Maryland free press., 1867-06-06

Ueeu COulplGtcly TepuiScuj tuC OltIiC VA Oh"A 70
burg was decided.
This was the grand conflict of the day, and
on the lett centered the main intcrest-but once
or twice affairs were critical on the right and
centre.
Jackson had just repulscd his opponent, when
an accident occurred which nearly resulted IN
General Lees destruction.
In the centre was Rhodes brigade, and dur
ing the momentary absence of that officer,
through misconcepton of orders, the brigade
was Withdrawn. No sooner had this occurred
than the Federal forces rushed forward; there
Was nothing to meet them; in an instant General
Lees centre would have been pierced and his
army cut in two
Then, what they wanted in numbers, the
southerners made up by reckless courage. Gene
raj D. Ii. Hill galoped thither, and hastily COL
ected about 200 men, whom he led calamity
forward. Millers battery FASTENED up, hnd un-
Embcred and opened a furious fire. Colonel
Cooke, with about 300 mon ofhis regiment, faced
the masses rushing Oh. Standing boldly n line,
says General Lee, "wihoui a cartridge"
Then curious exhibition was presented 10 the
soldiers of both armies. Licl:enantG G neral Hill
was seen leldnr against the ell my force of 2)9
men, cheering them oa in person. Lieuteni mt
General Loagstr ct was SeeH en- toot loading
and firing piece of artillery
The Federal division of General Richardson
imposed upon by this bold front, came to a halt
and remained aionery until Lee had fliei the
gap.
So, the centre was saved.
On the right there WIS a!so q moment of ey-
treme peril. Let Us briefly relate how things
stood there and what was done.
Nearly east of Sharpshurg, was bridge over
the Antietam. On the heights above this bridge
rested the right of Lee opposite, across the stream
were drawn up the Ii, ,0O0 men OF Burnside, with
Porter at his back.
This force was held in reserve, for teventunli-
ties'-and this ''eventualty" came soon after
SUNRISE when Hooker could not advane.
Then Mcclellan a.gued and acted like good
soldier. That stubborn stand on the left must
mean that Lee had m ,Ssol his mlin force there,
leaving the right wing weak. Burnside was there
upon ordered, at clock, te pass tie bridge,
and Immediately assail the southern right.
AT half-past he had not M lvcd not ut o.
Mcclellan sent new orders and more urgent ones,
for the combat on his right was going against
him, and a diversion w:s absolutely necessary -
Still Burnside did not mo7e-lt 10 he was still
there at l ? he had not Used the Anfietam.
Meanwhile, Lee had actel IT. h,l throw
Walker and McLaws from the right, to Tackson's
relef-leaving only the 2, 500 men of General
Jones opposite Burnside.
Thtt off :er inaly advanced across the bridge
about noon, anl 'moved with such cx'rcm cau-
lion and slowness'' toward Lees right, that he
did not attack the crest where it rested until
three O. clock.
Then he stormed the crest ana planted
his artillery upon it; but the delay had
ruined everything. just as the crest was
carried, A P. Hill arrived from Harper's
Ferry with 1000 men. Adding these to
the $500 of Jones, driven back from the
crest, with this fore, of 1890 he attacke |
Burnside in turn, driving back to the
fridge his 900 troops, and terminating
the day npon the light of the field as jack
son had terminated it upon the left.
It was at this mq,nent ilat -An6.-a1.-.,-
seeing BurnsIde driven back, sent him
word. it is said:
Hold your ground. If you cannot,
then the bridge to the last man! Always
the bridge! If the bridge is lost, all is
lost!''
The defeat Of Burnside was 50 decisive
that the moment was inlecd full of peril.
But night came to stop an advance
1T was now nearly dark" says General
Lee, "and the enemy hal masscd a num-
Der of batteries to sweep the approaches to
the Antietam, on the opposite side of which
the corps of General Porter, which had
not been engaged, aow appeared to dis
pute our advance. Under these circum-
stances, it was deemed injulicious to push
our advantage further"
Night desconded-the thunder ceased
the great pail of darkness fell over the
bloody field, covered with the dying and
the dead.
Mcclellan was repulsed--thus victory
belonged to Lee. ..
Such was Sharpshurg, one of the most
desperate and sanguinary struggles of the
war We have endeavorcd to describe it
with the impartiality of truth itsclf-and
no statement has been made which the
record will not vnuch for.
As to the numbers, tile statements rest
upon the words of lie" and Jackson; and
it is not probable that the world will doubt
them
That with force so SIR all Lee conld
repulse an army solarge as his opponents,
IS due to two simple facts:
l. The troops were maneuvercd with
oresight and promrtness which character
re only the greatest generals of history.
IL. The mon were the veterans of the
Did Army Of Northern Virginia: were off
,ered by Jackson, Longstreet and Hill:
md fought as the 800 of Lncnidas fought
1t Thermopyle -rea ly to die, but not to
surrender,
Taken altogether, that fight on the left
vas one of the most astonishing of anv war
for 4 ZOO stool for hours against 50 900
'r 40, 900, end more than once drove them
back in disorder. Hills repulse cf Burn
ide, four to one, on the right, was glo-
Burnside died easy. Jackson
epulee of Hooker. ten to one, was grand
for Hooker died hard The combat in
Iced brought back the old ages of myth
'logy. This Titan stood erect, strong and
lefant, if not unscathed. when the whole
magazine of thunderbolts had been ex-
lausted upon him.
On the next day. General Lee remained