Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-09-26
Tn. Rattle OF An,ietam.

We es,rsc, from the Boston Journal. such
portions Of the letter Of is correspondent, as
will furnish an ineligible account OF the
great battle.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
When our advance reached Kci,iesyi'ie. 10
va. found that rebel force disputed the
massage n, tho lower s,ono bridge: and pick.
cts occurred the ground west Of the Antie.
tam. No attempt was made on Tuesday ny
Burnside TO force the bridge. There being
no ohstructions at the other bridges, the
corn. Of Hooker. Mansfield and Snmner
crossed, spread over the feld.. assembled the
slorc. and found the enemy in front In strong
force. Alter heavy cannonading and some
diminishing. they retired TO their lines nnd
both parties prepared for tho approaching
conflict.
wa. nine mile. distant. n, Ilagar,iown,
when the boom OF tho cannon startled me
from sleep next morning A ha'ty ride
brought him to tho rear OF llooker's D.vi''
ion.
rur Riour WING.
I cannot ascertain which party fred the
fr., shot IL began with the pickeis in the
night. and was taken up by the artillery at
daylight. The desperate lighting Of the right
win, took place mainly on tho ground west
OF the turnpike. ., the corn. field. m tho
woods. and over tho rocky fluctuations OF
pasture.
As Hooker advanced tho rebel 'kirmi.her'
fell back slowly. holding their ground with
commendablc bravery. The word vas given
% follow on. and the division moTed with a
rush-,oo impetuou.. probably. when We
consider that he had hardly asccrtained the
force Of the enemy. The rebels nrd closely
followed by Riekcts and Meade. The troop,
moved willingly. and engaged the enemy IN
their strong position. ai short range. The
,ollcy- OF mu.ketry wers inerssabt. rolling
like q drummer's call. with tho heavy can
nonade shaking tho earth with It's concus'
Mons.
The nature OF the ground wn. such that
IIooker's baiterie. found IL difficult 10 al
vance. Two batteric. succ edei m pushing
through the woods. crossing tho turnpike d
few rods south OF Padcnhurs's, and ascend
ing n slight elevation about four rods west
Of the road. within close canister range oil
the enemy.
This was bold push upon the enemy''
flank n Hooker held this position ihcy
would have his ERE en6lading their strong
hold n lew rod. further South. endangerins
their centre. and II tina, was once broken
the naturr IT the ground behind-all cleared
lind-would make 10 impossible TO form a
new line IL became n necessity with the
enemy that hc should DO di-lodgcd. They
rallied Tor tina, purpose Brigade which had
n position lev rod. farther South, brought
IN adiitionsl batteries. and advanced.
The struggle va. long md fierce. Each
sid, was strengthened. but Hooker VA
obliged TO Tall back. not TO the old position
bot 10 tho ground where The enemy com
mepcei tho fight. Something had beer
gained. hu, y great deal lOst--ihrce thous
aud gallant men
TIE rebels. el,ted by their success, form
ell 20 drive back Hooker from hIs position
on the eastern ridge. lfthey succeeded ~
lanking him. they could drive Mcclellan
army into tho An,ie'an They nassed ,
trcmendou. force Cor the onset. moved up Il
the turnpike. but there they met the iror
hail Of .lxiy piccc- II artillery. They dash
cd against iiarr.tuf. intending 20 capIur'
the batierie. behind Padsnburss. hut una
Die 20 stand the terrible Gre. wavcrcd. broke
and ven, back 10 tho defensive line on a.,
western ridg.
There VA. for little tins silence and
calm. Then the thunder rolled again al
along oil along the line. Hooker endearor
ell 10 silence the rebel cannonads, and NOV
ed with Gordon and Crawford up 10 ,h
turnpike. but. while making tho a,,emp
wa, wounded. Mansfield. Duryca. liar,
,uG, all general officers. had been WOUNDED
lie still urged hi. men to bold out. sum
nsr was At hand. aud would pierce the enc
nv. centre. and all would 10 we'll.
The auspieiou. momen, had passed. \
little more strength a, the time would hav,
turned the encmy's len; folded It hack upor
the center. let u. ia rear. and changed ih
whole aspect OF Affairs.
TnE CENTRE.
While the storm was thus raging nlonI
lima hammer cana nm lila aTriy