Daily national Republican., 1863-04-02

cavalry and horse artillery, after some shir.
mishing, cleared the maih passage over the
Catoctln hills, leaving no serious obstruction
70 the movement Of the main body until the
oasc OF the South mountain range was reached
While at Frederick, on the 18th, / obtained
reliable Information of the movements and In
irnlions OF the enemy, which made II clear that
II was necessary to force the passage of the
south mountain range and gain possession OF
BoonsbOrO' and ROhrersvillG before any relief
could be afforded to Harpor's Ferry.
On the morning Of the 18th received a vor-
bal message from Colonel Miles, commanding
at llarpCr's Ferry, informing me that on the
preceding afternoon the Maryland heights had
been abandoned, aflef rCpClling an attack by
the rebels, and that the whole force was con
cCntratcd at HarpCr's Ferry, the Maryland
LOudoun, and Bolivar heights being all in pos
session Of the enemy. The messenger stated
mat there was no apparent reason for the aban-
donmCntO Of the Maryland heights, and that,
though Colonel Miles asked for assistance, he
said he could hold out certainly two days. |
directed him to make his way back, if possible,
with the information that was rapidly ap-
preaching, and would undoubtedly relieve the
place By three other COuriCrs | sent the same
message with the order to hold out to the last
| do not learn that any Of these messUGgCrs
succeeded IN reaching llarper's Ferry. | should
here statu that on the 18th | was directed to
Ferry, hut this order reached me after all com,
municaton with the garrison was cut Off. Bn-
fore left Washington, and while It was vet
time, recommended to the proper authorities
that the garrison of llarpur's Ferry should be
Withdrawn, riH llagcrstOwn, to aid in covering
the Cumberland valley, or that, taking up the
pontoOn bridge and Obslructlng the railroad
bridge, 1t should fall back to the Maryland
heights, and their hold its own to the last. In
this position 1t could have maintained itself for
weeks. ltWas not deemed proper TO adopt either
OF these suggestions, aud when the subject was
left to my discretion II was too late to do any
thing except to try to relieve the garrison.
directed artillery to be frequently fired by
our advanced guards as a signal to the garrison
that relief was at hand. This was done, and
learn that our firing was distinctly heard at
Harpcr'S Ferry, and that they were thus made
aware lhat we were approaching rapidly. II
was confidently expected that this place could
hold out until We had carried the mountains
and were In position to make detachment
for Its relief The lCtt, therefore, was ordered
TO move through Jefferson to the South noun.
talns, at Crampton's Pass, in front of BurkCtts-
Vile, while tho centre and right moved upon
the main or Turner's Pass, IN front of Middle.
town. During these movements had not i'm
posed long marches on the columns. The alb
s0Iutc necessity of rgttting and giving some
little rest to troops worn down by previous
long-COntnucd marching aud severe lighting
together with the uncertainty as to the actual
position, strength, and intentions of the enemy,
rendered 1t incumbent upon me to move slow
ly and cautiously until the headquarters reached
Urbann, where first obtained reliable informa-
tion that the enemy's object was to move upon
llarprr's Ferry and the Cumberland valley, and
not upon Baltimore, Washington, or Guttys-
burg.
Iu the absence of the full reports of CORPS
operations, which resulted in the CARRYING of
the two passcs through the South mountains is
all that can. at this time, with Justice to the
troops and commanders engaged, be furnished
The South mountain range, near Turner's Pass,
averages perhaps thousand feet in height and
forms strong natural military barrier. The
practicable passes are not numerous, and are
readily delenslble, the gaps ubouuding iu fine
positions Turner's Pass Is the more promi
ncnt, being that by which the national road
crosses the mountains. 1t was necessarily iu-
diCated as the route of advance Of our main
army.
The carrying OF Cramptou's Pass, some five
or six miles below, was also inpUrtant TO fur
nish the means of reaching tho funk of the
enemy, and having, as lateral movement, dl-
rect relations to the attack on the principal
pass, while it at the same time presented tho
most direct practicable route for the relief of
HaTpCrs Ferry. Early in the morning of the
18th Instant, General PlcasOntOn, with n cav
airy force, reconnoitred the position of the enc.
my, whom he discovered to occupy the crcsts
of commanding hills in the gap on either side
oil the national road, and upon advantageous
ground in the centre upon and near the road
with artillery bearing upon all the approaches
to their position, whether 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. IN. CoX's division of Rcno's
corps, portion of Burnsdu's column, In co
operation with the Reconnaissance, which by
this time mad become an attack, moved up the
mountain by the old SharpBburg road to the
left of the main road, dividing as they ad.
vanCed into two columns. These columns
(Scammon's and Cooks brigadcs) handsomely
carried the oncmy's position on the crest In
their front, which gave us possesslon of nm
Important point for further operations. Fresh
bodies OF the enemy now appearing, CoX's Do
sltlon, though held stubbornly, became crlti-
cal, and between II and O'Clock y. IN. VIII
cox's division of Reno's corps was sent for
ward by Gen. Burnside to support Cox, and
between and 3 p. IN. Sturgis's division was
sent ~.
The contest was maintained with perseycr-
ance until dark, the enemy having the adyap-
tagc as to position, and fighting with obstnacy;
but the ground won was fully maintained. The
loss In killed and wounded here was consider
able on both sides; aud 1t was here that Major
General Reno, who had gone forward to OBJ
serve the operations Of his CORPS, and TO rive
such directions as were necessary, fell pierced
with a muskGt ball. The loss of This brave
distinguished officer tempered with sadness the
cXultatlons Of triumph. A gallant soldier, an
able general, endeared to his troops and asso-
Ciatcs, his death is felt as an irrcparablo mis-
fortune.
About 3 O'Clock, p. M, Huokcr's corps. of
Burnside'B column, moved up to the right of
the main road by country road, which, bend
ing TO the right, then tuning up to the lrfI
circuitOusly wound its way beyond the crest of
the pass to tic Mountain House, OH the main
road. General Hooker suut Meade. with thr
division Of Pennsylvania reserves, to attack thr
CminenCC to the right of this entrance TO thr
gap, which was done most handsomely nnd
. successfully.
Patrlck's brigade, Of Ilulch's division. WA,
6Gnt-Onc portion up around the road, 10 turn
the hill on the left, while the remainder ad-
vanccd as skirmishcrs-up the hill, and occu-
pied the crest, supported by Duubieday,s and
Phelps's brigades. Tho movement, after a
sharp contest on the crest and I'm the fields in
the depression between the crest and the nd
joining hill, was fully successful.
Rtcketts'6 division pressed up the mountain
, about p. IN, arriving at the crest with the left
of his command in time to participate in the
closing scene of the engagement. ReliuyIBp
HatCh's division, Ricketts, remained ON tho
ground, holding the battlefield during the
night. The mountain sides thus gailautly
passed over 10y Hooker on tho right of the pn1
aud Reno on the left were steep and difficult in