Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-10-01

| General Daniel H. HILL and the right wing was
General Longstreets. The battle begun the even
ing before was resumed by General Jackson on the
left wing at about three o'clock on "Wednesday
morning. and about six o'clock became general along
the entire line Our army formed the segment OF
a circle, and was pressed upon by force greatly
larger, supposed by those able to form correct
Judgment fully three to one.
At about ten o'clock General jackson was rein
forced on the left wing by the fine troops of Gene
raj McLaws. At two o'clock the enemy was Sc
verely whipped on that wing, and driven back fully
mile The fight at the centre was terribly severe,
but the troops of General d. H. Hill resolutely and
to the end maintained their ground But it was OF
the utmost moment to the enemy to turn our right
flank in order to cut off our communication with
the Virginia shore by the ford near Shepherdstown.
The pressure upon the gallant corps of Gen. Long
street was almost irresistible, and anxiety as to the
result grew intense when General A p Hill brought
the reserve up from Harpers Ferry to the relief OF
Con Longstreet at about three o'clock, to renstate
the doubtful fortune of the day. which, closing left
our troops in possession of all the ground they held
at the opening of the battle and so much of the enc
my's as had been wrested from him by Jackson and
McLaws.
The battle continued uninterruptedly for thirteen
hours. Never have our troops, exhausted by past
abors as tney WERE exhibited their courage and
endurance to such advantage; never has the enemy
contested field so obstinately. 1t is held by our
troops to be the battle Of the Uar. Our loss in kill
ed was not great though we are called upon to Ia
ment the fall of several gallant and distinguished
officers. General Starke, Of Jackson's Division,
commanding the splendid Louisiana Brigade, and
Gen. L. OBJ Branch, of North Carolina are num-
bered with the dead Many officers and men are
wounded not many very severely, however.
Our loss in killed, wounded and missing does not
exceed six to eight thousand, and the enemy's is
calculated to be five times as large!
The day succeeding the battle, our troops were
under arms aTaiting a renewal of the engagement,
but the enemy found himself in no condition to try
it again. The dead were buried, the wounded re-
moved to ShepherdStown, and with nightfall came
the general ORDER under which the trains and troops
were sent across the river, by the next morning
dawn, without loss or casualty. The splendid sue
cess of this first pedis pOSSesiO in Maryland reflects
the highest credit officers and soldiers engaged
but all award the highest need of respect and
sideration to great Commander, General Lee,
who was preent throug bout these eventfu days; to
whose sagacity and profound military judgment all
all is due.
Our troops having crossed the river safely, the
enemy soon appeared upon the thither bank, to
commence heavy cannonading which was answer.
ed by batteries, already put in position by Gen.
eral Pendleton.
This artillery duel was continued throughout
considerable part of the day. but the enemy did not
attempt to cross the river. On the next morning,
however the advance of the enemy was heraded 10y
furious cannonadng, and subsequently one or more
brgades attempted to cross the river. A part were
suffered to ascend the precipitous bank upon this
side, to receive a very warm reception from the
troops of jackson, taking them in flank. Their
column, thrown into the utmost confusion, attempt
ed to re-cross the river, when the grape of our
masked batteries told fearful tale of death and
destruction among the affrghtcd herd. Our loss in
this repuSe of the enemy small and that Of the
enemy very great. The troops were the flower of
Burnside'S Division and the ford of the Potomac,
fully three hundred yards wide, filled with them
to its entire capacity. Few could have escaped and
many dead Yankees have no doubt tloated down the
river even to Washington. My next will afford you
fuller particulars of this little ankng operation of
General jackson. Our whole army is probably in
Maryland to night. More anon. linden.