The Maryland Battles Battle of Antietam Creek - Full Particulars Battle of Wednesday -- Sharpsburgh
The Battle of Antietam The Great Victory The Great Battle of Wednesday Retreat of the Rebels
Incidents of the Battle The Battle of Antietam The Battle of Antietam Further Particulars
The Following article is transcribed from the New York Times, dated September 20, 1862:
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The Battles in Maryland A Glorious Victory.
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Gen. MCCLELLAN's dispatches, which bear date as late as noon of yesterday, are decisive as to the main result of his protracted and desperate engagement with the rebels. He has driven them out of Maryland, back upon the soil of Virginia, after having engaged their whole force and inflicted upon them a complete and bloody defeat. Whatever may have been their force in Maryland at the outset, it is very clear that the progress of the engagement satisfied them that its result must be decisive, -- and that they therefore brought over all the troops they bad within reach with the desperate determination to stake everything on the hazard of that battle. Of the great contests of Tuesday and Wednesday, we publish this morning further clear and connected accounts from our own correspondents -- to which we append a graphic report of the engagement of Wednesday, copied from an extra issue of the Tribune. Wednesday's battle was the most important battle of the war thus far. Whether we regard the numbers engaged, the duration of the light, the close and desperate nature of the contest, the skill displayed, or the numbers of the killed and wounded, this engagement will rank in history as one of the greatest and most sanguinary of modern times. It is clear that Gen. MCCLELLAN fought it with great coolness, tenacity, and soldierly skill, and he is fairly entitled to the honors of the day. Although the battle was not decisive in itself, it led to decisive results. We actually gained a little upon them in the matter of space, and held at the close some important positions which they had occupied at the beginning of the day. But, what was still more important, we had inflicted upon them losses which seriously crippled their actual force; and their reinforcements, if they had any, were too far away to be immediately available, while outs were numerous and within reach. Thursday, therefore, being mainly spent in burying the dead, was also improved by the rebels in salutary reflections on their position -- the result of which was to induce a speedy and general retreat. By Friday morning, it appears, that a very large portion of them had recrossed the river, and the remainder proceeded forthwith to follow their example. Gen. MCCLLELAN's latest dispatch indicates that our forces were giving them chase; but, it also shows that the pursuit was too late, and that the main body of the rebel army had succeeded in escaping across the Potomac. This will be a disappointment to the public at large; for it seemed impossible that the rebels, if beaten, with a broad river in their rear, should evade pursuit and destruction at the hands of our army. It is quite likely that the request of a truce to bury their dead, on Thursday, was a ruse intended to cover their escape; and we certainly think that Gen. MCCLELLAN might very properly have refused their request, and "pushed them to the wall" at once. His own reinforcements may not have been at hand, but he had PORTER's corps of 15,000 fresh troops, and every indication that the enemy had been much more seriously crippled than himself. We presume, however, that he had satisfactory reasons for the course he pursued and until we know them it would be unfair to pronounce judgment upon them. Our hope now is that in their retreat down the Valley, the rebels encountered the Union force which must surely have been sent up the south line of the Potomac from opposite Washington to intercept them. We take it for granted that Gen. HALLECK has taken suitable and adequate precautions against the escape of the rebels back to Richmond, in the event of their defeat. The repulse of the rebel army in force from Maryland is a most important event, -- one over which the country may well rejoice, and which entitles the gallant and noble soldiers by whom it has been achieved to the lasting gratitude of the American people. We trust the Government will follow it up with vigor and energy. The tide of troops now pouring rapidly forward to Washington will furnish abundant material for the prompt renewal of offensive operations, and obviate the necessity for any long delay in preparatory movements. One thing is very certain, -- while due regard must, of course, be paid to prudence, -- the Government cannot, within these limits, move too rapidly or too vigorously for the temper of the public mind. THE TWELFTH REGIMENT. -- It was melancholy to see the Twelfth Regiment of New-York Militia marching up Broadway yesterday afternoon without, their arms, and to reflect that the fine weapons with which they marched down Broadway four months ago had been given up on Monday last into the hands of the rebels, and since then had been used in slaughtering their own comrades. The rebels, by this Harper's Ferry surrender, obtained from ten to twelve thousand first-class muskets, beside a splendid lot of artillery, as well as munitions of war, &c. We are not astonished to learn that the men of this, as of other regiments surrendered by Col. MILES, were indignant at the surrender, and that they feel keenly the discreditable position in which he placed them. But, after all, in surrendering, they simply obeyed orders, which is a soldier's highest duty.
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