The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-09-25
NUMBER q.
The Battle of Sunday.
Correspondence of the Baltimore American. 7
FREDERICK, Monday, p.n

/ =
added another 10 the list of ofmemorable
battles that have occurred on it. The
scene of the fight yesterday was upon
what is generally called the "Second
Mountain" of the Catoctin range, but
on the maps is called South Mountain.
Our forces on Saturday drove tie rebel
rear guard ont of Middletown and our
advance halted that night short dis
tance beyond that village. Early yons
Sunday morning the onward moytmSnts
was resumed by General Mcclellan.
The rebels were directly in front Hpst
retreated slowly and resolutely, Us
testing every foot of ground.
81 Up to 2 o'clock the engagement us9
principally with artillery. The rebels
placed thir batteries on every advan-
tageous position, and shelled onr adj.
vance. Our artillery replied, and the
fire was at times very heavy, but the
advantage, from the higher ground they
occupied, being with the rebels in this
artillery practice, our generals depend
ed more upon their infantry, and heavy
columns were pushed successfully for
ward, driving the enemy back until
about half the ascent of the mountain
was gained. In doing this work some
splendid dashes were made by our
troops, in which Burnside's and Hook
er's corps formerly McDowell's) par.
ticularly distinguished themselves.
THE MAIN BATTLE.
Between two and three o'clock the
rebels were found drawn mp in line of
battle, their left covering Turner'S Cap.
through which the pike to Hagerstown
passes, and their right extending to
Crumpton's Gap. Our right was led
by Gen. Hooker in advance. with Gen.
era Franklin on the left, and General
Burnside's corps was pressing up-i in
the rear, and was, believe in reserve.
Some portions of it may have partici-
pated in the fight. eas-nfo3
When the enemy were thus found.
drawn up in line of battle on their
chosen position, the engagement at
once became general and fierce.
The musketry fire, as described to-
me by officers wounded in the battle
and now here, was the most continu-
GUS and sustained of the war. y
1t rolled rapidly and fercely from,
right to left. and back and forward,
with irresistible fury. .Ft.s
Our artillery was brought up, and
played its part, as usual, well For.
two hours this continuous exchange Of
musketrp any artillery continued, until
the enemy began to show signs of wa
vering. Our extreme right had been
gradually but surely pushing the enemy,
crowding him towards the Cap, and
threatning his flank. At 5 O'Clock a
general charge was ordered, and Our
men responding willingly and .bravely
to the call, sprang forward with an i'm.
petns that carried all before it. The,
rebels fell back, endeavoring again to-
bring their disordered columns into the.
line Of battle, but failed. , era
Widely cheering and determinedto
win, our lines pushed forward, drove
the enemy from point to point, and as
the last rayes of the sun gilded the
mountain, reached the summit. The
Pass was won and the enemy were i'm.
rapid and disordered retreat down the.
slope towards Boonsboro. The pur-.
snit was continued for two miles down
the mountain, until darkness pa ant.
end to the contest. -fffT.a.u.f
gtl ID THE BATTLE-FTELD. sIt
Our army bivouacked for the night
on the battle field, whilst its pickets ex-
tended some three miles forward and
beyond the little village of Bolivar mot.
the Bolivar of .Harper's Ferry. The
rebels left their killed and many Of their
wounded on the battle field. Nv in
-formants have no knowledge of tho
enemy's loss, except where they were
engaged, Immediately on the right, and
can, therefore, give no estimate of the
general loss of either side. They found
the ground over which they passed
thickIy strewn with rebel dead and,
wounded. In n corn field where ades-
perate stand was made there was,
marked evidence of the severity with
which they had been punished. aoiFs
Onr own loss, it is believed, is very
much less, perhaps not half that of the,
enemv. Our men fought the whole.
day with desperate valor which in bat
tie often proves that there is safety in
temerity. They literally drove the ene-.
my all the time, giving them no time
la rally, no opportunity to recover, and
thus kept them at disadvantage. Our.
veterans have added new laurels to,
those gained on other well fought fields,
whilst the new regiments did far better
than anv one wonld have ventured to
hope. Their enthusiasm made up for.
their inexperience. and they 'rivalled
their older companions in arms in the
steadiness with which they went under
fire. gsl8ls1.i hrf5i 10 -fsi ed iisG
Among our losses we have to lament
that of Gen. Reno, one of Gen. Burn
sides division commanders. General
Reno accompanied the Hatteras expe-
ditiop, and bore an important part in
all battles from Roanoke, Island to
Newhern. He was brave, enierpris.
ing and reliable officer. do not know
the particulars of his death, but under
stand that he was killed by rifle ball,
whilst feeling the position of the enc
my on Sunday morning. ! hear OF the
loss of no other of our general officers.
As to the loss of line aud field ofticers
we have no reports.