The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-17

ner's corps consisting Of .sedgwicks, Rich
ardson 3 and French's division, arrived on
the field-R Richardson some time after the
other two, as he was unable to start as
soon as they. llSedgwick on the right,
penetrated the woods il, front Of Rockers
and Mansfelds troops. ~ t'-.,...1 o' -t''
French and Richardson. were placed to
the left of Sedgwick, thus attacking the
enemy towards their left centre. Craw-
ford's and Sedgwicks lines, however,
yielded to destructive fire Of masses Of
the enemy in the woods, and, suffering
greatly (Gens. Sedgwick and Crawford
being among the, wounded), their troops
fell back in disorder; they nevertheless
rallied in the woods. The enemy's advance
was, however, entirely checked by the de-
structive fire of our artillery. Franklin,
who had been directed the day before to
join the main army with two divisions, ar
rived on the field from Brownsville about
an hour after, AID Smiths division replac-.
ed Sedgwick's and Crawford's line. Ad-
vancing steadily, it swept over the ground
just lost, but now permanently retaken.
The divisions of French and Richardson
maintained with considerable loss the ex-
posed positions which they had so gallant
ly gained, among the wounded being Gen.
Richardson iti oh5 Glib ''". -iI@' u
The condition of things on the right to-
wards the middle Of the afternoon, not
withstanding the success wrested from the
enemy by the stubborn bravery of the
troops, was at this time unpromising.
Summers Hooker's and Mansfeld's corps
had lost heavily, several General officers
having been carried from the field. I was
at one time compelled to draw two brig
AIDES from Porter's corps (the reserve) to
strengthen the right This left for the re-
serve the small division of regulars who
had been engaged in supporting during the
day the batteries in the centre and single
brigade of Morells division Before left
the right to return to the centre, / became
satified that the line would be held with
out these two brigades, and countermand-
ed the order which was in course of execu-
ton. The effect of Burnside's movement
on the enemy's right was to prevent the
further massing of their troops on their
left, and we held what we had gained
Burnside's corps, consisting of Wilcox's,
Sturgis', and Rodman's division, and Cox's
Kanawha division, was intrusted with the
difficult task of carrying the bridge across
the Ahtietam, near Rohrback's farm, and
assaulting the enemy sright, the order hav-
ing been communicated to him at ten
O'Clock A. NJ "
The valley of the Antietam, at and near
the bridge, is narrow, with high banks.
On the right of the stream the bank is
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, were filled
with the enemy 8 infantry, while their bat
teries completely commanded and emilia
ded the bridge and ford and their APP
proaches.
The advance of the troops brought on an
obstinate and sanguinary contest, and, from
the great natural advantages of the posi-
ton, it was nearly one o'clock before the
heights on the right bank were carried.
AT about three o'clock P. NJ, the corps
CtOf duOCu, duu WILL SuCCSSS, JllG IISuU
driving the enemy before it, and pushing
on nearly to Sharpsbnrg, while the left,
after hard encounter, also compelled the
enemy to retire before it. The enemy here,
however, were speedily reinforced, and
with overwhelming masses. New batteries
of their artillery, also, were brought up and
opened. 1t became evident that our force
was not sufficient to enable the advance to
reach the town, and the order was given
to retire to the cover of the hill, which was
taken from the enemy early in the after
noon. This movement was effected with
out confusion, and the position maintained
until the enemy retreated. Gen. Burnside
had sent to me for reinforcements late in
the afternoon, but the condition of things
on the right was not such as to enable me
to afford them. ''.+
During the whole day our artillery was
everywhere bravely and ably handled In
deed, cannot speak too highly of the eff
cheney Of our batteries, and of the great
service they rendered. On more than one
occasion, when our infantry was broken,
they cOnvered its reformation and drove
back the enemy.
The cavalry had little field for operations
during the engagement, but employed in
supporting the horse artillery batteries in
the centre, and in driving up stragglers,
while awaiting opportunity for other SER
vice.
The signal corps, under Major Myer,
rendered during the operations at Antietam,
as at South Mountain, and during the
whole movements Of the army, efficient
and valuable service. Indeed. by its SER
vices here, as on other fields elsewhere,
this corps has CALAMITY earned its title to
an independent and permanent orgaization
The duties devolving upon my staff dur
ing the action were most important, and
the performance of them able and untir-
ing. AT later day I propose to bring to
the notice of the department their individ-
ual services.
With the day closed this memorable
battle, in which, perhaps, nearly two hun
dred thousand men were for fourteen
hours engaged in combat. We had at
tackled the enemy in position, driven them
from their line on one flank, and secured