Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-09-25
BATTLE OF ANTlETAM CREEK.
The Most StupcudOus struggle
of Modern Tiulcs.
BATTLEFIELD or ANT1ETAM CREEK,
Thursday, Sent. Is. 1SG2.

anu tue cause ol tnc OnlOn mas once more
been vindicatcd upon one of the most
bloody and well contested fields known
to ancient or modern times. Wedncs.
day, Sept. II, 1862. will, We predict,
hereafter be looked upon as an epoch in
the history of the rebellion. from which
will date the Inauguration Of its downfall.
On that day about one hundred and sixty
thousand men met in deadly strife upon
t he field of Antietam--a name which will
occupy leading position in the history
Of the war--and there, marshaled by brave
and able men, fought with a desperation
and courage never before excelled, ard
rarely, if ever equalled, for twelve hours.
leaving the Union army in possession Of
the contested ground. This victory was
not gained, however, without the sacri-
flee of many valuable lives, and the maim-
ing OF thousands of individuals.
THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.
On Wednesday Sept. II, the sun rose
in cloudess sky, and all nature seemed
to smile as il the world were filed with
the elect of Cod But it's splcnAors were
soon dimmed by the smoke rising from
the battle field.
10 enable the reader to understand the
events Of the day, he should look at n
map which has laid ont the principal
roads throughout the State Of Maryland.
With a pencil follow the road or pike
from Boonsboro direct to Sharpsburgh--
which is nearly three miles west OF the
river, at the point where the road crosses
it; the battle field is on both sides Of that
roai-bctcewn the river and Sharpsburgh
the bulk of it being n rth of the Boons-
boro' road and in the triangle formed 10y
the roads connecting Bakerville and Mid
dletown aud Baskerville and Sharpsburgh
The surface is interspersed with hill, and
vale, and covered with cornfelds and
grass land, and skiring and stretching
toward the centre from different points
are thin bells Of forest trees-all Of whicl
gave advantage to the enemy acting OF
the defensive, he having an opportunity
to select his position for defensive opera
tionS, and when forced from one position
he has only to fall back short distanc,
to find position naturally as strong a
the first. The engagement was opcnct
early Wednesday morning by the advance
OF strong bcdy Of our skirmisherS. They
were met by similar movement on th'
part of the enemy. The latter were fore
ed until the right Of our line General
! EIooker's) came into action with the en-
eme's left. commanded by Gen. Hill
who commands a portion Of Longstrcet''
corps. Banks, corps was, within hal
an hour, at work, and was followed soor
after by Gen. patterson's command. The
first fire was about five o'clock, at 81,
O'Clock the infantry entered upon it
work. The line thus formed.
THE ENEMY's LEFT WAS FORCED BACK
for nearly three miles from the ford, wher
the bulk OF our troops Crossed the crccl
before o'clock, where they were rclievel
hy Gen, Sedgwick's coming to the front
just previous to this, Morris Brigade
of Iooker,s command, had advance,
from belt of timber across q plowe,
field into a piece of woods, where the en-
emy, massed in great force were repulsed
and the troops fell to the belt of timbc
in some disorder, but soon rallied again
aud regained the field in front. 1t was a
this time that General Mansfield, in com
mand OF General Ban : corps, was NOR
tally wounded, carried from the field ant
died soon aIterward. General William,
succeeded to the command of the corps
and General Crawford took command o
Williams Division until he was wouudeC
and taken from the field. The rcpuse 0
Morris Brigade was accomplished by al
old trick Of the enemy. AS the corp
advance to the woods across the plow
ed field, the rebels unfurled the Stars anc
Stripes, and waving them, cried out
"What the HI are you doing? Don
fire upon your friends 70 Ourtroops de
ceived by this ruse, ceased firing, whel
the rebels opened upon them n murder
ous volley of musketry and cross fire
and creating temporary panic, The,
rallied and drove the rebels back, but
was done at great sacrifice of life
These troops were relieved by
GEN. sEDGwICK's COMMAND
coming upon the left. The enemy whit
had gained a point of timber extending
some distance in front Of our line. at til
left of Gen. Banks corps, were driver
out, and acroS. plowed field in front
to the timber beyond, with terrible
slaughter-Ayer's Battery opened upor
them with great effect, strewing tn
ground with the dead. At one point
Just on the brow of the little roll of tn
ground that the infantry, emerging sud
denly upon the field, supposed that
was rebel force in waiting for them am
the dead rebels got an extra volley. Th
corps came into action hy brigadeS, be
tween 8 and 0 o'clock orman's, Dana
and lIoward's, While preparing 70
action, the enemy appeared from an I'm
expected quarter, and opened terriIi
fire with view of breaking up the lin
by sudden attack with musketry an
artillery, he believed that it was com
posed of raw troops. But they 500
discovered their mistake; these veteran'
: notwithstanding the sudden attack, tho
their lines were broken for momen
were not disconnected, but received
with cheers. While under this galln
+ fire the fifteenth Regiment Massachuset
; Volunteers made dash forward an
seized the batlle-nag of one of Gen. Hill
regiments, and now have it to show
S their friends as trophy of the day.
a this connection it should be mentiont
, that Canto;n Hovn and inut Whittip