The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-09-27

right, co-opcra ing with aud sustaining
llooker's attack while advancing also
nearer the cen er. The heavy work in
the center was left mostly to the bat
teries, Porter massing his infantry sup
ports in the hollows. On the left Burn
side was to carry the bridge already
referred to, advancing then by a road
which en- ers the pike at Sharps burg,
turning at once the Rebel left flank and
destroying his line of retreat. Porter
and Sykes were held in reserve. 1t is
obvious that the complete success of a
plan contemplating widely divergent
movements OF separate corps, must large
ly depend on accurate timing, that the
attacks should be stimuli ,ancous and not
successive.
Hooker moved on Tuesday afternoon
at four, crossing the creek at ford
above the bridge and we'll to the right,
without opposi ion. Fron'in ing southwest
his line advanced not quite on the Rebel
flank but overlapping and thrca ening it,
Turning off from the road after passing
the stream, he sent forward cavalry
skirnIishers Straight into the woods and
over the fields beyond. Rebel pickets
withdrew slowly before them, firing
scattering and harmless SLOTS. Turning
again to the lef', tue cavalry went down
on the Rebel flank, coming suddenly
close to a battery which met them wi h
unexpected grape and CAMS cr. 1t being
the nature of cavalry to retire before
batteries, his company Loyalty followed
the law of its being, and came swiftly
back without pursuit.
Artillery was sent TO the front, infan-
try was rapidly dcployed, and skirmish-
crs went out in front and on either flank
The corps moved forward compactly,
Hooker as usual accommodating in per-
son. They came at last to an open
grass sown field incloScd on two sides
with woods, protected on the right by IA
hill, and en- cred through corn-ield to
the rear. Skirmishers entering hose
woods were instantly met by Rebel shots,
but held their ground, and as soon as
supported advanced and cleared the tim
ber Beyond, on the left and in front,
volleys Of musketry opened heavily, and
battle seemed to have begun u lit. lie
sooner than it was expec ed.
| Gen. Hooker formed bis lines with
precision and without hesitation. Rick
etts' Division went into the woods on
the left in force. Meade, wi b the
Pennsylvania Reserves, formed in the
center. Doubleday was sent out Oh the
right, planting his batteries on the hill,
and opening at once on Rebel battery
that began to entilade the central line.
1t was already dark, and the Rebel posi-
tion could only be discovered by the
flashes OF their guns. They pushed for
ward boldly on the righf, af er losing
ground on the other flank, but made no
attempt to regain their first hold on the
woods. The fight flashed, and glim-
mered, and faded, and finally went out
IN the dark.
Hooker had found out what he wanted
to know. When The firing ceased the
hostile lines Jay close to each o her
their pickcts so near that six Rebels
were cap ured during the night. 1t was
inevitable that the fight should recon-
mence at daylight. Neither side had
suffered considerable loss; it was a
skir.nish, not a battle. awe arc through
for tonight, gentlemen" remarked the
General, " but tomorrow we fight the
battle that will decide The fate of the
Republic"
No. long after the firing ceased, it
splang up again on the left. General
Hooker, who had taken up his headquar-
tiers in barn, which had been nearly the
focus of the Rebel artillery, was out at
once. First came rapid and unusually
frequent picket shots, then several heavy
volleys. The General listened moment
and smiled grmly. GIVE have no
troops ihere. The Rebels are shooting
each other. 1t is Fair Oaks over again. !"
So everybody lazy down again, but all
the night through there we're frequent
alarms:
Mcclellan had been informed of the
nights work, and of the certaintics
awaiting the dawn. Sumner was ordered
to move his corps at once, and was
expected to be on the ground at daylight.
From the extent of the Rebel lines
developed in the evening, it was plain
that they had gathered their whole army
behind the nights and were waiting for
the shock.
The battle began with the dawn
Morning 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 moment, one with artillery, the
other with infantry. A battery was
almost immediately pushed forward
beyond the central woods, over plowcd
field, near the top of the slope where the
corn-feld began. On this open field, in
the corn beyond, and in. the woods which
stretched forward into the broad fields,
like promontory ino the ocean, were
the hardest and deadliest struggles Of
the day.
! For half an hour after the battle had
grown to its full strength, the line OF
fire swayeG neither way. Hookcr's men
we're fully up to their work. They saw
their General everywhere in front, never
away from the fire, and all the troops
believed in their commander, and fought
with will. Two-thirds of them were
the same men who under Nc Dowcll had
broken at Manassas.