The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-09-26

full, but it is not one that will be likely 10 lay
me up. ! was shot through the foot.
J. HOOKER, Major General.
TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER.
The fighting on Tuesday was severe at some
points, but was only preliminary to the grea,
battle of Wednesday at Sharpsburg, which
was evidently the most severe and bloody Of
the whole war. At least 100000 men were
engaged The Tribunes correspondent on
the field gives detailed account
THE SUMMING UP.
The greatest battle of the war was fought
to-day, lasting from daylight till dark, and
closing without decisive result. The whole
forces Of Mcclellan and Lee were engaged
for IA hours. Two hundred thousand men
have fought with the utmost determination
on both sides. Neither can claim victory
but Mcclellan has partially carried the rebe
position, holding most favorable ground fol
renewingth attack, and holding allth GROUND
which was gained at any time during the
fight All our own dead and wounded anL
many VI ehS ShC"y III Jul VI
the left of the re bel position, Hooker, Sum
ner and Franklin have crossed Antietam creek
and have driven the enemy from the ground
they chose to cover their TANKS in front of oul
batteries, and troops have steadily advanced
and occupy tonight range of hills consider.
ably beyond those first taken. On the rebel
right, they have lost the bridge over the creek
which was carried after hard fight, and
Burnside has crossed with all his forces
The result OF the days fight, therefore, is tina,
the rebels have everywhere lost ground. then
position is contracted, both TANKS attacked
with success, and their rear and only line Of
retreat seriously threatened.
PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS.
After the brilliant victory on Sunday at
South Mountain, near Middletown, Mcclellan
pushed his army rapidly forward, sending cav
airy and artillery out on the Hagerstown
road, Burnside through Fox Gap to the
Sharpsdurg road, and the rest Of his forces
through Boonsborot to Keedysviie, and thence
toward Sharpsbarg. On the crest of the hill
this side of Sharpsburg, the enemy were dis
covered in great force. Their troops had
been brought down from Hagerstown, up
from Harper's Ferry, and part of the army
held in Virginia as reserve. Lee, Jackson,
Iongstreet, Hill, and all the best generals
left with them were there, with all OF their
best troops. Except occasional artillery con-
tests, the armies faced each other in quiet
during the rest on Monday. On Tuesday
there was no movement on our side till tow
ard night. The rebels had kept batteries in
position, but their infantry was Withdrawn
from view, and it was still uncertain whether
thy were retrea,ing or reinforcing. About
4 in afternoon of Tuesday, Hooker was order
ed to cross Antetam creek, at the upper ford
on the right, with his whole corps, attack the
the enemy's left and occupy position on
their flank. He crossed without opposition
sent forward cav airy skirmishers who were
speedily driven back. and then, advancing
with his whole force about 6, took posses
sion OF strong ground, close to the rebels left
and Immediately became engaged with artil
lery and infantry Darkness ended tie fgh
with slight loss on either side, Hooker carry
ing and holding the woods from which tn
Hemys fire first came. There were constan
alarms during the night, the hostile picket
being close to each other all along the line
Early in the evening the rebels took to fight
ing among themselves, and several heavy vol
legs were delivered there before they discov
cred their mistake.
THE OPENING on WEDNESDAY,
At daybreak on Wednesday the fight wa
renewed suddenly and vehemently, both side
opening fire together. The number and pc
sition of the rebel batteries the evening be
fore had disclosed that they were in grea
force on the right, and word had been sent t
Mcclellan to advance Summers corps durin
the night. The rebel line was formed on
crescent-shaped ridge, which in front slope
down into an undulating valley Irregular
broken by connecting ranges of hills. Be
hind the crest the rebel forces lay in uneye
and strong positions, sheltered by ridges an
hills, and especially strong on the fanks.-
Antietam creek,a stream too deep to be ford
ed except in very few places sweeps By tn
base of their position and protected it fror
assault. McClellan's forces we're first form
ed in front, a'terward thrown to tn
right and left. There is little or no sroun
on our side equel in hight to the rebel DOS
ton. Hooker sustained, unaided, the attac
on the rebel left for nearly four hours.
Meade gained ground in his first attack
Ricketts, also went forward through the wood
in his front, and Doubleday with his gun
held front against heavy cannonade.-
Meade advancing, finally met a heavy bod
OF fresh troops thrown suddenly and vigol
ously against him. and was driven back owe
part ofthe ground he had just won. Rick
s'ts line was a, tie same time hard presse
and became deserted Mansfield, who ha
come over the creek the night before, was OF
uereu INTO the woods to Ricketts, support an
Harssuti's brigade. Part of Doubledav's com
mand. was semitic sustain Meade. Mansfel
took inc greater part of his troops to Rick
etts help, but they were unable to exten
1ne1r line and IN the effort to push forvar,
his men, Gen Mansfield was mortally von,,d
ed. Gen Hartsutf advanced to the relief E
Meade with the 18th and 18th Massachu
sets and ano, cr regiment. The Peninsula
Ma troops wee retiring in haste and som
confusion. Haitsuti siezed bridge in from
of the field over which the rebels were nress
ing. and heldit in splendid style for more tina
half an hour against agreatly superior attack
His men behaved most CALAMITY, standing O
the exposed ground, firing steadily and neve
wavering once. Gen Hartsuf was very 500
severely wounded. His troops retained thei
position, and finally by the precision and re-
pidi,y of their fire, compelling the enemy I
retreat, advanced in pursuit. While they ha
been engaged, Hooker ordered up Crawford
and Gordons brigade to their support
Haftsuit retained the advance, and Crawfor
and Gordon followed in support.