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

cd. or the renforcements. COUGHS division although
marching with commendabe rapdlty not in position
unt late hour IN the morning; and Humphreys division
OF new troops agued with forced marches arry-
ing throughout the day. bur not avaabs until
It's close Large reinforcements from Pennsyvanis which
were expected during the day, did not arrive at all
Durng the l6h orders given for renewal Of the
attack at day light the 10TH On the night Of the 18th
tho enemy after having been passing troops ia the latter
part Of the day from the Virginia shore to their position
behind Sharpsburg by our officers suddenly form
Cd the design OF abandoning their line Ths movement
they executed before daylight Being but short distance
from the river the evacuation presented but little diff
Guilty 1t Was however, rapidly followed up.
reconnaissance made &C os the river on the even
ing Of the l9tb which resulted sscertaning the near
presence OF enemy in some force and capturing six
guns A second Reconnaissance, the next morning which,
with the fret, was made by small detachment from
Porters corps resulted in observing heavy force of the
enemy there The detachment withdrew with slight loss
Igubnt herewith list of the killed, wounded and mis-
sg 10 the engagements of the 5th and of the 10th and
7th The enemys loss s yed from the best sources
of information, to be nearly thirty hoaand Their dead
were mOsIly lett the field, and large number Of
wounded were left behind.
While 1t gives me pl TO speak Of the galantry and
devotion OF officers aud men, Reoeray displayed through
ths confiict se neces sary In msuiion that off,
rs and mpn skulked from their places in the ranks until
tho battle was Death he spot must hereafter be
the fae Of all such towards and The hands Of the military
commanders must be strengthened with all the power Of
the Government 10 iua,ct il summarily.
The early and disgraceu surrender of Harpers Ferry
deprived my operations Of results which would
already related Had the garrison out TWEEN
y-fur hours longer, should in all probability have cap
ured that part Of the enemys force engaged the attack
on the Maryland Heights, whr the whole garrison some
twelve thousand strong could been reinforce
me on the day of the decisive battle-ce tainy the
morning of the 18th would thus have been position
tp have destroyed the reb army Under the same cir
had the besegng force tho Virginia side
ut H1rpers Ferry not been withdrawn would have had
thirty i've or forty thousand less encounter at An
etam and must have captured destroyed all opposed
la 4 uAa had m frasb frnv,
vantages Of their being freshly aud penully supplied
with ammunition AID supplies
The OIL ct and results of ihs brief campaign may be-
sumrlad up olows: In hs beginning Of the month Of
September the safety OF the national capital seriously
by the presence of victorious enemy who
after crossed into Mary land and then directly threat
ened Washington and Baltimore, While they occupied the
soil OF loyal State and threatened invasion Of Penn
syyania. The army Of the Unon inferior in numbers,
weared by long marches, deficient in yarions supplies
Worn out by battles the last Of which had not
been successful first covered by s the mpor
tant ties of Washington and Baltimore then boldly at
lacked the victorious enemy 10 their chosen strong posi-
ton and drove them back with all their superiority Of
nunbers into the State of Virginia. thus saving the loyal
States from and rndey dspeDg the rebel dreams
Of carrying thu into country aud subsisng upon
Dur Thirteen guns and brtynine colors
han fifteen thousand stand Of small arms and than
thousand prisoners the trophies which attest the
success OF our arms
ipon eIertons, close this brief report beg only
% add the hope II at the armys efforts for the cause in
which engaged will be deemed worthy TO receive
he commeDdation Of the Government aud the country
am, very respectfully, Your ob-di-nt servant,
GEG. b MCCLELLAN,
Major General U. 8. Army.
BrRader General L. THOMAS
Adutsnt General IT, s. Army. SO