The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-18

All along their way whenever they appeared in the
towns or among the log cabins of the mountains, up
went the national banner-hid away some of them,
until this day; many, doubtless, improysed for the
OCCASION and eXacting tribute dare say, of many
discarded ribbon and threadbare wrapper. Some
times faded and soiled it may have been and utterly
regardless Of the proportions required by army regu
laons, but every stripe and every star there;
and, better st every heart that beat beneath It
oyerpowerngly full of the same cause OF which 1t was
the symbol.
YET to this day. with that and every other ordeal
and that was neither the first last-by which
Maryland loyalty tested there are those who still
make It the subject OF an ungenerous sneer am
happy, however, to believe that IL never comes from
that gallant host that accompanied her sons to the
field, but usually from those whose well-calculated
out of the reach of information Of danger
When Lee evacuated Frederick, on the 10th OF
doubtless supposed that the reticent policy and
pursued would still have its influence on McCelans
movements, leaving him in doubt to where the
threatened blow would ultimately fall but, by one of
those rare occurrences which some may call accident
and others special Providence there fell into Nc
Cleans hands, the day of his arrival at Frederick.
copy of Lees order of march, dated the day before
his officers. This told the whole story of his contem-
plated movements and possessed Of that information,
a vigOr infused into the Union host.
Directing the corps of General Mansfield towards
Pleasant Valley, that it might If possible reach and
relieve aper's Ferry before it should be captured by
the force Lee had detached for the purpose, Mcclellan
with the main body Of the Union army, moved for
ward towards the South Mountain, on the track Lee
had himself taken. The latter having already passed
onward toward BoOnsboro' and HagerstOWn, hearing,
the evening OF the 18TH, that Mcclellan was push
ing on by the way of Turner's Cap and surprised no
doubt at the unwonted vgor and rapidity of his pre-
sent movements too, that unless his progress
could be arrested his well concerted plans might
be frustrated, sent back Hill and Longstree with the
greater portion of their commands to check him at
that mountain pass. Reaching its crest IN advance OF
the Union army, it Is easy to perceive how even
smaller force than these two leaders then commanded
could with the advantage which their position Sc
cured hold in check for time our advancing column,
struggling up its eastern slope but our men, though
sure to encounter a murderous fire from the ridges
them,
progress. .,,,,
by step the Confederate rihemen who were assailing
them from behind trees and stone fences and the
last rays of the setting sun fell upon the Union ban
ner it was floating triumphant on the summit OF the
ridge. II cost u.s. however, fifteen hundred Of the
flower Of our army including tne ski4i and valiant AM
day, was killed just before its close whilst reconnoii
The morning of the 18th dawned upon the Union
army the sole occupants of the mountain, the Confede
rates having retired during the night, and Mcclellan,
bank of the Antietam. The evening passed in
assigning positions to his several corps, posting his
morning. Lee having previously reached and crossed
the stream had secured the choice of positions an ad
vantage which he did not fail to improve. telegram
from President Lincoln dated at Washington about
the hour that Mcclellan reached the Antetam, con-
veyed to him the Presidents last command in Mr..
Lincoln's own earnest and sententous style Itmerey
said:"God bless you, and all with you Destroy the
ton they bvouacked that night the eastern bank
On the morning of the 10th, the Rebel batteries
cupying commanding positions these various
nights upon this side of the creek, opened fire upon
ranks, but with how little effect may be inferred
from the account of General Hill, who, in subsequent
report of the action, describes as the most mean
choy farce of the war; they being unable, he says, to
cope with the yankee guns"
After some little delay, required to make altera-
ton of the position of some OF the troops, General
Hooker, who had been intrusted with the duty of
turning the enemy's left flank crossed his command
by an upper ford, and not long afterwards encoun-
ton of our movement had been transferred from the
enemys right wing to his left to strengthen that part
does and IN % qSd me the as5 brief but spirited
General Meade opened the action, the Confederate
advance forced back, when night intervening the
combaants rested their arms so near together that
it is said some of the pickets of the two lines uncoE-
sciously intermingled.
on the spot where the skirmish of the previous
| ing had closed Each side seems to- have looked to
this point the one to be particularly strengthened,
of which it was to be the centre. General Mansdeds
Corps composed of the two divisions of Gems. Green
and Williams had crossed over in the night, and taken
post mile to the of General Hooker, whilst on
the Confederate side General jackson had brought
one of his divisions to the 'front.' and substituting two
of his brigades for those of Hoods that had suffered
from the engagement Of the previous evening, placed
the other-the old Stonewall Division-in reserve in
| the woods on the west OF the Hagerstown road
In the whole history of the battehelds OF the Re-
bellion, it would be- perhaps difficult to find spot
which, for an entire day, assailed and defended
| with such perseyering, obstinate, and concentrated
valor as the to which now refer, embracing the
ground ON both sides of the road. just mentioned,
and in close proximity to yonder little church. that
nestes now so quietly in the margin of the woods.
From early dawn till dark the conflict surged and
swelled across ii in continual tide, advancing and
reCeding as renOrcements from the one side or the
other came to the support OF their comrades 1t was
opened side with the three divisions OF Generals
| Meade, Doubleday and Ricketts,, forming General
Hookers Corps who after an hour of fearful carnage,
succeeded in driving back Jackson's advanced line.
Before, however, their eXulting cheers had fairly
ceased, they themselves compelled TO retire be-
fore his veteran reserves, that came to his relief
| supported by Hills Division and Hoods refreshed
| brigades The corps of General Mansfield coming
to support reinforced the shattered command
OF Hooker and, recovering the ground that had been
lost, swept onwards again TO the road and seized
| corner Of the woods beyond.
Again, however, our tenure was but temporary,
both Corps Commanders had fallen, the veteran
Mansfield and the intrepid HoOkerthe one mortally,
| the other very painfully wounded-and their COM
mands, fearfuly thinned, again forced TO fall
back, when just as they were retiring TWO DIVISIONS o
General Summers Corps coming fresh upon the teld
time defntve possession of the woods about the lit
tie church. The divisions of General Richardson and
French falling about this time to the support OF SUM
pushed Yalianty to the 'front.' and the lde OF pat
tie more flooding in our favor, Wnen JUST as
victory seemed within our grasp Two lresn NQlleue-
rate divisions, under McLaws and Walker, the one
just arrived from Harpers Ferry and the other de-
tached from their right wing, turned again ior
time the fortunes of the day, and once more af9ye
back tOttering line over that haru-louBnI hou'
Two other of our division commanders had Deen
now lost u.s. the amented Richardson ana the her0e
General Sedgwick, the former falling mortally
wounded, and the latter though WoHnueu sSHSIat
times, still struggling to keep the nelu 10 anu V
contest had now swayed for seven hours was AFTER
noon and the combatants STOOD as 1t were, aJ oay,
each apparently confident OF their power 10 ueiehu'
but doubtful of their ability to assalI., o.,o. or
Now most opportunely, appeared ahoSher NuAi-
Tarv on the scene and we may imagine the tumu-