New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-23

fought. wrote you to that effect last night. Nc
Celan looked 1t in every feature, his staff were no
lees jubilant; the rank and file Of the whole army
were in the best of spirits "Gay and happy songs
were heard from nearly every camp fire. Many
talk Of their families and their homes and Of soon
being with them, after this rebelous host in front
of us had been crushed. But to-day change has
come over the spirits of all these brave men.
We are in hot pursuit of the enemy, but he has
nearly two days the advantage Of us. The valley Of
the Shenandoah is well-known path by both the
Rebel and the National army, but Southern soldiers
like Southern horses and Southern hogs can beat
the world in running and were sporting charnc-
ter would bet ten TO one that Gen. Lee having once
taken the truck, will come ont many lengths ahead.
Joined the chase two miles from Boonsborough
The Rebel army seemed to be on the double quick
The Sharpsburgh turnpike was filed, three regiments
deep. with infantry. At Sharpsburgh halt was Or
deredhe infantry fell back to the sides Of the road
and battery after battery of the heaviest artillery
came rushing down upon the galop the riders lash
ing their bones at almost every step. Porters
heavy guns trunded along the stones as if they
were but playthings in the hands Of children.
But notwithstanding the rspidy with which the
chase was conducted, we have caught but few Of the
running Rebels. Seven hundred will, think, cover
the entire number. Nearly all their wounded in the
battle of Wednesday have fallen into our hands and
these S.ill outnumber the force captured by them
from ~ Il IIarpers Ferry. Nearly every house for
two mics is filled with them. About one hundred
Of our own wounded are lying by their side. The
retreat far the marching part Of the army was
concerned, was splendid success. But two disa-
bled guns one ambulance. FIVE barrels Of -four and
two barrels OF salt all the property they left in
our possession. A cleaner, neaer retreat, consider
ing all the circumstances, was never made.
While bandying with our Generals yesterday
about Aags of truce, and apparently being greatly
concerned about their dead aud wounded, they were
moving their trains over the river, and leaving the
dead upon the little part Of the battle-ground they
succeeded in retaining, for us TO bury. Hardly 4
grave was dug by them yesterday. The great cloud
Of dust which wrote you about last evening and
which Major General told me demonstrated to him
that the enemy were being largely REINFORCED
either BY Gen. Lorng or the remainder Of jackson
force, proves TO have been the dirt stirred up by the
retreating trains Of the Rebel army. II 10 very
strange that We were not able, with all the money
our Generals have command Of for detective pur-
poses, TO ascertain whether this dus, was from ad-
ynnoing retresting forces. Our system Of espon.
age. although very expensive and elaborate, thus
far has proved n very poor one. The enemy outwit
us under our very noses
The wounded Rebel prisoners and 'te surgeons
len in charge are very ubant ai the Of the
retreat
Wait ill We get you up in the mountains Of
Virginia, again, said Of the surgeons 10 ne to-
day, and We will pay you Of rthe affair Of yes
terdsy, 10 your hearts content. You whipped US
Yesterday because We were half starved and GU, Of
ammunition; but in the next battle we will be pre-
pared for you" The battle Of Wednesday although
many do not agree with me. i think WAS the mos,
complete victory Of the /, is true the enemys
center was not broken, but bis night and left were
completely driven in. and the area Of the battle
ground greatly contracted; splendid positions were
gained for artillery, and nearly all bis dead and
wounded captured and il these no, many Of the
elements Of victory, don't know what victories
are composed Of On the otter hand the retreat OF
the Rebels was AN ably -nAnaged affair, and reflects
great credit upon Gen. Lee " II is, said gentle
man to Inc, "Cornlh repeated, only much more
neatly"
In pressing through Sharpsburg, although upon
double-quick, tho Rebel army seemed struck with
the appearance Of the village. You will remember
it was exposed for several hours on Wednesday
evening to furious Smelling by Burnsides artillery
The terrible effects of his shos instantly seen
tho moulent we entered the village. Scarcely q
house remained untouched. Chimneys were Knocked
down, heavy stone walls smashed IN roofs lifted up
and carried off, and almost every form Of damage
possible TO conceive Of to dwelling was TO be seen
along the main street. The large church standing
upon the hill TO the right OF the turnpike, was fairly
riddlod with shot and battered 10 terribly that new
edGce will have to be erected out of the broken
materials. A large brick hotel in the heart OF the
town had fourteen shots entirely through it, Strange
TO say that in all this cannonode not citizen Of the
village was killed or wounded. All who did not
leave sought shelter In the cellars, and were unin-
iured.
Tie Rebel horses standing IN the stables suffered
severely. One shell is said to have passed through
five horses standing in row in the stalls. In the
streets, also, dead horses lying about every
direction. On the bill, Just at the entrance Of the
village, fifteen dead horses block up the road, and
silently compliment artilersts as they pass by.
Strong detachments from different regiments have
been out upon the battle ground to-day buryng the
dead. In the cornfeld, where Iiookers Corps found
every cornstalk Rebel, the dead Of both armies
are lying by hundreds. saw the body OF Rebel
who was shot in the act OF climbing fence. 1t re-
manned hanging where he was killed -Four balls
had entered his back and one the eide of his head.
Gen. McClelan's official estimate 10000 Of our
loss, will fear fall below the actual number. The
Rebel dead greatly outnumber our own.
We used shell and grape exclnsivey-they used