Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-04-29

by our advanced guards 0s signal to tho
garrison that relief WAS at hand. This was
done, and learn that our firing was dis
trctly heard at Ilarpers Ferry, and that
they were thus made aware that we were
approaching rapidly. It was confidently
expected that this place could hold out
until We had carried the mountains and
were in a position TO make a detachment
for its relief. The left, therefore, was or~
dered to move through Jefferson to the
South Mountain, at Champions Pass, in
front of Burkettsville, while the centre or
right moved upon tho main or Turner's
Pass, in front Of Middletown During
these movements had not imposed long
marches on the columns. The absolute
necessity Of refttjng and giving some lit,
tie rest to troops worn down by previous
long continued marching and severe fight.
ing, together with the uncertainty as TO
the actual position, strength and intention
of the enemy, rendered it incumbent up
on me TO move slowly and cautiously until
the headquarters reached Urbana, where
first obtained reliable information That
the enemy's object was 10 move upon Har>
per's Ferry and the Cumberland valley,
and not upon Baltimore Washington or
! Gettysburg.
In the absence orthe full reports of corps
commanders, simple outline of the bril-.
liant operations which resulted in the car
rying Of the two passes through the South
Modntain is al that can at this time, with
justice to the troops and commanders en-
Gagged, be furnished. The South Mountain
range, near Turner'S Pass, averages per-
haps thousand feet in height and forms
a strorg natural military borrier. The
practicable passes are not numerous, and
arereadily deiensible, the gaps abounding
in fine positions. Turner's Pass is the
more prominent, being that by which the
national road crosses the mountain. 1t
was necessarily indicated as the route Of
advance of our main army.
The carrying of Cramptop'o Tass, five or
six miles below. was also important to fur
nish the means Of reaching the flank of
the enemy, and having, as lateral move.
mont, direct relations TO the attack on the
principal pass, while il at the same time
presented the most direct practicable
route for Chc relief OF EQrper's Perry
Early in the morning Of September II.
Gen. Pleosanton, with a cavalry force, re-
connoitered the position Of the enemy,
when he discovered them to occupy the
crests OF commanding hills in the gap or
either side Of the national road, and upon
advar tageous ground in The centre upon
and near the road, with artillery bearing
upon the approaches 10 their position,
whether that by the main road or thatby
the country roads, which led around up to
the crest upon the right and left At
about O'clock, 4, H., CoX's division OF
Reno's corps, q portion Of Burnside's col
umn, in cooperation with the reconnoise
sance, which by this time had become an
attack, moved up the mountain by the old
Sharpsburg road to the left of the main
Ioau, dividing as they advanced into two
columns. These columns tScammon's and
Cooks br!gades) handsomely carried the
enemy's position on the crest in their
front, which gave Us possession of an i'm
portaut point for further operations
Fresh bodies Of the enemy now appearing
Cox's division, though held stubbornly,
became critical, and between 10 and o'o
clock, P. NJ, Wilcox's division Of Reno's
corps was sent forward 10y Gen. Burnside
to support Cox, and between 2 and 8 p. ~,
Sturgis' division was sent up.
The contest was maintained with perse.
verance until dark, the enemy having the
advantage as to position, and fighting with
obstinacy; but the ground won was fully
maintained. The loss in killed and woun,
ded here was considerable on both sides,
and it was here that Major General Reno,
who had gone forward to observe The opcp
rations of his corps, and TO give such di.
rections as were necessary, fell pierced
with musket ball, The loss of This brave
and distinguished officer tempered with !
sadness the exultations of sadness. A gal
liant soldier an able general, endeared to
bic troops and associates, his death is felt !
as an irreparable loss
About three o'clock, P. NJ, Hooker's
corps, of Burnside's column, moved up to .
the right of the main road by country
road, which, bending to The right, then
turning up to the left circuitously wound
its way beyond the crest Of the pass TO the
Mountain House, on the main road. Gen.
Hooker sent Meade, with the division of
Reserves, to attack the emf,
nence to the right of this entrance to the
gap, which was done most handsomely
md