Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-09-23
Q7Sreeu lflt. freeman
MONTPELIER Vt.
tuesday Morning, ssptemb ar 80, 1869.
The Battle of Hagerstown Heights

On THE BATTLE FIELD, Sunday Night,
Sept IA, 1862.
Although the battle Of to-day was Of long
duration, still it was not 50 sanguinary, consid-
ering the forces engaged, as spectator would at
first be Inclined to suppose. Our loss in killed
and wounded will not probably exceed 1000,
and that Judge to be nigh estimate
The rebel position was on the sides and sum
NIT Of the Blue Ridge Mountains on each side
Of the Gap, known as Frog Gap, through which
the main road on the turnpike from Mlddletown
to Hagerstown passes The Gaps distant from
Middletown about three miles and from Frede-
rick swelye miles Boonesboro, the next i'm
portant town to MiddletUwn on the turnpike. is
two miles from the Gap, on the other side OF
the mountains. The mountains in the vicinity
Of the Gap are steep and rugged, and rendered
difficult to ascend unless by the ordinary
thOrOughIares on account of numerous lodges
and loose rocks which afford no permanent foot
hold. From base to top they are covered with
thick wood, thereby giving protection to the
party IN possession, and making the progress
Of the attacking force doubly hazardous. Boil
war, village Boosting OF six OF eight dwellings,
il situated on the main road between Middle
town and the Gap, and about one and Il half
miles from the latter place At Bolivar u road
branches of from each side Of the main road,
the two roads taking a circuitous course to the
mountains, and gradually ascending them, join
the main road again at the Cap
The early position Of the Union army or
where tho Inc Of battle was first formed, was on
piece Of rising ground on the right and left of
the main road between Bolivar and the noun
talns. As the day advanced and our forces
d H.. t.,tt
never for Che better. The nearer we approached
the mountains the more successfully could the
enemy bring his artillery to bear on our col
umns. No matter what position we held, the
Blue Rldgemountams commanded that position
II will be observed at once that the enemy had
a formidable ground OF defence and nothing but
undauned courage wrested 1t from him.
The battle commenced with artillery Robert
sons t. 5. Battery Of four light field pieces fir
ing the first shot The firing was continued
for over an hour, out the enemy did not respond
until CQxs division appeared in the main road,
advancing TO take position. Two pieces sta.
toned IN the Gap were then opened upon the
column. The troops, however, turned into a
field at the left Of the road and got out OF harm s
way before any injuries were effected Here
they remained in line Of battle an hour and a
halt. The enemy was now firing from nine
pieces consequently, to make vigorous reply
Haynes L s. Battery Of six pieces moved up to
the lett to the assistance OF Robertson.
4 heavy cannonadlnc then ensued, but as
usual in artillery duels little damage was effect
ed on either side.
Three times during the day the rebels were
forced to change the position Of their pieces, and
late in the afternoon their guns were silent alto
gether.
Cook S battery took u favorable position for
Smelling the woods in advance of the Division
but had hardly got to work when the rebels fired
tremendous volley OF musketry at the cannon
iers. This was repeated several times in quick
succession, until at length the cannoniers aban-
doned their pieces and ran TO the rear, leaving
four or five of their comrades dead upon the
ground. The drivers OF the caissons also par
took OF the panic and dashed headlong through
the ranks of Cox's Division, which was drawn
up III line OF battle a few yards to the rear. Two
companies of u cavalry regiment, which were
supporting the battery, also galloped through
the line oil infantry, thus leaving four pieces oil
artillery 1.-THE other two having been detached
to another part OF the fed) to fall into the
hands OF the enemy The event caused tempo
troops. They quickly Strengthened the line anC
prepared to resist a demonstration observable OF
the part OF the enemy to seize the abandoned
pieces, The rebels marched forward to secur,
their anticipated prize, and at the same momen
the Twenty third Ohio and One Hundredtl
PENNSYLVANIA Regiments advanced in spendi
order to repulse them. The rebels had approach
ed TO within about ten feet OF the guns whel
a.. l. IL. oil "A
perate in It's purpose and the struggle was mos
exciting AT length the Forty-flth New lor
came to the rescue and turned the tide OF lol
tune in our favor, Both parties suffered severe
ly in the action The rebels retreated in grea
sonlusl0n, while our men made the woods RI
sound with cheers
At , Z. NJ. the head ., Gen. ll00kers oolum
appeared coming up the turnpike 10 reiniort
Reno The column took the road branching q
from the turnpike at the right, near BOLIVIA
and proceeded 10 The loot OF the mountains. \
along the line the utmost enthusiasm was man
tested Tor Hooker. Every man in the corps vi
evidently impressed with the belief that he h,
general able and willing 10 lead them iorwa
10 face the enemy.
At3 =. NJ. the line of battle from right
left was formed near the the base OF the mou
t..ins on the right, and at the edge of Il pie
of woods on the mountain slope at The left,
Immediately after the line of battle "
formed, the right, left and centre commenc
moving simultaneously towards the enemy
the slope OF the mountains. The rebels open
On the column with two pieces oil cannon,
recnng the fire OF one to the right, and OF
other the left OF the line. They were replied
by one OF summons 2O-pounders on our left a
Cooper's Battery on our right The enem
shells for the most part went over the UNI
troops. consequently they did not eject mu
damage.
Steadily onward went our long unbroken |
OF infantry, until the right wing had gained
piece Of woods on the mountain, II short dlsta
from the base, when the Bucktail who W