Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-22
WEDNESDAYS 5 BATTLE.
battlefield OF SHARPsBURe, Nd, /
Wednesday Evening, Sept II, 81. I

WEDNESDAYS BATTLE.
BArrLE-FIE1D OF SHARPsBURe, Nd, /
Wednesday Evening Sept. II, '62. !
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 fourteen hours. Two hun
dred thousand men have fought with the
utmost determination on both Sides
Neither can claim a victory, but McClel-
Ian has partially carried the Rebel posi-
ton, holding most favorable ground for
renewing the attack, and holding all the
ground which was gained at any time
during the fight.
All our own dead and wounded, and
many of the enemys are in our hands.
On the left of the Rebel position, Hooker,
Sumner. and Franklin, have crossed An
tietam Creek, and have driven the enemy
from the ground they have chose to cover
their TANKS in front of our batteries, and
troops have steadily advanced and occupy
tonight a range Of hills considerably be-
yond those first taken.
On the Rebel right, they have lost the
bridge over the creek, which was carried
after hard fight, and Burnside has eros
,sed with all his forces.
The result of the days fight, therefore,
is that the Rebels have everywhere lost
ground, their position is contracted, both
tanks attacked with success, and their
rear and only line Of retreat seriously
threatened.
After the gallant victory on Sunday, at
South Mountain, near MiddletOWn, MeClel-
Ian pushed his army rapidly forward,
sending cavalry and artillery out on the
Hagerstown road, Burnside through Fox
Gap, TO the Sharpsburg road, and the
rest of his forces through Boonsborough to
Keedysville, and thence toward Sharps-
burg.
On the crest of the hill this side of Sharps-
burg, the enemy were discovered in great
force. Their troops had been brought
down from Hagerstown, up from Harper 5
Ferry, and part Of the army held in Vir-
ginia as reserve. Lee, Jackson, Long
street, HILL and all The hest Generals left
with them, were there, and with all Of
their best troops.
Except occasional artillery contests, the
armies faced each other in quiet during
the rest on Monday.
On Tuesday there was no movement on
our side till toward night. The Rebels
had kept batteries in position, but their
infantry was Withdrawn from view, and
it was still uncertain whether they were
retreating or reinforcing.
About 4 in the afternoon Of Tuesday
Hooker was ordered to cross Antietam
Creek, at the upper ford on the right, with
his whole corps, attack the enemy's left
and occupy position on their flank. He
crossed without opposition, sent forward
cavalry skirmishers who were speedily
driven back, and then, advancing with
his whole force about 6, took possession OF
strong ground, close to the Rebels left,
and Immediately became engaged with
artillery and infantry. Darkness ended
the fight with slight loss on either side,
Hooker carrying and holding the woods
from which the enemy's fire first came.
There were constant alarms during the
night, the hostile pickets being close to
each other all along the line. Early in
the evening the Rebels took to fighting
among themselves, and several heavy vol
leys were delivered there before they dis
covered their mistake.
AT daybreak the fight was renewed sud
denly and vehemently, both sides opening
fire together The number and position
of the Rebel batteries the evening before
had disclosed that they were in great force
on the right, and word had been sent to
Mcclellan to advance Summers corps du-
ring the night. It did not arrive on the
field till in the morning.
MeClellan's plan of battle was briefly as
follows: Hooker was to cross the creek on
the right, as before stated; Sumner, Frank
lin, and Mansfield to cooperate with and
sustain his attack. In front the batteries
were to push forward with infantry sup.
ports, and an effort to be made to carry the
nights on the left. Burnside was to cross
the creek by the bridge, and attack the
Rebel right, moving on Sharpsburg also
which was in their rear, and thus cut of
their retreat. The plan, if successful, must
result not merely in the defeat but tht
destruction or surrender Of the Rebe
J army. The ground is peculiar.