Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-06

| miles found the rebels posted In force
across the Antietam creek in front Of the
little little village Of sharpsburg, Lee had
chosen a strong position; but delay could
| only serve to strengthen it while giving op-
portunity for the arrival Of Jackson, Walk
| er and McLaws. from Harper's Ferry,
which Mcclellan now knew had fallen that
morning.
| Walker. clearing Loudoun Heights and
crossing the Shenandoah on the 18th, had
| followed Jackson during the night and ar
J rived at Shepherdstown early on the morn
ing Of the 16tn, crossing and reporting to
Lee at Sharpsburg by noon.
Lee, aware that every hours delay was
an inestimable advantage to him, made as
great display of force as possible through
out the 10th and 10th, though he thereby
exposed his infantry to the fire of our ar
tillery. But on the morning of the 18th
when our columns advanced to the attack
and the battle began in earnest, his whole
army, save A. p. Hills division, being on
hand, the regiments and brigades hitherto
so ostentatiously paraded seemed to have
sunk into the earth, and nothing but grim
and frowning batteries were seen covering
each interest and trained on every stretch
| OF open ground whereby our soldiers might
attempt TO scale those rugged sleeps.
Hooker Inaugurated Struggle.
The struggle was inaugurated on the aft
ernoon Of the 10Th by General Hooker on
our right, being directed to flank and beat
the enemy's left, backed by Sumner, Frank
o
making long detour, crossed the Antietam
out of sight and range of the rebel bat
| teries. Turning al length sharp to the left
| ne came to an open field, with woods in
front ana on either side. whence our skir-
m1sners were saluted by scattering shots
followed by volieys of musketry from the
left and front. Here Hooker reconnoiter-
ing IN the advance, as usual-halted and
formed his lines: Ricketts, division on the
left; Meade with the Pennsylvania Re
serves. in the center; while Doubleday, on
the right planting his guns on a MILL
opened at once on rebel battery that had
begun to enfilade our center. By this time
1t was dark and the firing soon ceased the
infantry lying down for the night at points
within half musket-shot of each other.
AT daylight the 18th the battle was COM
menced in earnest the left of Meade's and
| the right Of Pickett's line becoming engaged
at nearly the same moment, the former
with artillery, the latter with infantry
while battery was pushed forward beyond
the woods directly in Hookers front across
ploughed field to the edge of cornfield
beyond it. destined before night to be
soaked with blood.
Hoods division. which had confronted us
at evening, had been withdrawn during the
night. and replaced by Lawtons and Trim
bles brigades Of Ewelrs division. under
der D. r. Jones. on its left, supported by
the remaining brigades Of Ewell. Jackson
was In chief command on this wing and
here was substantially his old corps around
him. Against these iron soldiers Hooker's
corps hurled itself, and being superior in
numbers compelled them to give ground:
but not until Jones and Lawton had been
wounded, with many more field officers. and
Starke. who Succeeded Jones In Command
killed. Early. who succeeded Lawton, was
ordered by Jackson to replace Jackson's
own division. which had suffered so severe
ly and was nearly out Of ammunition that it
had been temporarily Withdrawn from the
combat. By this time Ricketts, and Meade
had pushed the rebel line back across the
cormeid ana the road, into the woods be-
yond, and was following with eager, exult-
ing cheers.
Give Me Your Best Brigade.
Hoods division had by this time returned
to the front, backed by the brigades of Rip
ley. Colquitt. Garland (ow under Colonel
McRae) and D. R. Jones. by whom the
equilibrium Of the fight was restored, our
men being hurled back by terrible volleys
from the woods. followed by a charge
across the cornfeld in heavy force Hooker
called up the nearest brigade, but it was
not strong enough, and he sent at once to
Doubleday
Give me your best brigade INSTANTLY,
That brigade came down the hill on the
Union right at doublequick, and was led
by Hartsuff into the cornfield. and steadily
up the slope beyond it. forming on the
crest Of the ridge under a hurricane of shot
and shell, and firing steadily and rapidly
at the rebel masses just before it. It
Lelo ltS poS1tlOn nalI an hour, unSup-
ported. though many fell, among them
their leader. Hartsun. wounded severely.
until for second time the enemy was
Meantime both sides were strengtheninr
this wing. Ricketts, division, having al. :
tempted to advance and failed, had fallen
back. Part OF Mansfeld's corps had zone
In to IT'S aid. and been driven back ny
wise, with their general mertally wounded.
Doubaedays guns were still busy ON the
Union extreme right. and had silenced q
en1iaded Hooksr.s center. Ricketts sen1A|