The National tribune., 1904-03-24
WASHINGTON,

+: WASHINGTON, D. G., THU
and endeavored to seize a piece of high
ground on the Union left, with the view
Of turning that flank. This manuver was,
however, frustrated by the skill and
promptitude Of Col. Cross, Of the 9Th n.
H. (Caldwelrs Brigade), who, detecting
the thu dangeT moved his resiment towards
;naEd and the Confederate force there
then erlsued T. spirited cohtest-each en-
dea voring TO- rfach the high ground, and
both delivering their fire as they marched
in parallel lines by the flank.(27) The race
was won by Cross. The effort to flank
sro ths yas na nd lated BY
whom, changing front with his two regi-
ments obliquely to the right, poured in a
rapid fire.. compelling the surrender of
800 prisoners with two standards. A Wig
orous direct attack was then made, and
the troops succeeded in carrying the
sunken road and the position, in advance,
around what is known as Piper's House,
which. being defensible building. formed,
with its surroundings. the citadel Of the
enemy's strength at this part Of the line.
The enemy was so much disorganized in
this repulse that only few hundred men
were rallied on crest near the Hagers-
/
whole Confederate center; and there is
little doubt that more energetic following
up of the success gained would have car
red this position and fatally divided Lees
wings.(2S) The few Confederates showed
very bold front. however. and. deceived
by this. Richardson contented himself
with taking up a position to hold what
was already won.
vIcToRs WORN OUT.
| Three out of the six corps of the Army
OF the Potomac, and they the strongest,
had thus been drawn into the SETTLING vor-
tex of action on the right: and each in
succession, while exacting heavy damage
OF the enemy, had been SO punished as to
found them simply holding their own.
Porter with his small reserve corps,
numbering some 1900 men, held the cen
! ter, while Burnside remained inactive on
the left. not having yet passed the Ante
tam.(2 Now, between IL and 1 o'clock,
Franklin with two divisions of his corps,
under Slocum and w. II. Smith Couch
Hights), reached the field of battle, from
where the action at Champions Pass had
left him. Gen. Mcclellan had designed
retaining Franklin on the east side of the
Antietam, to operate on either flank or
on the center. as circumstances might re-
quire But by the time he neared the
field the strong opposition developed by
the attacks of Hooker and Sumner rem
dered it necessary for him to be immedi-
ately pushed over the creek to the assist
ance of the right.(3O The arrival of
Franklin was Opportune, for Lee had now
accumulated 80 heavily on his left, and
the repulse of Summers right under Sedg-
wick had been SO easily effected. that the
enemy began to show disposition to re-
sumo the misunderstanding his efforts
against that still loose jointed portion of
Summers harness. between his right and
center. Gen. Smith, with quick perception
of the needs of the case, Of his own accord
filled up this interval with part of his
division; and his Third Brigade, under
impetuOsity, and drove back the advance
until abreast the bunker Church. Though
Irwin could not hold what he had wrested
from the g0onfederates, his holiness, sec
onded by anether charge made soon after
by the 7th Me. alone, served to quell the
enemys aggressive ardor. Franklin then
formed the rest Of his available force in
make another effort to gain the enemy's
stronghold in the rocky woodland west of
| the Hagerst0wn turnpike-the woods
Hooker had striven for. and Sumner had
snatched aud lost. But Sumner having
command on the right, now interviewed to
postpone further operations on that flank
as he judged the repulse Of the only re-
naming corps available for attack would
peril the safety Of the whole army. 1917
a,5s 49, as,.; DELAY OF BURNSIDE.
| IT Is now necessary to look to the other
end of the Union line, held by the Ninth
Corps, under Burnside. This force lay
massed behind the nights on the east bank
OF the Antietam. and opposite the Confed-
/ yrh Job 4,
should assail after forcing the passage of
the Antietam by the lower stone-bridge.
The part assigned to Gen. Burnside was
OF the highest importance, for a success
full attack by him upon the Confederate
right would, by carrying the Sharpsburg
crest, force e, Lee from his line OF retreat
by way OF Shepherstown. Gen. Mcclellan.
approaching the full effect of an attack
by his left, directed Burnside early in the
morning to hold his troops In readiness
(32) to assault the bridge in his front.
Then, Mt o'clock, on learning how much
opposition had been developed by Hooker,
he ordered Burnside to carry the bridge,
gain, possession of the nights, and ad,
vance along their crest upon Sharpsburg
(33) as diversion in favor Of the right.
Burnside's tentatives were frivolous i'm
their character; and hour after hour went
by, during which the need of his assis-
lance became more and more imperative,
ana McCIellanS commands more and
more urgent. Five hours, in fact, passed.
and the action On the right had been con-
Guided in such manner as has been seen,
before the work that should have been
done in the morning was accomplished.
Encouraged by the ease with which the
left Of the Union force was held in check,
Lee was free to remove two-thrds of the
right wing under overwhelmingly, the
divisions of McLaws and Walker-and
this force he applied at the point of actual
conflict on lis left, where, as has already
been seen, the arrival Of these divisions
served to check Sumner in his career of
victory, and hurl back Sedgwick. This
step the Confederate commander never
would have ventured on had there been
any vigor displayed on the part of the con-
fronting force; yet this heavy detachment
having been made from the hostile right,
should have rendered the task assigned to
Gen. Burnside one Of comparative ease,
for it left on that entire wing but single
ately behind my men."-Hill: Reports of
the Army Of Northern Virginia, vol. ii, p.
116.
| q. Report Of Richardson's Division.
| (rhis report is made by Gen. Hancock,
who was assigned to the command on the