New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-06
SOUTH MOUNTAIN.

SOUTH MOUNTAIN. ~
On the l4th of September tho battle Of South
Mountain was fought-the troops at Turner's Gap
being under command of Gen. Burnside, and those
At Cramptons Gap being under the command OF
Gen. nkiin-resulting in the enemy retiring 70
the vicinity OF Shephsrdstown.
L71of ASTIETAM io'
On the 18th Of September she battle Of Antietam
was tonight 1t was commsnced by Gen. Hooker on
the right, at dawn, our troops driving the eaemy
before them, and gaining On important position.
When Gen. Hooker was wounded and taken from
the held, Cen Sumner took command Of our right.
Gen; Sumner had been ordered to hold his CORPS in
readiness TO advance an hour before daylight, bat
did not receive the order TO advance until 1:2e In
the morning Gen. Mansfield, who had coma up TO
the support Of Gen. Hooker, had been killed. Orr
troops, seeing their leaders fall and bang very
heavily pressed by the enemy, forced back for
some distance from tho advanced position Gen.
Hooker had reached; but finally, with she assistance
OF The troops brought up by Gen. Sumner, checked
the eDemy's progress and maintained their position
On the left, Gen. Burnside, about 10 o'clock, was
ordered TO attack the enemy at the bridge the
Antietam in his front, and TO effect crossing there
The advance of Gen. Burnside was met by most
obstinate resistance on the part Of the enemy ana IL
was not until o'clock that the bridge waS carried.
BIZ o'clock Gen. Burnside's whole command had
crossed and taken position on some eievatsd
inst above the bridge He was then ordered TO take
the nights commanding the town of Shepberdstown,
which was done after desperate lighting. By thst
time tina enemy ON left had been re-eaforced by
Withdrawing some Of their troops from opposte our
right. where cur advance bad bean checked, ana
GSn. Burnside was compelled TO give up some 0,
The yround he had succeeded IN occupying. lie Dad
ssnt 20 Gen. Mcclellan for re-enfercements, but re-
reiyed ia reply that there were none TO be had, but
ha must hold tie bridge at all hazards.
The CORPS of Gen. Fitz John Porter, in the center,
was not brought into action at all Gen. Hooker tesii'
ties that he had been gwen 70 understand ,ha' mere
center. and left Of army. He attacked at dawn;
lint Cen Burnside on the left was not ordered 10 at
tick nntl 10 O'Clock, and there was no attack made
in the center by Geu. Porter. ,..-
MCCLELLAN ATTACKS BY DRIBLETs. s.
Tn regard 10 the manner Of conducting the attack
at Antietau, Gen. Sumner testlilee;
have always believed that instead Of sending those
troop. into that action 6ies hev sens Gem
Mcclellan hs authorized me TO march these toVoo hen on
IN, len dapk could act have failed " throw
tbam rht back in out Of the other divisions OF Army
our le-BnrDsides Frsnklin' ADD Portsrs corps A u
1, zoe cent IN di.i0n ar arision, until Que Of
own divisions forced out The other two drove the
eneuy and held their position My intention at The time
down bringing them IN ffont Of burnside frsnkhn and
PoIier A..
Answer think .o.n ..-,
The battle closed Mt dark, our army haviag gained
some Little advantages, at heavy loss Int nothing
de-
day the two armies occupying the positions held by
the m at the close OF the yesterdays battle.
WHY THE ATTACK WAS NOT RENEWED.
In relation to the poicy of renewing the attack
ON the dsy after the batte Gen. Mcclellan tesiles:
as sh H.. vs. 50 much diIoresnlr.on In son,c
Of the commands A did not consider A. proper 70 reosw
ass Of two frsh ssi.io: amounting abse,
A. a OF the CONDITION OF s9e Of the ho2p' thss
- al
wbrh inete about 800 men reported present .o duty
dags aer that the re'''n' oil tho sane e"fps
l3,oeo -.,
THE RgBELs ELUDE MCCLELLAN.
had axsofsd however 10 renew the sseh at dsybEesk
the ist bu, l-sIpsd Iome as darn shs n,s, ., sy
Il ss proved that he moved with great I.pdisy ana.
M. being aeaneesd y son -, s 20 ss s
jury thos that taxing into consideration wis. tie troops
lam campaign A. human endurance would seh"
N WHAT BURNSIDE THOUGHT.
The Testimony vi Gen. Burpsid on the subject
Of renewing the attack upon the enemy the day
after the batrle, Is rs follows;
Ous,tou Did you express any opinion 10 Gen AcClii'
ian, or TO any ols a. hseGgas In relation TO rsneWins W:
st,aL the day; aud 81 what opnioa id zoe az es-
AP,.si ds ay ssma.ani was Al. in ..J 81
el az night ~sBt over L. Gen heylsllA, nessgt.i
as syss. :. ne :. :,
sss,s'os 81 u.a Escisi.s. tss Ss,sy tod
me- thst ooshl 10 Uea- Moclesa add ,.li Aai whst
.tof thst MAJ
clplon 10 him. and told him thss " could have ifesh
10 pas IdvApcs ~ mine ~eud be willing 10 com.
49, An. a.ck on the neIt morning lie cid ths he had
D.~n thinking aasf ard would make up h mind
sasaastets 70 remain there night be would GOOD
orders early IN ouig .nd lao concluded to renew the
attack he ~oo2 .-ad ns ne Necessary men aa send inc
officer over bat orn hscenA" o"ssu>a hoi !" ieue"
the attack the ne1t day 49,
Question suld iaere have been any aleeuty in for.
tne 600 lssh 5oops which you as,irsd the corps
Of en ohm Porter. some 1900 or 'Oso mea hsd not
ip.ssr There would have bean diaoolty 10 furnish.
ing lie 600 Deih tooys la fact, GeG Mcclellan did send
sa. Morer dvOa o. qse that sIeosh 70 report to
Lot not " ii orders /. me 10 Icue" HE stgscs|
PRAHkLiNS OPINION.
Gen. Franklin tesIiies:
oeuion Mere you Consulted In relation to renewing
1890, WIra zen Mcclellan visited The right in the
stcfpooD showed hun position on the tight VI this wood
have already mentioned ia which was the bunker Church,
.i. toust nmsnded the wood. aud that II II could De
t,ksn we cogd drive tbs enemy from the wood by merely
hois his pVigt advsed that we should make toe attack
o. th place the next morning from Gen somnors position
doubt Aoou our being able 10 carry IL.
We had plenty Of artillery bearing upon We dTsye tho
eoad take that place the morning aud hoaxht that
woaId uncover tbs whole lef' Of the snemy.
AZ that had made and that poin. had be
hat would have been the effect upon TIVE eDsmyt
Answer. wous have been very disastrous 70 them.
Queston What given for not making the
Asswer old not hear the direct reason Of the General
COMMANDING have Understood that the was
he some fifteen thoussnd troopsoe pA ieh
lnouid iiake TIE hR0 esrtIn t2-snd he preirnes 10
wait make this attack on the nsht until these now troops
10 ssocpef
Answer Ttaink didn 5f
On the night Of tho 18th Of September the enemy
abandoned In.i position and retired across the Poo
IN &c into Virginia, without molesta,ion. Our army
slowly followed, aud took up position along the
Potomac, on the Maryland side, occupying Maryland
Hights on the 2OIh, aud Harpers Ferry On The I'D.
LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES.
Gen. Mcclellan on the 29sh OF September, re-
ports our lo-ses at South Mountain at 2,325; ut An
tie,am, r. 4Gg-total losses in both battles, l4794.
In relation to the osses Of the enemy in both those
battles in killed, Wounded prisoners and straggl ss,
Gen Mcclellan says:
"a -. "a s.Ex nncndad theIefore that The Rshel