The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-22

- LuONtc5 swiftly uOhb ~
q and though met by incessant discharges OF mus
= kerry, of which we plainly see the fashes' doe
not fire Il gun. White spaces show where mel
arc falling, but they close up instantly, and stll
: the line advances. The brigades OF Burnside
are in heavy column they will not give way
before a bayonet charge IN line. The Rebel
think twice before they dash into these hostile
masses
r There is 4 halt, the Rebel left gives way and
~scatters over the field, the rest stand fast ano
fire. More infantry comes up, Burnside IL out,
numbered fanked, compelled to yield the hill
he took 80 bravely. His position is no longer
one of attack he defends himself with untal-
tering frmness, but he sends to Mcclellan for
help. Nc Clellan' glass for the last half hour
has seldom been turned away from the left.
He sees clearly enough that Burnside is
pr~essed-needs no messenger to tell him that.
His face grows darker with anxious thought.
Looking Town into the valley where 10 900
troops are lying, he turns a half questioning
look on Fitz John Porter, who stands by his
side, gravely scanning the field. They are Por'
ter's troops below, are fresh and only inpatient
to share IN this fight. But Porter slowly shakes
his head, and one may believe that the same
thought is passing through the minus of both
Generals " They are the only reserves Of the
army they cannot be spared"
Mcclellan remOunts his horse, and with Por-
ter and a dozen officers Of his s aft rides away
to the left in Burnside direction. Sykes meets
them on the road god soldier whose opinion
is worth taking. The three Generals talk briefly
together. 1t is easy to see that The moment has
come when everything may turn on one order
given VI withheld, when the history Of the bat,
tie is only TO be written in thoughts and purpo-
ses and words of the General,
Burnside's messenger rides up His message
Is, | want more troops and guu.. If you do
not send them | cannot hold my position for
half an hour" McClellan's only answer tor
the moment, is Il glance At the Western sky.
Then he turns and speaks very slowly " Fell
zen. burnside that TINS is the battle OF the war.
H. must hold his ground till dark at ny cost.
I VIII ~ead him Mlller's battery. | can do
nothing more. | have no infantry. . Then as the
messenger was riding away he called him back.
" Tell him if lie cannot hold his ground, then
the bridge, to the last man always the
bridge IT the bridge is lost, all is lost"
The sun is already down not half an hour
of daylight is left. Till Burnside's message
came, it had seemed plain to every one that the
battle could not be finished to-day. None sus-
pected how near was the peril of defea; OF sud
den attack on exhausted torces-how vital to
the safety of the army and the nation were those
fifteen thousand waiting troops of Fitz John
Porter in The hollow. But the rebels halted in
stead of pushing on, their vlndictive cannonade
died away as the light faded. Before i was
quite dark the battle was over. Only a solitary
gun of Burnside Numbered against the enemy,
and presently this also ceased, and the field was
still.
The peril came very near, but it had passed
and in spite of the peril, at the close the day
was partly a success-not a victory, but an ad-
vantage had been gained. Hooker. Sumner
ed, and Burnside still held the bridge and his
position beyond. Everything was favorable for
q renewal of the fight IN the morning. If the
plan of the battle is sound, there is every rea
son why Mcclellan should win it. He may
choose to postpone the battle to await his re-en-
forcements.
The Rebels may choose to retire while it il
possible. Fatigue on both sides might delay the
deciding battle, yet if the enemy means to fight
at all. he cannot afford to delay. His re-en
forcements may be coming, his losses are enor.
nous. Ills troops have been masssd in woods
and hollows. where artillery has had its mos
terrific effect. Ours have been derloyed and
scattered. From infantry fire there is less diff
terence.
1t is'hard to estimate losses on q field of such
extent, but | think ours cannot be less than 81,
thousand killed and wounled-it NAV be much
greater. Prisoners have been taken from tn,
enemy hear OF u regiment captured entire
but doubt it. All the prisoners whom | saw
agree in saying that their whole army is there
While Henry b. Harvey OF Troy, was on tn,
east road to Pownal, some three or four mile
from Bennington, a few days since, he was des
!, perately attacked, says the Bennington Banner
t by a man, who jumped out from behind som,
| brush and IL rank growth Of thlstles, benin,
which he lay crouclled, ami demanded OF IIar
, vey, highway fashion, his watch and money
AS he sprung up, Harvey's horse was scared
/ and made IL sudden shee which threw him out
$ No sooner had he struck the ground Che allght
/ ed on his iee') than the villain dealt him
heavy blow tull in the face, with his list. AN,
+, then srasping him by the collar with his RICH
! hand, and by the throa. with his left, ii vlgor
q Gus scnttc here cnsued. Harvey WIS thrown
but managing to raise himself on one knee. sue
ceeded IN getting out and opening his knife
' with which he gave the rascal two or thre
telling lunges In the eide, drawing blood. II
!, then called tor help, and finding things settin
III against him, the villain started off on th
c run. lie was vigorously pursued, but mad
c good his escape.
h.. IL. Lassell, who lately carried ON The ha,
> ness making business in North Bennington
, hung himself, one day last week. in "A barn nes