Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-09-23
From the New York Tribune.
The Great Battle Of Wednesday
OF SHARPsBURG, Nd.


The Great Battle Of Wednesday
BATTLEFIELD OF SHARPsBURG Nd.
Wednesday Evening, Sept II, 1862
The greatest battle OF The war was fou,t To-
day, lasting from daylight ull dark, and cla.ng
without decisive result The whole forces q. Nc
CieiIan and Lee were enga ed for fourteen hours
Two hundred thousand men have fought vtt lhe
utmost determination on both sides. Neithean
cain a complete victory, but Mcclellan hl, ar
tally carried lhe rebei position, holding mos ia
yorabIe grou for renewing he attack, and 3D.
10. all the ground which was gained at any me
during the tight.
All our dead and wounded, and many d ne
enemy are IN our hands,
On lhr leit Of the rebel position, Hooker, SIM
ner, auI Franklin have crossed Antiemm Crek,
ana have driven the enemy from the gio.1d.
They chose to cover their fanks in front Of our
batteries, and troops have steadily advanced nd
occupy tonight a range OF hills considerably be-
yond those first taken.
On the rebel right they have lost the brige
over the creek, which was carried after ard
fight, and Burnside has crossed with all his forces.
The result OF the days fight, therefore, i hat
the rebels have everywhere lost ground, Their po-
silion is contracted, both fanks attacked with ,lc-
cess, and their rear and only line Of retreat 'eri-
ousiy threatened.
About 10 the afternoon OF Tuesday, Hoaher
was ordered to cross Aulietam Creek, at lhe up
per ford on the right, with his whole corp, al
tack the enemys lett and occupy apostle on
then flank. lie crossed without opposition 'ent
forward cavalry skirmishers who we're specify
driven back, and then, advancing wirh his vlole
force about s. took POSSESSION OF strong grcnd
close TO the rebels left aud Immediately beanie
engaged with artillery and infantry. Dariaess
ended the fight with slight loss on eitheTade
Hooker carrying and holding the woods rom
which the enemys hre first came.
There were constant alarms during II nFhi
the hostile pickets being close 10 esc. Nay n
along tne.lne. Early il the evening the Ts5el
took to fighting among themselves, and ,evera
heavy voleys were delivered there before the,
discovered Their mistake.
At daybreak the ight was renewed sudden
and vebemenIly, both sides opening Gre together
The number and position of the reoel bat,erie
the evening before had disclosed that they wer
in great force on the right, and wold had bee
sent to Mcclellan TO advance Summers corps du
ring the night 1t did not arrive on he field I'll
9 10 the morning
McCIelAn's plan OF battle was briefly as fol
lows Hooker was to cross the creek on the right
as before stated, Sumner Franklin and Mansfield
to cooperate with and sustain his atbck. i
front the batteries were to push forward With il
iantry supports, and an effort to be made 10 carr
the hi hts on the eft Burnside was to cross tn
creek by the bridge, and attack the Rebel righ
moving ou Sharpsburgh also, which was 10 lhei
rear, and thus cut off their retreat. Porter an
Sykes were held in reserve. The plan, II success
tui, must result not only il the defeat, but tn
destruction or surrender OF the Rebel army. Tn
ground is peculiar.
The kebe line was formed on crescen-shape
ridge, which IN front slopes down into an undula
lng valley lrreguarl, broken by connecting range
OF mills. Behind the crest the Rebel forces Ia
in uneven and strong positions, sheltered by rid.
es and hllls, and especially strong on the flank
AnteAm Greek, stream too deep to be 'ordet
except in a very few places, sweeps by the base
their position and protected 1t from assault
NcClelianS forces were first formed in from
atterward thrown TO he right and left There
little or no ground on our side equal in hight
the Rebel position.
Hooker sustained, unaided the attack on Ii
Rebel left Tor nearly four hours. His line ha
been formed the night before, and fought Io-du
in the same order. Ricketts, Division was on Il
left, Meade's Pennsylvania Reserves in the cente
Doubleday's Division on the right. These tern
: are, OF course, 10 be understood as referring on
to Hooker's line, not to the whole field. The
was artillery at all point' Meade gained groar
in bis first attack.
Ricketts, also went forward through the WOO
in his front, and Doubleday, with his guns, be
front against heavy cAnnonade. Meade ad'a
cling, met heavy body OF fresh troops throw
suddenly and vigorously against him, ana v
driven back over part Of the ground he hau lu
e won. Ricketts, line was at the same time ha
. pressed and became deserted Mansfield, WI
d had come over the creek the night before, "" Q
dered into the woods to Ricketts, support al
(; HartsuH's brigade, part Of Doubledays comnan
| was sent to sustain Meade. Mansfield TOOK Il
+ greatest part If his troops to Ricketts, help D
o they were unable to extend their line, and 10
effort to push forward his men Gen. Man'he
e was mortally wounded. Gen. Hartsuf advance
i to the rellri OF Meade with the l2th ana 10
}, Massachusetts and another regiment The Zen
sylyana troops were retiring IN haste ana soI
: confusion. HarlsuiF seized a bridge IN 'front.'
= the field over which the Rebels were p'eSstF