Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-09

Il eIhml
nation Of the position, found that it too late to at
tack that day directed locations be aeeced
tor batteries Of position and indicated the bvouacs
the different corps assng them and both aides
the Sharpsburg pike. The corps not oil In their
places until the next morning time after sunrise
On the 10th the enemy had slightly changed their line
and were upon the Heights IN rear Of the Ansta
creek their left and centre being upon and in front Of the
road from Shapsburg to Hagestown and protected by
woods aud irregularities Of the gronnd Their extreme
left rested upon wooded eminence near the
70 ihe north OF j. Mers farm the distance this point
between the road aud the Potomac which makes here
great bend to the being about three fourths of mile
Their right rested on he hills to the sht of Sharpsburg
near Snnveys farm covering the crossing of the Anetam
and the approaches to the town from the heast The
ground between their immediate front and the Antietam is
undUating HILLS intervene whose crests in general are
Commanded by the crests of others in their On all
favorable points their artillery posted 1t became
evident from the force OF the enemy and the strrneth of
their position that desperate fighting alone could drive
them from ths field and all felt that great and terrible
battle was at hand.
In proceeding the narrative Of the events Of this and
the succeeding day, must here repeat what have OBJ
served 10 reporting upon the other subjects Of this
munica'ion, that attempt this preliminary report
hing more than sketch OF the main features Of tha great
engagement rsssving for my official report baaed upon
the reports OF the corps cOmmaDder that full description
OF details which shall place upoa record the achievements
Of individuals and of particular bodies of troops The de-
agn was TO make the main attack upon the enemys left
at least to create diversion In favor Of the main attack
with the hope Of something moreby assalng the enemys
right and as soon as one both of the flank movements
successful to attack their with
serve might then have on hand.
The morning of the 18th (during which there was consi-
derabe artillery frng spent in obtaining information
as to the ground rectfyng the po,on Of the troops and
perectng the arrangements TOR the attack.
On the afternoon Of the 10Th Hookers corps
Of Ricketts, and Doubedsys divisions and the Pennsyva
MIA Reserves undsr Meade sent the Antetam
creek by ford and bridge To the right of Kedysve with
orders to attack and possible turn the enemya left
Mansfield with his corps sent in the evening to
port Hooker Arrived in position Msads's division Of the
Pennsyvania Reserves which the head Of Hooker
corps. became engaged sharp contest with the enemy
which lasted until after dark when ii succeeded in driving
in portion of the opposing ine and held the ground
At daylight the contest received between Hooker
and the emmy in his front Hcokers attack
full for time but masses of the enemy thrown upon his
corps checked It, Mansfield brought up his corps to Hook
ers support when the two corps drsve the enemy back
the gallant and distinguished veteran Mansfield losng hs
time wounded, and compelled leave the field, where his
services had been conspicuous and important About
hour after this time Summers CORPS consisting of Sedg
wicks Richardson's, and Frenchs divisions arrived on
he eld-Ricbardson time after the other two,
be unable to Start rs they.
Sedgwick the right penetrated the woods in front of
Hookers and Manifold troops. French and Rich
ardson were placed TO the left Of Sedgwick thus at
ackng the eneay towards their left centre Crawford's
apd sedgwicks lines however, yielded to destructive
fire OF masses of the enemy in the woods and suffering
grea y-Gens Sedgwck and Crawford being among the
wounded-ther troops fell back in disorder; they
theless rallied in the woods The enemys advance was
however, entirely checked by tho destructive FIRE of
artillery Franklin, who had been directed the day
before to Join the main army with two divisions, ar
rived the fed from Brownsville about hour after
aud Smiths division replaced Sedgwicks and Crawfords
line Advancing steadily, it swept the ground just
lost but permanently retsken. The divisions Of
French ard Richardson maintained with considerable oss
the exposed positions which they had gaanty gained
amore the wounded being Gen Richardson.
The condition of things the right towards the middle
uf the afternoon notwithstanding the wrcsted
from The enemy by the stubborn bravery Of the troops,
at this time unpromlsng Summers, Hooker's, and
Mansirlds corps had lost heavily several general officers
having been carried from the 6ed. at time
compelled to draw two brgades from Porters corps the
reserve to strengthen the right This left for the
the small division Of regulars who bad been engaged in
supp rtng the day the batteries in the centre and
single brigade of More.s division Before left the rgh
to return the centre, became satisfied that the line
would be he'd without these two brgades and counter
msnded the order which in the of execution
The eff ct of Burndes movement on the enemys right
TO prevent the further messing of their troops their
left and W. held what we had gained
Burrsies corps, consisting Of Wcox's, SturRiss and
Rodmsns divisions, and Cox's Kanawh, division, en-
the Antietam, Rohrback's farm, and asssung the
enemys right the order having been communicated to him
at 10 o'clock A. NJ.
The valley Of the Antetam at and near the bridge is
narrow with high banks On the right of the stream the
baGk ia wooded, and commands the approaches both TO
the bridge and the ford The steep slopes of the bank
were lined with rifle pits and breastworks Of rails and
stones These together with the woods, filed with
the eneny nfsntry while their batteries completely
manded and enfIaded the bridge and ford and their ap
proschss
The advance of the troops brought obstinate and
sangunary contest and from the great natural advantages
Of the position, it nearly o'clock before tie
heights the right bank carried At about three
O'Clock M the corps again advanced aud with success,
the tight driving the enemy before II and pushing
nearly TO Shsrpsburg while the LETT after hard encounter,
aso compelled the enemy to retire before H. The enemy
here, however, speedily reinforced. and with
uhelm ng masfes. New batteries of their artillery slso
ught up and opened 1t become evident hst
rce was u ,ient enable the advance to reach the
town, aud the orde given to retire TO the cover Of
the h which taken from the enemy earlier in the
Afternoon. hl- effected hout infusion,
and the posi- ion maintained until the enemy retrea~d
Gen. Burn ide hid to for renforcem-nis late in
the afternoon but the cond on If things the ght was
| not such us to rnnbls to afford them.
Dur ng the whole day ar.i ry was every where
brnvely and ably handled. Indeed ca not speak B.
highly IN efficiency of batteries and ." the great
service they rendered On more than one OCCASION wnen
infantry broken they covered ITS reformation and
| drove back the enemy
The cavalry had little field for operations during the en-
but employed in supporting the horse srtii
ery batteries in the centre and in driving up stragglers,
| while awaiting opportunity for other services
The corps uuder Major Myer rendered dnrog the
at Antirsm South Mountsin aud during
the whole movements d the army. efficient and vsluabs
setyce Indeed by its servces here other fields
eeghee this corps has gtanty earned ito title TO
| dependent aud permanent organ zation.
Ths duties devolvng upon my staff during the action
were most important and the performances OF them able
and untring AT lsar day propose to bring to the
tice OF the Department their individual sefsices.
With the day closed THE memorable battle in which,
perhaps. nearly two hundred thousand for four
in rnhat hal ~ ha