The New York herald., 1862-09-20
New York. sasu,day, sept. go. 1869.
THE SITUATION


The decisive battle on Wednesday terminated
the career of the rebels in Maryland. The disas-
tcrs which befel them on that day compelled a
speedy evacuation Of My Maryland and The re-
turn TO Virginia, with such prospect of safety
there as circumstances may afford them The
rebels took advantage OF the cessation Of host
ties on Thursday, which was devoted to buryine
the dead, to commence their retreat
Yesterday their flight was considerably
hsrasscd by our cavalry and light artillery under
General Plessanton. which was engaged all day in
driving them across the river, thus justifying Sen
eral Mcclellan in his announcement to General
Balleok, that "0ur victory is complcte-the enc
my ia driven back into Virginia Maryland md
Pennsylvania are snow safc.r There was no Sc
vcre battle fought yesterday. The heavy firing
heard was undoubtedly the operation Of General
Pessanton's light artillery playing upon the re-
treating columns Of the enemy.
No one can now deny that the campaign Of
General Mcclellan in Maryland has been "short
ahsrp and decisive almost, indeed, for its visor
and its results, without parallel in history
Let us briefly review it. 1t only on the I'd inst,
chat he was appointed to the command of the
troops for the defence Of Washington. On the sth
no left tho capital took command Of the army fol.
lowed The invading rebel army into Maryland ana
drove them ont OF Frederick city on the 18th. Fol-
towing them up, he engaged tbc,u al the battle Of
Houth Mountain, and defeated them on tile
ISth instant. Pursuing thcm still to Antic-
tam creek. he won glorious victory ilcrc
on tho 18th; and yesterdsy. the 18th, drove
them out Of Maryland, across the Poto-
mac. What splendid record of seventeen
days work What general in modern times can
point TO many actions and many successes
liz the same space Of time, We question if Naro-
ieon. in the heyday Of hs career, accomplished so
much within the same number Of days, handling
~ vast mas Of men against On equal uass on
the other side.
The rebels unguestonably made dam No
their principal point Of retreat the river, al
u
ed at Harpei's Ferry. Information reached Wash
fngton last night that they had destroyed
tte new bridge at Barpcr's Ferry aud
blow up the piers. They also destroyed
everything possible there and along the
;oe OF the road 10 Maftinsburg. including the
splendid bridge known az the Pillar Bridge, at
- uosv Il. @bat
there remained only small force Of rebels on
Bolver Heights, and one corpsuy at Sandy
Hook
The story Of Wednesdays battle at Antieiam is
graphically given in our column. to-day from our
correspondents on the FIELD. Two maps accom-
tany the description; one embracing the imrre
..ato bstsis ground, and the other presenting sbe
scsas Of the whole campaign in Maryland.
A Astschment Of the Second Pennsylvania
Cavalry made Reconnaissance on Thursday night
ftsn Wsshingtoa IN the direction OF 1hcrouahf:ve
Gap. and returned yesterday evening With thirty
t~o rebel prisopsss, asd a aubib.r OF wagons and
aSbulsnces sn their way to Richmond. The country
around them was clear Of rebels snJ undcfended.
Three of the prisoners belonged = che body guard
or tAe rebel General Ewell wbo narrowly escaped
capture, having left only short time previous 70
the arrival of our cavalry The General war
wounded. and Is on his wsy back 70 Richmond.
The surrender d MunfotdssIlle, KY, by the
Union troops, five theu~nd strong under coiorel
Wilder. 90 the Immensely overwhelming force Of
$sessral Bragg, numbering thirty shousand is An.
nounoed iD dispatches irou Indianapolis The
surrender was said TO have taken place on
Wednesday. Out although the greatly superior
strength of the snsruy might readily wsrrs'f The
belief that our troops were compelled 30 snccnnrb,
yet the surrender : positively denied ID Louisville,
ss we losrn by private sddces recerv.a IN Cincin.
matt ysstsrdsy, which slso came via indianapolis,
ne same route by which the original report ar
rived.
ne Esropssn news by The Dorsss oh Gaze