The National tribune., 1884-05-15
SAVING THE NATION.
rContinued from LIST pace.l

and shells fly from the mountain to the valley.
Haynes battery joins with Robertson's SIM
mons opens with his twenty FOUNDER, and
McMuilin with four heavy guns and while
church bells far away are tolling the hour of
worship, these cannon in the valley and on the
mountain side wake the siumbering echoes and
play the prelude 10 the approaching strife.
Scammon's brigade leads the way by the
old Sharpsburg road, the men toiling slowly
up the hill, through the fields and pastures
over fences and walls, sometime losing foothold
and falling headlong or sliding downward.
The brigade was preceded by a line of Skin
mishers aud was followed by Crooks brigade.
The woods were full of Confederates, but the
men moved on, driving back Hiifs skirmishers,
working up step by step, pushing them and the
line supporting them toward the gap. bat
terry opened with canister. but the shot few
wild over their heads and they pressed on.
McNullin sent up two guns, but the gunners
were picked of by the rebel sharpshooters.
The 18th Ohio charged up the hill, through
pasture, with a hurrah Louder, deeper,
longer was the cheer which rose from the
valley far below, where Sturgis and Wilcox
and Rodman were forming into line. On
into the IRE, close up TO the stone wall where
the rebels were lying-they charged, routing
them from their shelter and holding their
ground. There were places on the hillside
brave men stood moment before full of life
and vigor and devotion to their country, but
motionless and silent now,-their part In the
great struggle faithfully performed, their work
done.
Hill rallied his men. They dashed down
the mountain to regain the ground; but, having
obtained It through costly sacrifice, the men
from Ohio now refused to yield it.
There was lull in the battle at noon. Hill,
finding that the chances were against him,
sent for Longstreet.
HooKER's ATTACK.
Burnside. on the other hand, waited for the
arrival of Hooker, who was next in the col
umn. He commanded the LIST corps, composed
of Ricketts, and Kings divisions and the
1 Pennsylvania Reserves. They fled north of
/ the turnpike, threw Ricketts, upon the extreme
right, with the Reserves in the center and
/ King en- the left King was on the turnpike
! There is deep gorge between the turnpike
and the old road south of it, which made a
gap between Reno and Hooker.
The afternoon wore away before the troops
were ready. Longstreet's men were painting
up the mountain ON the western side, Hoods
division in advance They were thrown upon
the hillside south of the old tavern, in the gap.
! 1t was past o'clock when the order to advance
was given. Wilcox's division led upon the
/ extreme left.
The artillery-all the batteries which can be
brought into position-send their shells up the
mountain. Steadily onward moves the long
line across the fields at the foot, up the pasture
lands of the slope, into the woods.
There is rafting of musketry, then heavy
| rolls. peal on peal, wave On wave, and a
steady, constant roar. Not yielding an inch,
bat advancing slowly or holding their ground,
/ the veterans of the Peninsula continue their
fire. The mountain is white with the rising
battle-cloud. The line of fire goes up the
mountain. The rebels are falling back, fighting
braYely, but yielding. There are shouts, yells,
outcries mingling with the thunder of the
artillery, echoing and reyerberating along the
valleys.
Right and left and center are pushing on.
Thousands on the plains below behold it, and
| wish that they were there to aid their COM
rades. The day wanes the shadows begin to
deepen, revealing the flashes from cannon and
musket. There is no giving back of Burn
sides men, nor of Hooker's; but nearer to
the crest nearer the clouds, waves the starry
banner.
Please open upon that house with your bat
terry" was the order of Colonel Meredith, OF
the 10th Indiana, commanding q brigade in
Kings division, to Lieutenant Stewart, of the
4th United States artillery. The house was
filled with Confederate sharpshooters. Lieu
tenant Stewart sights his guns. The second
shell crashes through the side as if it were pa
per, and tears through the rooms. The rebels
swarm ont from doors and windows, like bee
from hive in hasty fight. The men from
Indiana give lusty cheer, and move neare
the enemy.
In vain the efforts of Hill and Longstree
and Hood 10 stop the fiery tide, rising higher
rolling nearer, overlooking the mountain
threatening to sweep them into the western
valley. The lines surge on. 1t is like thu
sweep Of q great tidal wave. There is rush
a short, desperate, decisive struggle. The rebe
line gives way. The men from Indiana, Ohio
Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine
and Massachusetts, pour into the gap shouting
their victorious hurrahs.
General Hill has lost the battle to the mel
he despised. He tried tojnjure their fair fam
in time of peace; he intimated that Northern
men were arrant towards; but after this battl
at South Mountain he can issue an aigebr
with new statement of the wooden-nutme
: and Buena Vista problems.
SURRENDER OF HARPER's FERRY.
General Lee was successful in what he ha
undertaken at Harpcr's Ferry. While Burn
side was winning this victory, Miles was yield
ing that important post. He abandoned tn
strong position on Maryland Heights and tum
bled the cannon down the mountain, when h
1 might have kept McLaws and Anderson fror
c gaining possession Of the place. Jackson KEEP
e up furious bombardment and Miles hung OF
c the white flag, and was killed inmediatel
: sseventy-three cannon were surrendered {
{ jackson.
a Miles troops were indignant at the surrende
: Some shed tears.
4 I've have no country now" said one Office
: wiping the tears from has face. IL Miles ha
d held out q little longer, he would have bee
0 relieved, for Franklin was driving Gener;
Q Cobb from Cramp5on's Pass, and would 500
u have been upon the rear of McLaws and Andel
d son.
CAPTURE OF LoEGsTREET's TRAIN.
The cavalry made their escape under cove
of the night. They followed winding fores
: paths through the woods at dead of nigh
avoiding the roads till they were north
: Sharpsburg. While crossing the WILLIAMSON
and Hagerstown road, they came upon Loni
streets ammunition train.
Hold" said the officer commanding I'll
cavalry 10 the forward driver. You are on ii
wrong road. That is the way"
The driver turned toward the north as d
rected, not knowing that the officer was
rs Yankee.
) Hold on there You are on the wrong roa
$ Who told you 10 turn off here should ike
, know7" shouted the rebel officer in charge
n the train, dashing up on his horse.
e gave the order, sir"
Is "Who are yon, and what right have you
Is interfere with my train, sir" said the office
/ ira IN,