Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-06-04

our army. He attacked at dawn but Gen BarnAds on
the left not ordered to attack until 10 O'Clock and
there attack made ia the centre by Gen Porter
In regard to the Of conducting the attack at
tietau Gen. sumner test Ties:
have always believed that iDses d Of sending
troops into that action in dribes they II Gen
Mcclellan had authorized march these 40 900
the EFF flank Of the enemy could have failed TO
them right back in front Of the other divisions Of army
il wa in division after division until even one OF
my own divisions forced out The other drove the
have proceeded entirely by their left and move down
bringing Them right Of Burnside Franklin and Porter
Question And all for the would have been
mpossiblei
The battle closed at dark army having gsned some
little advantages. at heavy loss but nothing decisive.
The attack was not renewed the ne 1t day. the two armies
occupying the position held BY them the close Of the
yesterdays battle. s IL
III relation to the policy Of renewing the attack on the
day after the battle, Gen. Mcclellan testi6es:
The morning the l8th) found that our loss had
of the mand that did consider to renew
day Ss q s
As instance of tho condition of Of tbs troops
that morning happen recoect the of the first
coTps-Gen. Hooker smade the morning Of the 18TH by
which there about reported present for duty
Fonr days after that the returns Of the cors showed
1850. Hr.ssb aa lai
II had arranged however 10 renew tho attack at day
break the 18th, but learned during the night
position 1t proved that he moved w ss, a
pdty and being by was enabled TO
Serious injury think tat taking o,o eonsS whs
troops had gone through got much out Of them In
this Anetam campaign as human ursncs would bear
The testimony of Gen. Burnside on tho subject Of re.
newng the attack the enemy the day after the battle
Is as foows:
Question Did you express any opinion 70 Gen MoCls
Ian any headquarters 10 relation to renewing
the attack the next day and if what opinion did you
express7 -. ..a
"Answer did express an opinion to Gen. McClsllan on
the subject After my coImand was all in position half
past o'clock AZ night, went TO Gen McClellsns
Marcy his chief Il staff that the attack ought to Be- re-
opinion to other members Of Gen Mcclellan staff
Gen Marcy told that ought to see Gen Mcclellan and
McCleans tent and In the of the conversation
expressed the same opinion TO him, told him that II
%np sn e j.
morning He raid that he had bee the matter
and would make up his mind during the night and T would
night he would send orders in the morning. and
he concluded tho attack he woud send me the
Mcclellan concluded to The the next day
Question Would there have been any difficulty in fur
nshing the i've thousand fresh troops which you desired
the corps of Gen Fir John Porter some i5U0 or 0O0
men, had not been engaged7
ing the five thousand fresh troops In fact Gen Mcclellan
did send Gen Morels qnte strength 10 re
pert to me- but not with orders to s,o the
Gen. Franklin teshRes:
Question Were you consulted ia relation rsnewin he
Answer When Gen McClel an visited tue right in The
afternoon, showed him position the right of this wood
have already mentioned In which the bunker church.
hch thought commanded the wood II il c,ud be
taken could drive the enemy from the wood by merely
that place the morning from Gen Summers position
thought there doub about being able 70 carry IL
we had plenty Of artillery bearing upon IT, We drove the
could take that place the next morning. and Hht
would uncover the who.e lett of the enemy.
()uoaf hodh AZ ta,,
sarrd what would have been the eec. upon the enemy
aanswer lswould have been vey disastrous to them
uesnon What reasons We're given for not making the
Answer did hear the drec reason of the General
expected fifteen thousand new troops-hose which
would make the thing certain hngand he preferred TO
wait to make the attacK on the right until these troop
Question And that delay gave the enemy an opportunity
10 eBcapef = ~
Answer / think it did"
On the night Of the 18th Of September the enemy aban
doned their position and retired the Po,omac into
Virginia without molestaon Our army slowly followed
and side, occupying Maryland Heights the Goth and
Harper's Ferry on the cid
Gen. Mcclellan on the 2ath Of September. reports our
osses at South Mountain at 25i at Antietam ~ 469
ota losses in both battles 4794 In relation 10 the Losses
,f the enemy in both tbose battles ih killed wound.
prisoners and stragglers, Gen Mcclellan says:
be safely concluded therefore, that the rebel army
ost at least OF their best troops in their brief campaign
RENFoRcEMExTs REQUIRED.
After the battle Of Antetsm Gen. Mcclellan called for
endorsements, and announced determ ma ion 10 fr
Maryland Heights, making requi.on on Gen Wade
WORTH then in Washington for 900 contrabands for that
purpose. On the 9th Of September he writes to Gen
Haleck
my pres ut purpose hold the enemy about rs il now
rendering Hspers Ferry secure and watching the river
closely intending attack the should attempt to
this eide Oar possession Of Hspsrs Ferry gives
The great advantage Of debouche; but cannot
avail ourselves Of II until the railroad bridge Il finished be-
we cannot otherwise supply greater humber Of troops
han now haveon tie Virginia side that point When
the river n es so that the enemy force pnr
ry and then acting according circumstances viz Moving
on Winchester, IT, from the position and the enemy
we are likely TO gain advantage by doing
devong reaso able me to the organization Of the army
and instructon OF the troops preparatory
whatever line may be determined any event. regard
as absolutely necessary 10 eend new regiments
The old cor for purposes Of Instruction and that the old eg
Ny own view Of the opsr policy to be pur re-
lain In Washington merely tue force essry garrison IT,
and TO send every thing ese available reinforce this army
ugton, sh ud II be necessary II reinf reed as AK
and am allowed TO take my course will hold my self
responsible for the safety Of Wsshir gon'
On the eth Of October Gen. Haeck replies After re-
srrng to the draft expected 10 some Of the Northern
States, he says:
But YOU delay the operations Of thu army Cor these
trsf II must move, and the old regiments remain
help little The country Ia becoming very impatient tho
want Of activity of your army and must push IL
am satisfied that the enemy are falling back toward
Richmond We mug follow them and feef TO punish them
There decided want of in troops They have
much INN oby and must try to remedy the defect
reduction of baggage and baggage trains will effect
thing but The real fcuy they not sufficiently
cis ed IN marchinQ they lie IT'LL In camp too long =
dav In tnaa IN vin