The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-10-12


unassailed right Again Hoods bri-
I gade was withdrawn from the front.
while the fresh forces under Walker
and McLaws advanced with desperate
, energy, seconded by Early on their
eft. Sedgwick was thrice badly
led and compelled to retire /;
Generals Dana and Crawford were
, likewise wounded. The 34th New
York which had broken ala critical
moment while attempting a manmuvre
o under II terrible fire--was nearly cut
; to pieces; and the 10Th Massachusetts,
which went into action 600 strong
was speedily reduced to 1874 Gen
Hayward who took command of Sedg-
wick's division, was unable to restore
its formation. and Sumner himself had
no better success Again the centre
of our right were driven back, and the
cornfeld was retaken 10y the enemy.
But the attempt of the rebels to adj
vance beyond it, under the fire of cur
batteries, was repealed with heavy loss
on their part Colonel Manning, who
led Walkers own brigade. BEING, seve-
rely wounded, and his brigade driven
back Doubleday, on our farther
right, held firmly, and it seemed set
tied that, while either party could
repcl charge on this part of the line,
neither could afford to make one.
But now Franklin had come up with
bis fresh corps and formed ON the
left Slocum, commanding one Of his
divisions, was sent forward toward the
centre, while Smith, with the other,
was ordered to retake the ground that
had beeu so long and SO holly contes-
ted
1t was no sooner said than done
Smiths regiments, cheering, went
forward on run, swept through the
corn fields and the woods, cleared
them in ten minutes and held them
Their rush was so sudden and unex-
pected that their loss was compare
lively small, and the ground thus retak-
en- was not again lost.
Nearer the centre, Frenchs division
of Summers corps had attempted to
carry the line Of heights whereon the
rebels were posted, and had made
some progress, repulsing counter
charge and capturing number of pri-
p soners, with some flags. Attempts
p successfully to turn his right and then
his left, were foiled but, after Il
: bloody combat OF four hours, French
paused considerably IN advance of the
position on which the fight had com
menced, bat without having carried
the heights
)
! Richardson's division OF Summers
corps advanced on the left of French,
: crossing the Antietam at 9 II 4. NJ
and going steadily forward under a
heavy artillery fire, half way up from
the creek to Sharpsburg, over very
ragged ground, much Of it covered
with growing corn and intersected by
stone walls, which afforded every adj
; vantage to the defensive The mus
kerry fire on both sides was severe,
but our men steadily gained ground ;
Caldwell's and Meaghers Irish brig
aides yieing with each other IN steadi-
I ness add glllautry Here Col. Francis
c. Barlow, of CaldWell's brigade,
' sgnalized himself by Selling AN oppor-
tunity to advance the 6lst and Oath
New York on the left. and take IN flank
n rebel force which, sheltered by q
o sunken road, was attempting to emf
u lade our line capturing over 500 prs
I oners and flags.
The left of this division being now
well advanced, the enemy, maneuyrine
behind ridge, attempted to take it IL
/, flank and rear, but was signally de
feated the 9Th New Hampshire and
the Slst Pennsylvania facing TO the
: left and meeting their charge with {
countercharge, which was entirely sue.
I cessful Some prisoners and the col
y ors of the 4th North Carolina remain
> ed in our hands The enemy next as
:, sailed the right of this division, but
Col Barlow, again advancing his two
9 New York regiments, aided by Kun
!, balls brigade on the right, repulsed
: it. Next, charge was made directly
J on Richardson's front, was defeated as
before, and our Inc still farther ad
vanced rs far as DR. Piper's house
near Sharpsburg, and about the centr,
!, of the rebel army at the beginning 0
the battle. Here artillery was Thought
up--this division having thus IA
/ fought without it--and, while per
a sonaily directing the fire of Capt Ora
/ hams battery, LIST L. 5. Artillery
! Richardson fell mortally wounded, anC
d was succeeded by Hancock. Gen
h Meagher had fallen some time befor'
/ the command of the brigade devolvins
II on Col. Burke of the ODD New York
p One or two more attempts or menaces
d We're made on this part of our line
is but not in great force and though
e, its advance was drawn back little Il
!, avoid an onfIadng fire from Iebe
n batteries to which it could not respond
p it held its well advanced position
20 when night closed the battle.
le Porters corps, in our centre, hold
ing the roads from Sharpsburg to Md
i, dletown and Boonsborough, remained
a unengaged east of the Antletam, unit
e. late in the afternoon, when two brl
l. gades of it were sent by Mcclellan t
S support our right while SIX battalion
of Sykes's regulars We're thrown acros
a. the bridge on the main road TO rept
vi Observation-Disclosures who were annOy