Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-29

attack the other.
McLaws's division, to which was at
tscbed, had marched the preceding
njeht from Harper's Ferry and crossed
the Potomac river at Shepherdstown
about sunrise. After crossing tho
river the troops moved on to an open
field south Of Sharpsburg and stacked
arms, in order to get q little rest,
which they sadly needed-having been
on the march over rough road nearly
the whole of the previous highland to
take q few mouthfuls of cold bread,
which constituted their breakfast.
Cannon were laundering in the dis
,ance, but the sound had become so
common Of late that it ceased to be a
novelty and attracted bat little atten-
ton. We had no thought of battle,
as there were no other troops in sight,
and we knew that A. p. Hi,l's division
bad been left at Harper's Ferry.
Our rest was Of short duration. AIDS
and orderlies began to gallop around IN
a manner which indicated that they had
urgent and important messages to de-
liver. A spent cannon-ball harmlessly
plowed up the dust near by. The IA
miliar order, stall in men," was given,
and the ranks reformed. The troops
we're hurriedly marched to the left OF
and little beyond Sharpsburg. KNAPP
sacks were unsluDg and thrown into a
heap and the line of battle formed.
There was no delay-no forming q
line Of defence and leaving the courage
and enthusiasm Of the soldiers to Ooze
out by inaction. The blue uniforms Of
the Federals were seen in the woods
bey ond, near the bunker church, and
the division moved forward to attack
them. Ba1ksdale's brigade Of Misss-
sippi troops, having an open field to
cross, went into the battle with an
alignment almost as perfect as that OF a
regiment on dress parade. A she'll scat
tered the men for moment, but they
closed up instantly, and moved on into
the woods.
Pen cannot adequately describe, nor
pencil portray the terrible and awful
sublimity of the scene that followed.
The battle was now at its height aud
ragged furiously along the whole line,
perhaps a mile in extent. More than
fifty thousand muskets were cOntinu-
ously flashing and sending out their
kissing missiles Of destruction. Hun
dreds Of cannon were belchiDg forth
smoke, and hurting the shrieking and
deadly shot and shell at the foe. The
musketry in our immediate front grad
ually receded and ceased as the Fede-
raj troops were dislOdged and driven
back to the shelter Of their batteries.
Cur men took refuge behind lodges Of
limestone rock in the woods, and were
not molested during the rest Of the day
except by the artillery, which, owing
to our protected position, did but little
damage.
But there was no lull in the contest
On our right in front of and beyond
Sharpsburg. The rattle of musketry
and boom Of cannon were incessant,
and showed plainly that the Federals
were gaining ground in that quarter.
Indeed, it seemed as if each army was
thanking and getting in rear of the
other, we on the left and they on the
right. 4 little moro success on our
right would have given them the road
to ShepherdStoGn, and cut oil our llue
Of retreat. Only heroic yalor and long
sustained effort repealed the fierce and
repeated attacks Of the Federals until
late in the day a. =. Hills division ar
rived, having marched from Harper's
Ferry, a distance Of seventeen miles,
and turned the tide Of battle.
=. The hospital selected for McLa@s )
division was large barn, in watch
there was an abundance Of straw, and
one room Of a small house, in which
there was an abundance Of the milk of
human Kindness in the breasts Of its
inmates. The property was situated
half mile southwest of Sharpsburg,
and owned by an old man named Ste
phen Grover, possibly some relation OF
our honored President. Thither seat
the wounded and repaired myself as
soon as the task ofremoying them from
the battlefield was accomplished. \
table was placed under the shade Of the
trees, on which such of the wounded as
required operations we're laid. the sur
geons gathered around, chlorOiorm was
administered, and the bloody but
necessary work Of mutilatiOn CON-
meuced.
While we we're at work ministeriag
to the wounded the roar and tumult Of
the battle GA our right vent or scarcely
q mile away. But we were secure from
interruption, for living wall of brave
men stood between US and the foe.
In the military hospitals near the
battlefield the calls for help from the
wounded are urgent and importunate,
and the oyertasked surgeon looks up
from bis work to find the sun, which ne
thought was high in the heavens, al
ready setting. An. HOY slowly, | hat
been often told, would the same sun
move. and how motionleSs j. would
seem 10 hang above the horizon 60 those
who wero ia The psiil5 OF battle with
friends and comrades falling around
llem.
The dsr after the ba.,le was s2en.
in bUryiog the dead and 14'ing sor t19
wounded. That night the surge rs
and their assistants lay down early u
rest, iatigued By the duties Of the day.
They were soon called up, informed
that the army was in retreat, and or
dered 10 join their commands. taking
with them such Of the wounded As
could walk or be carried in the ambu-
lances. was directed to remain and
take charge Of the wounded who could
not be removed.
All the night through the tread Of
infantry and the creaking Of wagons
and ARTILLERY sounded along the road to
Shepherdstown. The next morning
every vestige of Lees army, except the
wounded, had disappeared. Soon Nc
Clellan's regiments, full and strong
troops that had been in reserve on the
,day of battle. no doubt-passed by
with hasty steps. For hours they