The Portland daily press., 1862-10-04
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Maine Fifth-From the Chickahoma-
ny to Antietam.
CAMP MAINE FIFTH REGIMENT,
near Hagerstown, Md. Sept. 27, 1862

tConcludedl
While, on Monday morning, officers were
shaking hands and congratulating each other
on the glorious result of yesterdays conflict,
came the saddening news of the surrender of
Harper's ferry Tuesday night brought us or
ders from Mcclellan, whose cannon we had
heard all day, to join with all expedition his
forces, theR in hot pursuit OF Lee, whom he
had beaten at South Mountain. Wednesday
morning found us on the march, while the con-
slant booming of artillery to our front told rs
great battle was going on, which was soon
confirmed by intelligence that Lee, reinforced
by jackson, had made a stand near Sharps-
burg. Thitherward we hurried, and about
noon reached the front. Hearing that Sum-
ner and Mansfield were hard pressed on the
right, we were sent to that point, which we
reached about O'Clock P. NJ. At that time,
there was not much infantry lighting, and we
were ordered forward TO support our artillery,
which being ofa superior quality, Gen. Slocum
determined to try upon the snemy's batteries,
which on our arrival, were having things about
their own way. And now commenced an ar
tillery fght which for vigor and length was
only equaled by that of the same pieces at
Charles City Cross Roads. For time the reb-
els gave us as good as we sent, and the solid
shot, shell, grape and canister, came in most
uncomfortable proximity to us, cutting off the
branches Of trees above our heads and sending
the splinters In every direction. Strange to
say, we had not one man wounded here. Reg
iments further to the rear suffered more. AZ
ter time, however, the superiority of our
practice began to tell, and gradually the enc
my's fire slackened to an occasional shot Our
fire, it was afterwards ascertained, was very
destructive both to their artillery and infantry,
the latter being moved down by our grape and
canister in great swaths. As the shades of
night began to gather, our brigade was sent
out to the extreme front, but not without get
ting peppered by the enemys cannon and
sharpshooters. Here we lay all night, mo-
mentarily expecting an attack AT the first
streaks of daylight, the enemy's sharpshooters
and skirmishers, from behind stonewalls and
trees, opened a CALLING, but desultory fire upon
us. Our skirmishers replied. BY lying fiat on
the ground we could keep out of range to all
except an occasional fanking shot And here,
until O'Clock in the afternoon, we lay hug
ging mother earth, every minute expecting
the order "Up, and at themr But it came
not. AT three o'clock came the welcome It'd
ings we were to be relieved by Couch's divis-
ion In order to get rest and something to eat
We had been without either for thirty-six
hours. We also heard flag of truce had
come in from the rebels, just as we noticed a
cessation Of the enemy's fire That night we
got little rest, and the men had supper.
Near US was located the remnant of the 7th
Maine, which suffered terribly in gallant
charge they made on a superior force of the
enemy. They are now acting as provost guard
to this corps.
1t was generally understood, as we lay down
to rest, that the morrow's sun would shine up
on renewal of the strife, and the annihlation
of the enemy, as it was understood Mcclellan
had given out that he should make a general
assault on their whole line. As a consequence,
deep silence pervaded the Federal ranks,
broken occasionally by the quick, sharp order,
Fall in9 when an unusually loud volley from
the pickets told that the enemy was prowling
near. But it afterwards appeared that these
picket attacks, and the flag of truce, were on
ly ruse. Morning dawned, and 10. no enc
my in sight! and soon reports come in that
nothing but rebel dead and wounded are be-
tween us and the river. Instantly our light ar
tillery are in motion, ndregiments of cavalry
are riding rapidly forward, while heavy col
ums of infantry hurry along the fields and
thoroughfares to be sin at the death" But
the enemy has escaped across the Potomac,
and can again enjoy breathing spell. Yet,
notwithstanding their success at Harper's Fer
ry, they must weep over their losses in "my
Marylandw and look upon this first attempt
at their pet scheme of Northern invasion as
failure; and they will have to look sharp if it
does not, in the sequel, prove the destruction
oil all their hopes of separate nationality
80 mote it be. 1t did appear to me that had
our column been pushed upon the enemy on
Thursday we should have captured most of
their army; but ! have since learned that
such an attempt would have been attended
with great hazard.
Friday night we encamped near the Ford at
Shepherdstown, just without the range of the
t1ee Iotk - -.