NEWS OF 150 YEARS AGO
September 1862
From The Missouri Democrat, Friday, September 18, 1862.
BY TELEGRAPH.
REGULAR AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
THE WAR IN MARYLAND.
SPLENDID SUCCESS OF M’CLELLAN ON MONDAY.
The Rebels Badly Whipped at all Points.
RAW TROOPS CAN FIGHT.
HOWELL COBB TAKEN PRISONER.
Gen. Longstreet Killed and Hill Taken Prisoner.
ANOTHER BATTLE IN PROGRESS.
FREDERICK, Sept. 16.—The following is to the Baltimore American:
Intelligence from the front this morning is of the most cheering character, notwithstanding the bad news from Harper’s Ferry.
Gen. McClellan was pursuing with a vigor most destructive to the enemy.
General McClellan pursued the enemy on Monday morning with his reserves, and a large body of fresh troops. The enemy took the road towards the river at Harper’s Ferry, and at Shepardstown he was pursuing them, shelling their retreat with great loss.
In several contests Monday, where they made a stand, our troops charged on them with such vigor that they fell back from point to point in great haste. The battles and advantages obtained Monday are thought to be superior in importance than those of Sunday.
Drayton’s South Carolina brigade is entirely either killed, wounded or prisoners.
The 17th Michigan, a new regiment, drove up this brigade, first with bullets and finally with the bayonet.
Howell Cobb was wounded and taken prisoner.
Gen. McClellan was pushing on them last evening closely, and had already sent to the rear nearly 8,000 prisoners and 4 batteries
[Special Dispatch to the N. Y. World.]
FREDERICK, September 16.—After the battles of South Mountain Gap and Burkettsville Gap, fought respectively by the forces of Burnside and Franklin on Sunday, the enemy having been driven from their position, fell back rapidly to Boonesboro, thence southward to Sharpsburg, and began crossing the Potomac above and below Shepardstown.
The pursuit by our troops was rapid, Hooker following by the way of Boonsboro, supported by Sumner and Banks. The enemy breakfasted at Kudyville, three miles from Boonsboro, but our cavalry soon drove their rear guard from that place.
Porter’s and Reno’s corps took a short road over the mountains and arrived at Sharpsburg at sundown, capturing hundreds of prisoners on the way.
Franklin’s corps, supported by Couch’s division, passed through Burkettsville Gap, which he captured, handsomely striking the road leading direct from Boonesboro to Harper’s Ferry, thence moving in the direction of the latter place, gaining Elk Ridge Mountain, which flanked the enemy’s position and brought them within good range of our artillery.
Franklin[‘s] corps fought brilliantly.
In the battle Sunday evening at Burkettsville Gap, the enemy were terribly repulsed, though the great advantages of position were with them. Hancock’s brigade made a charge up a hill and captured a battery of six pieces, and Howell Cobb and all his Georgians. The 116th Virginia regiment was taken entire, and fragments of many other regiments.
On Sunday Longstreet marched back from Hagerstown to reinforce the troops fighting at the Gap. He arrived in time to join the rout.
We have taken since Friday about 6,000 prisoners with less than the usual proportion of officers.
The mountains are full of straggling, starving, demoralized rebels, who are giving themselves up as fast as they can find their way into our lines.
On Thursday Jackson crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, and marched towards Harper’s Ferry, which place he invested Saturday. He captured Maryland Heights on the north and Loudon Heights on the south side of the river. On Sunday he attacked the Ferry but was repulsed, and on Monday morning at daylight, he renewed the attack, and the place was surrendered by Dixon G. Miles, at 7 o’clock.
This disaster will enable the rebels to cross the Potomac with the greater proportion of their forces.
Yesterday evening, previous to this news, McClellan and Burnside were rapidly making such dispositions as would have resulted in the complete defeat or capture of the entire rebel host.
We pressed their rear hotly last evening, and the prospect was most brilliant until we learned that Harper’s Ferry was no longer ours.
The enemy having got mainly across the river and into a strong position, a great battle will probably be deferred several days until a new combination of movements is resolved on.
The Union army is in splendid condition. The men are all in light marching order and buoyant spirits over their successes.
Several regiments of new troops were in the fight on Sunday, and behaved with great bravery.
Our total loss will not probably exceed 2,500 killed and wounded, with a very small proportion killed.
I can hear of very few field officers killed. The death of General Reno is mourned throughout the whole army.
The churches in Middletown and Frederick are to be occupied by the wounded.
Among the wounded are Col. Worthington, 7th Michigan, arm, slightly; Col. Gallagher, 11th Pennsylvania reserves, commanding 3rd brigade, arm, slightly; Major Corney, 12th Ohio, thigh, flesh wound; Lieut. Col. Hayes, 23d Ohio, left arm; Capt. Leggett, 12th Ohio, head, seriously; Capt. Thayer, 17th Michigan, left arm and hand; Capt. Goldsmith, 17th Michigan, ankle and shoulder, slightly; Captain Edwards, 17th Michigan, side, severely, and left arm amputated; Capt. Parsons, 2d Wisconsin, shoulder; Captain Hart, 19th Indiana, leg, slightly; Captain Nagle, 28th Ohio, leg, slightly; Lieut. Somers, 17th Michigan, abdomen, severely; Lieut. Harris, 6th Wisconsin; Lieut. Hummell, 28th Ohio, leg; Col. Ballinger, 7th Pennsylvania Reserves, arm and breast.
LATER.
FREDERICK, Sept. 16, 2 P. M.—Our loss at Harper’s Ferry is light less than 200 killed and wounded. The forces captured were the 87th, 60th and 33d Ohio, 9th Vermont, 39th, 115th and 126th New York, and the 12th New York State Militia. An Indiana battery, besides Maryland Home Brigades.
Heavy fighting is going on to-day in Pleasant Valley, north of the Ferry.