The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-09-30
INCIDENTS oF TIg RECENT
HATTLEA

fought in Maryland
Inia-maiiea reached NJ lia son Oh
sun,lay that our ary haa crosse
the Potomac into Virginia. Heavy
firing was going On all day Snur
dag, both eannoaading aud muske,ry
and many wounded men we're being
brought in. n the fighting 80 far
we had decidedly thc advantage Of the
rebels. It's said We captured a Who'll,
brigade Of them, 1900 ID number
Tie firing ceased At midnight on Sat,
uriay.
On Saturday the enemy crossed At
Williamspori, bat were driven back
hy the advance Of our army, assisted
BY the Pennsylvania mihiia-the al.
tack AZ Blacl,t0rd's Fords disturbing
their movements. Wiiliamsport j.
now occupied BY Us il strong force
The rebels hoped, IN crossing here, &c
turn McClcllan's light flank, but fail
ed.
|TnE REcoNSoisAScE ~ THE MORN
ING,
Early on Saturday morning one
hundred infantry and fifty sharpslooi.
ers er,.sseG !.hc river on reconnois-
sancc, fadin. a r,ebel battery Of four
guns placed seventy 5arG> from the nv
er 10 oppose our crossing The we're
abandoned by the rebels on the -
proach Of our troops, who brought
them across the river without opposi-
ton, excepting one, that could not be
removed, and was thrown down the
bank. The reconnaissance was con-
Quoted d mile from the river, where
a large body Of rebel cavalry were
formed in line OF battle. AT . o'clock
a reconnaissance in force was made by
five batteries stationed on the Mary
land shore opposite them. Informa-
tion was received that the rebels were
advancing TO give Lattle in strong
force. They soon appeared, and in
spite Of a deadly fire from our batter
les, engaged our troops, who, after a
stubborn resistance, were forced 10 fall
back before superior numbers and re-
cross tue Potomac.
Our men remained on the other
-iae for several hours, although actual
firing was kept up bun little over half
ma hour, when the order to re-cross
to the Maryland 5iie was gwen. Our
men came back in excellent order,
notwithstanding the enemy kept up a
continuous fire. Their muskets and
our artillery had played fearful havoc
among the enemy, and they hac the
consolation OF knowing that they left
more rebel dead and wounded on the
field than our own men. A number
Of our men were taken prisoners
The captured belong principally TO
the llSth Pennsylvania regiment,new
in the field. Through some mistake
they took the wrong road on the re-
treat They fought with the steadi-
ness aud GOODNESS Of a veteran regi-
ment,andthey were highly compliment
ted by Col Barnes for their bravery.
SURRENDER or HARpEE's FERRY.
OF the circumstances which were
held to justify the surrender the fol.
loving account is given by one Of Col
Miles officers:
On Saturday tie enemy attacked
the works on the Maryland Heights
in strong force. These works were
erected TO rcpcl an attack from tho
opposite side Of tie river, and were
not calculated, as viii readily be seer
from their position, to sustain an at.
tack from the Maryland side. The
enemy actually did obtain possession
Of the crest Of the heights in the reai
Of the earthworks but they were hell
at bay by the garrison until the am
munlion for their long range guns
gave out. The possession Of these
heights was question Of numbers
Had the whole force at lIarper's Fer
Try been sent across to defend them
the enemy would then, Of course, have
thrown his whole strength against th,
works upon the other side and cap
tured them. II was, therefore, decid
ed TO abandon the Maryland Heights
which was accordingly done in gooC
order.
Monday morning showed that Tho
enemy had not been idle during th'
night. They had arranged their bat
teries 50 as entirely 70 surround our