The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-17
lime presented the most direct practicable

IdI1y Ou tu0 AuOAuluk VI rCuo It'll 1ueI,
Gen. Pleasanton, with a cavalry force, rec
onnoitered the position of the enemy,
whom he discovered to occupy the crests
of commanding hills in the gap on either
side of the national road, and upon advan-
tageous ground in the centre upon and
near the road, with artillery bearing upon
all the approaches to their position, wheth-
er that by the main road or those by the |
country roads which led around up to the |
crest upon the right and left.
At about O'Clock, A. NJ, Cox 3 division |
of Reno's corps, a portion of Burnside's |
column, in cooperation with the recon-
noissance, which by this time had become
an attack, moved up the mountain by the
old Sharpsburg road to the left of the
main road, dividing as they advanced into
two columns. These columns (Seampon's
and Cooks brigades) handsomely. carried !
the enemy's position on the crest in their
front, which gave us possession of an i'm
portant point for further operations. Fresh
bodies OF the enemy now appearing, Cox's
position, though held stubbornly, became
critical, and between IL and l O'Clock p.
M. rWilcox's division of Reno's corps was
sent forward by Gen. Burnside to support
Cox, and between 2 and 3 p. M. Sturgis's
division was sent up. Kim. o- 4..'. ,.lss..
The contest was maintained with per- I
severance until dark, the enemy having
advantage as to position, and fighting
with obstinacy; but the ground won was
fully maintained. The loss in killed and
wounded here was considerable on both
sides and it was here that Major General
Reno, who. had gone forward to observe
the operations of his corps, and to give
such directions as were necessary, fell
pierced with a musket ball. The loss of
this brave and distinguished officer temper
ed with sadness the Civilizations of triumph.
A gallant soldier, an able general, endear-
ed to his troops and associates, his death
is felt as an irreparable misfortune. ....
About three O'Clock, P. NJ, Hookers
corps, of Burnside's column, moved up to
the right of the main road by the country
road, which, bending to the right, then
turning up to the left, circuitously wound
it's way beyond the crest of the pass to the
Mountain House, on the main road Gen.
Hooker sent Mead, with the division of
Pennsylvania Reserves, to attack the emil
nence to the right of this entrance to the
gap, which was done most handsomely
and successfully. 4-.r. -.. ........ -.
Patrick's brigade, Of Hatch's division,
was sent-one portion up around the road,
to turn the hill on the left, while the re-
manner advanced as skirmishers- the
hill, ard occupied the crest, supported by
Doubleday's and Phelps brigades. The
movement, after a sharp contest on the
crest and in the fields in the depression
between the crest and the adjoining hill,
was fully successful. .
Ricketts, division pressed up the noun
tain about P. M, arriving at the crest
with the left of his commacd in time TO
participate in the closing scene of the en-
gagement. Relieving Hatch's division,
Ricketts, remained on the ground, holding
the battle field during the night. The
mountain sides thus CALAMITY passed over
by Hooker on the right of the gap and
Reno on the left, were steep and difficult
in the extreme. We could make but little
use of our artillery, while our troops were
subject to warm artillery fire, as well as
to that of infantry in the woods and under
cover. By order Of Gen Burnside, Glib
bons' brigade, of Hatch's division, late in
the afternoon advanced upon the centre of
the enemys position on the main road.
Deploying his brigade, Gibbons actively
engaged superior force Of the enemy,
! which, though stubbornly resisting, was
steadily pressed back until some hours after
dark, when Gibbons remained in undis-
turbed possession of the field. He was
then relieved by brigade of Sedgwick's
division. Finding themselves outfanked
both on the right and left, the enemy aban-
doned their position during the night, leav-
ing their dead and wounded on the field,
and hastily retreated down the mountain
In the engagement at Turner's Pass, our
loss was 1913 killed and ,463 wounded and
missing; that of the enemy is estimated to
be, in all, about 5000. Among our
wounded, l regret to say, were Brigadier
General j. P. Hatch and other valuable
| officers.
The carrying of Champions Pass by
Franklin was executed rapidly and deci-
sively. Slocum's division was formed upon
the right of the road leading through the
gap, Smiths upon the left A line form
ed of Bartlett's and Torbitt's brigades, sup
ported by Newton, whose activity was
conspicuous Gall of Slocum's division, ad-
vanced steadily upon the enemy at
charge on the right The enemy were
driven from their position at the base of
the mountain, where they were protected
by stone wall, and steadily forced back
upon the mountain until they reached the
position of their battery near the road,
well up the mountain where they made a
stanl They were, however, driven back,
retiring their artillery in echelon until after
an action Of three hours, the crest was
gained, and the enemy hastily fed down
the mountain on the other side. On the
left of the road Brooks and Twins brig
AIDES, of Smiths division, formed for the
protection of S!ocum's flank, charged up
the mountain in tie same steady manner,
driving the enemy before them until the
crest was carried. The loss in Franklin's
corps was 115 killed, 416 wounded, and
2 missing. The enemy's loss was about
the same. One piece of artillery and four
colors were captured, and knapsacks and
even haversacks, were abandoned as the
enemy were driven up the hill. l 81
On the morning of the 18th l was in
formed by Union civilians living on the side
| of the ~, p%o;n. that Tho ov>ov,,u x,orn rn-