Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-09-23

SIX uIeS neuce, MneFe tnefe IS a 0E0aQ
smooth ford across the Potomac. Officers
high 10 authority, with access to all the
information at headquarters, estimate his
strength yAriously at from 1000 to 10000,
which is certainly valuable, ifonly to prov Q
our utter ignorance about him think
he will not hazard general engagement
north of the river. A. D. R.
A.eExERAI a VIEW OF TnE GREAT BArTLE-
THE SLAIN on BOTH slDEs-raE REBEL
LOSS.
on THE BATTLE-FIELD,
Wednesday, Sept. I'LL P. N.
A long, botly. contested, bloody battle
the fiercest of the warl Fifty thousand
men flung against we know not how many,
on line three miles in length the two
masses wrestling like athletes, straiuing
every muscle-one losing here, the other
gaining there; one pressed back along his
entire front, but still resisting SO fercely
and sturdily that the sun went down and
niRht closed in on an indicative conflict.
Your correspondents, familiar with the
Organization of this army, will doubtless
write for you the history which has been
made to-day: ! only attempt few frag-
mentary notes. during the half hour before
the Tribune messenger leaves.
Reports were current yesterday that the
rebels had been crossing the Potomac
southwark, at WillIamspOrt, for two days.
The inference that they were flying before
Mcclellan, and would not stand north of
the river, was very unsatisfactory to the
army, aud there was much impatience that
We were not pursuing. But 1t seems that
only their trains were crossing: and the
entire rebel army was waiting to give us
battle on the soil of Maryland.
All ths morning our batteries on the left
were firing slowly; but they drew only few
and faint replies from the enemy. II was
four O'Clock p. n. when Hooker, with his
entire corps, was ordered to make an ad-
vance on the right.
Three miles out, his advance cavalry was
opened upon at short range with grape and
canister, from masked battery. None of
the saddles were. emptied, but the cavalry
came pouring back in tumultuous baste.-
"The rebels are opening from battery in
the edge of the woods" said the colonel of
the regiment, "Let them open," replied
Hooker. I'VE have as many batteries as
they. Forwardw
Half an hour afterward there was a mus
ket report from the skirmishers; then an-
other, and almost instantly the firing on
both sides was hot and heavy. Then Hook.
er's eye began to CLEAN with the fierce Joy
of battle, he hurried forward the artillery,
sent orders hither aud thither, until he was
left without staff officer near him, and
disposed his forces with wonderful rapid
ity.
The skirmishing with artillery and in
fantry was very heavy. The enemy's guns
were well served, aud shot and she'll began
to fall like hail about Hooker and his staff,
covering him with dirt, and rendering the
rearing aud pluuging horses almost uuman-
Rgeable. The night was cloudy, and it
was soon extremely dark, but the fighting
continued by the flashes of guns on both
sides until 81 O'clock, The rebels were
then pressed back from their first position.
TheirPickets were only few yards from
ours during the night, aud there was fire.
quent firing on both side. In the darkness
our artillery aud dense columns Of infantry
were moving from the village up toward
the field, ready for the mornings work
With the earliest dawn musketry COM
tneneed again, and at 81 o'clock the battle
was reopened fnriously, vr.--,
Only Hooker's force was engaged last
night, but to day every corps except Por.
ter's has been in the battle, and has seen
hot work.
4 From noon until p. N. there Wss lull
in the musketry; out with that exception its
sharp rattle continued from daylight until
dark. "Ths infinite fierce chorus" of the
artillery Was increasing.
A hilha mile south of the village Afford
ed view of the entire line, and was crowd
ed with spectators. A brisk wind lifted
the smoke, and we could see with great
distinctness not only the position of the
batteries on both sides, but our infantry
and cavalry, and beyond, those of the Re-
bells. Our line would move, and sometimes
break, as new battery opened upon 1t,
the shells eX loding in the ranks, Then
loud cheers would come up from the ene-
my. 1
Next, one of our batteries or fianking
force would break them; aud then the
cheering Of our men, as they advanced,
was heard nearly a mile away.
On the whole, our troops have behaved
admirably. Never was field more brave-
ly and bitterly contested; not an inch
was gained without paying for it in loyal
blood. oi t iis
A decisive victory cannot be claimed.
We have not annihilated the enemy; we
have not driven him across the river. The
Indications are, that severe as the struggle
uu5 ueeu, bup uuIuest n uBuIlnB OF tne ohtIle
is yet to come Thus far the advantages
where the battle opened. The enemy's
dead aud wounded-those be lost last night
and this moruing-are within our lines,
All along the front we have driven him
back from one to three miles.
L The loss on on both sides is extremely
heavy. Every bulldog, public aud private,
in the village, is a hospital; so Is every
farm, house apd barn within two miles OF
It. The enemy's wounded are still lying
on the. field by hundreds, and some. of our
own are luptyet hropghtips, We have lit
tie data FOR an estimate, but thing our
loss in killed and wounded up 10 this time
must reach IS 900 or 5000. ,0us of Gep,
McoleiIah's principal shff ofieers estimates
It at 10000. 49,
nthe corn fields, in,thsrwopds, behind