The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-09-30
The Great Battle of Antielem.

The New York 7ri5une's correspon-
dent, writing from the battle field of
Wednesday, 18th inst, gives vivid ac-
count of the battle that day. from which
we quote the following:
Fierce and desperate battle between
100000 men has ragged since daylight,
yet night closes on an uncertain field
1t is the greatest fight since Waterloo
all over the field contested with an obsti
macy equal even to Waterloo.
The battle began with the dawn. Nor
ming found both armies just as they had
slept, almost close enough TO look into
each others eyes. The left Of Meade's
reserves and the right OF Ricketts, line
became engaged at nearly the same mo-
ment, one with artillery. the other with
infantry. A battery was almost imme-
diately pushed forward beyond the GEN.
trail woods. over ploughed field. near the
top of the slope where the cornfeld be-
gan. On the open field, in the corn be-
yond and in the woods which stepped
forward into the broad fields like prom
onlory into the ocean, was the hardest
and deadliest struggle of the day.
For half an hour after the battle had
grown TO its full strengtl the line OF fire
swayed neither way. Hooker's men
were fully up TO their work. They saw
their general everywhere in front, never
away from the fire, and all the troops be-
lieved in their commander, and fought
with will. Two thirds of them were
the same men who under Mcdowell had
broken at Manassas.
The half hour passed, the rebels began
to give way little, only little, but at
the first indication of receding fire.
Forward. was the word, and on went the
line with a cheer and rush. Back
across tho cornfeld leaving dead and
wounded behind them. over the fence.
and across the road, and then back again
into the dark woods which closed around
them, went the retreating rebels.
Meade and his Pennsylvanians follow
ed hard and fast-followed until they
came within easy range of the woods
among which they saw their beaten enc
my disappearing-followed still, with
another cheer, and flung themselves
against the cover.
But out of those gloomy woods came,
suddenly and heavily, terrible volleys-
volleys which smote, and bent, and broke,
in moment, that eager front. and hnrl
on them swiftly back for half the distance
they had won. No, swiftly, nor in panic,
any further. Closing up their shattered
lines. they came slowly away--a regi.
ment where brigade had been. hardly
a brigade where whole division had
been victorious. They had met from
the woods the first volleys of musketry
from fresh troops-had met them and
returned them till their line had yielded
and gone down before the weigh. of fire
and till their ammunition was exhausted
In ten minutes the fortune of tho day
seemed to have changed--it was the rsb
els now who were advancing. pouring ou
OF the woods in endless lines. sweeping
through the corn field which their com.
rades just tled. Hooker sent in his near
est brigade to meet them, but it could
not do the work. He called for another
There WAS nothing close enough. unless
he took il from his right His right
might be in danger if it was weakened
but his centre was already threatened
with annihilation. Not hesitating one
moment. he sent to Doubleday "Giye
me your best brigade instantly"
The best brigade came down the hill
TO the right on the run, went through
the timber in front through storm OF
shot and bursting shell and crashing
limbs. over tho open field beyond, and
straight into the cornfeld. passing as
they wept the fragments of three brig