gaps in
the line, but it nowhere qualeds Their
General was wounded badly early in the
fight, but they fought on. Their sup
ports did not comc-they determined to
win without thela. They began to 90
down the hill and into the corn, hey did
not OPP to think that their ammuni-
ton was nearly gone, they were there
to win that field and they won it. The
rebel line for the second time fed
through the corn and in. o the woods
| canno' tell how few Of Ilartsuf's bri-
gade were left when the work was done,
but it was done. There was no more
gallant, determined, heroic hghting in
all this despera day. Gen. ilartsufl
| is very severely wounded, but | do not
believe he counts his success too dearly
purchased.
The crisis of the fight at this point
had arrived I; Ricketts, division, vainlv
endeavorng to advance, and exhausted
5y the effort, had fallen back. Part OF
Mansiield's corps was ordered i'll to their
relief, but MausGeld's troops came back
again, and their General was mortally
wounded. The left nevertheless was
too extended to be TUNED, and too
strong to be broken. Ricketts, sent word
he could not advace, bat could hold his
ground. Doubleday had KEEP, bis guns
at work on the right, and had finally
silenccd a rebel battery tina for half an
hour had poured in CALLING enflading
fire along Hooker's cen raj line.
There we're woods in front,of Double
days hill which the rebels held, but SO
long as those guns pointed that way
they did not care TO attack. With his
left then able to take care of itself, with
his right ilnprc enable with two brigades
of Mansfield still fresh and coming
rapidly up, and with his center second
time victorious, Gen. Hooker determined
to advance. Orders were sent to Carw-
ford aud Gordon-the two Mansfield
brigades-;o move directly forward at
once, the batteries in the center were
ordered on, the whole line was called on.
and the General himself went forward
| To the right of the corn-fcld and
hey ond it vas a point Of woods. Once
carried and firmly held, it was the key
OF the position. Hooker determined to
take it. He rode out in front of his
furthest troops on hill to examine the
ground for battery. At the top he
dismountcd and went forward on foot
completed his reconnaissance, returned
and renowned. The musketry fire from
the point of woods was all the while