The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-10-16
The War News.

Our dates by the Comet embracet rom the 10Th to
the 10Th of September. Those by the HENRY
Brigham are of the 9th. The adyices confirm
the reports received by the transient vessels ten
days since, of the defeat Of the rebels in Mary
land and their retreat over the Potomac into Vir-
GINA. There was almost continual fighting be-
tween the Federal and Rebel forces from the
18th to the 18th, in which the former constantly
gained the advantage, the latter falling back.
The only pitched battle was near Sharpsburg on
the Potomac, called the 80 battle of Antietam;''
from the creek near which it was fought. it
took place on the 18th, and, from both Rebel
and Federal accounts, must have been a most
bloody one. The result was that the Rebels
beat a hasty retreat into Virginia, capturing
Harper's Ferry in their route, which in turn was
recaptured by the Federals, and held by the lat
ter at the latest dates.
The Federal losses. in the engagements are
placed at about + 900 wounded. killed and miss
ing. The Rebels admit a loss in various ways of
about 10000 men during their invasion of Mary
land. OF course only Il part of these were kill
ed and wounded probably the larger part COM
prised deserters, who were glad to get free from
forced service. When Lee crossed into Mary
land, he issued a proclamation calling the people
to arms. Only about 500 responded to him, and
all these were taken prisoners by Mcclellan.
The invasion therefore demonstrated that very
little open assistance could be obtained for the
rebels in that state, and was attended with a loss
of nearly one-haD Of the Rebel army taken into
the state, a result which they cannot afford to
see repeated very often,
At the latest advices, NJ Clellan's army was
posted mainly on the northern bank of the Poto-
mac, from NIlliamsport, which is above Har-
pers Ferry, to Point of Rocks, which is below
that place. On the south side of the Potomac.
the Federal forces had Harper's Ferry, and, if
we read correctly, the whole southern side of the
river from that point to Washington, including
Leesburg, and from Washington, on the line of
the railroad leading south as far as Warrenton.
The rebels had the south bank of the Potomac
from Martlnsburg to near Harper's Ferry, max
ing their head quarters at Winchester. which
place they were terrifying as a depot, receiving
their supplies and reinforcements from Richmond
via Culpepper. Their number is supposed to be
900. 1t is impossible to guess how many
are in the Federal armies which surround
the rebels, but they probably exceed the rebels,
for new regiments have been pouring into Wash
hSNNh ~ Nv 81 VI O,UUU SOIu!crS 4 uaY.
The above diagram will perhaps serve to illus
rate the relative positions of the armies. At
he latest advices, Gen. Siegel was pushing south
rom Washington via Warrenton and Thorough
are zap, with the design, as is supposed, to
ut off the communication between the main
Ody of the rebels at Winchester and Richmond.
tut unless he had a strong force for that move
lent, 1t will not amount to much, for the Rebels
'ould probably throw all their army against
i'm. MClellan's plan was to cooperate with
iegel, by crossing the Potomac and engaging \
ne rebels from that quarter. From the position
which the forces were becoming distributed.
is evident that a battle was near at hand.
Their below Winchester, with Siegel, near Front
oval, or towards the Potomac with Mcclellan.
ur next news will probably bring intelligence
a battle having occurred about the 3Oth of
,ptember.
From the West, the news is still of an indef-
tie character, the combatants changing their
.sltIons so often and so rapidly, that it is i'm
'sslble to say which has gained or lost by the
ovements. Until the Federal forces are aug
ented in that sectIDn. affairs must remain about
e same.
Throughout the north, the widest enthusiasm {
Nothing like it has existed during the
esent generation. Before the end of October,
the new volunteers 600 600 men) will
be in the field, which added to the old army {
swell the total to at least one million men.
as this army is, the necessity which called
'ut is greater. The rebellion is one of most
,antic proportions, and requires the most gil .
ltic efforts to suppress it. If these fail, then Il
nation must, in time, bow and acknowledge
inability to suppress it.
The calling out of such a vast army, unusual
It is, has occurred before, both in the history
France and England. In the year 1913, after
'nty years war with all Europe, France, with Il
opulation of %, ZOO, 200, placed in the field
effective military force of 500 900 infantry,
200 cavalry, LOG. 900 artillerymen and engi- 20