Operations of our army in Maryland.
the battle of Sunday.
official Dispatch of General Jackson of the surrender of Harper's Ferry.
We lay before our readers this morning such authentic particulars, with reference to the important operations of our army in Maryland and at Harper's Ferry as have fallen within our reach since our issue of Saturday.
The battle of Sunday.
This engagement is represented to have taken place between Middletown and Boonsboro, on the old National road, where it crosses the Blue Ridge mountains. Gen. Lee. in his march from Frederick to Hagerstown, left Gen. D. H. Hill and Gen. Studant at mountain passes to keep the advancing forces of McClellan, who were believed to be moving to the relief of the enemy at Harper's Ferry, in check, whilst the corps of Longstreet moved on in the direction of Hagerstown. Harper's Ferry having withstood the siege-longer than was anticipated Gen. Lee returned with the forces of Long street, on Sunday, to the support of Hill and Studant. The junction of the two corps successfully resisted the enemy's determined efforts to force the mountain pass, and rendered the object sought (the of Harper's Ferry) beyond the possibility of statement. The fight during the day was a severe one, and our loss, as well as that of the enemy, was very heavy. Among the killed, as heretofore mentioned was Gen. Samuel Garland, who fell while gallantly rallying his brigade.Early on Monday morning Gen. Lee withdrew the corps of Longstreet and Hill from their position and retired to Sharpsburg, to await the arrival of our forces engaged in the reduction of Harper's Ferry. Early the same day, the forces of McClellan passed the mountain, and at two in the afternoon reached a position in front of our lines near Sharpsburg. Up to Tuesday night they had able no attack, and Gen. Lee also remained inactive waiting the function of Jackson's corps.
The surrender of Harper's Ferry.
As has before been stated this place surrendered to our forces on Monday morning. Immediately near its capitulation the divisions of McLaws and Anderson, that had participated in its reduction from the Maryland Heights, crossed the Potomac to the Virginia side and marched out through Harper's Ferry in the direction of Shepherdstown.--The division of Gen. Walker, which was posted on in London Heights, crossed the Shenandoah the same day and took, the same direction. During that night and early Tuesday morning, these divisions constituting the advance of the forces operating under Jackson, reached the Potomac at order Shepherdstown, and at once crossed. On Tuesday, the division lately commanded by Ewell proved for the same point.On Wednesday morning, Gen. Jackson himself, with the remainder of his forces, including A. P. Hill's division — leaving only one brigade at Harper's Ferry under Col. Thomas--also, left Harper's Ferry by the same route taken by the divisions that had preceded them. It is not supposed that the whole of Jackson's force succeeded in crossing the river until near night of Wednesday.
The following official account of the capture of Harper's Ferry by Gen. Jackson's army corps has been received by the Government.
Headquarters Valley District. September 16th, 1862.
Colonel:
Yesterday God crowned our arms with another brilliant success on the surrender, at Harper's Ferry, of Brigadier-General White and ,000 troops, an equal number of small arms, 73 inches of artillery, and about 200 wagons.
Colonel:
In addition to other stores there is a large amount of camp and garrison equipage. Cur loss was very small. The meritorious conduct of officers and men will be mentioned in a more extended report.
The Great battle of Wednesday.
The news of the great battle of Wednesday, near Sharpsburg, Washington county, Md., as received brought Northern channels, on Saturday and yesterday, created considerable excitement, and was the cause of painful anxiety in this city. Following, as it did, close upon the gratifying intelligence of the surrender of Harper's Ferry, and our important and vainable captures there, it was not received with the fullest confidence, though it exited in the public mixed a general apprehension, at our gallant army had sustained a reverse on the soil of Maryland. Throughout the day yesterday, rumor was active and her statements pro and a were of the most unsatisfactory and indefinite Character.The most reliable statement given to the public has contained in a dispatch is such from the office of the Enquirer, which we he rewith append:
Warrenton, Va. 20th Sept. 1862.
A correspondent on the battle-field at Sharpsburg writes us as follows:
"We had a most terrific fight on yesterday, Sept. 10th. The advantage is on our side. There have been hosts of killed and wounded. Gens. Starke, Manning, and L. O'B. Branch were killed. Gens. D. R. Jones, R. R. Jones, Ripley, and Lawton, were wounded.
"The whole strength of both armies was engaged in the fight. The fight is expected to be renewed on Thursday, Sept. 18th.
Rumor to-day says the fight was renewed near Sharpsburg on Thursday, and the enemy routed and driven nine miles. The enemy's cavalry (a regiment.) was yesterday scouting the field at Groved. Prince William county, and arrested a citizens there they were after General Ewell.
The full particulars of this engagement cannot of course be known for several days, and we have reason to hope that when they are received, they all prove that instead of sustaining a disastrous perverse, we have achieved a substantial victory.--The most authentic news embraced in the information received by us is, that the fight continued with great fury throughout the day, both armies contesting the field with unusual stubbornness, neither obtaining any manifest advantage. The loss on both sides is said to have been fearfully severe, and surpassing, beyond comparison, any engagement of the war, for the length of time the fight continued. At night our worn out and well high exhausted troops held the field, the dead, and wounded, and the uninjured living, lying down together, with no other covering on the dust and blood of the day a carnage.--was expected that the fight would be renewed Thursday, but our latest advices satisfy us that was not. The enemy were doubtless too severe crippled to renew the assault upon our wearied columns, and our forces too much overcome with exhaustion to pursue whatever advantages may be accrued from the previous day's bloody work, thursday was spent by our men in gathering up the wounded and dying comrades, and sending them back over the river. Even in this they were molested by the enemy, who it would seem had been too severely punished to desire another struggle.
Our army Recrosses the Potomac.
After the battle of Wednesday, as above stated, army held the battle field. On Thursday night wearied and almost starving condition of our rendered a movement necessary, In some divisions of the army, our men are said to have been without previsions for three days, and were struggling with an enemy more rigorous and disheartening than the Yankee hosts they had so gallantly confronted. To obtain supplies in Maryland was of the question, and to advance into Pennsylvania, in the presence of the threatening columns the enemy without adequate provisions for a single day, was deemed too hazardous an enterprise by Gen. Lee. Accordingly, on Thursday night, he determined upon the repassage of the Potomac, made necessary not by any reverse in battle but by the stern exigency of the absence of commissary supplies. That night the return of our enemy to the soil of Virginia was commenced, and during the day of Friday the passage of the Potomac was completed — part of the army crossing at Shepherdstown and part at Williamsport. From the fact that the enemy did not attempt to harass forces in crossing, we are led to infer that they here in no condition to renew the fight after Wednesday.A gentleman who came down on the Central train last night days that the Hon A. R. Boteler address to the people of Winchester on Friday evening.--in his remarks he stated that he had an interview with Gen. Lee after the fight of Wednesday, and that Gen. L. looked upon the struggle of that day as favorable to our arms; and also, that a short time would fully disclose the wisdom of our General in withdrawing his troops to the Southern bank of the river. General Lee and his officers were in good spirits, and spoke not of their necessities as a reverse of arms.
The reported re-possession of Harper's Ferry by the enemy.
The reports of the re-occupation of Harper's Ferry by the enemy, which reached us through Northern sources on Saturday, and which are published in our columns elsewhere, are not confirmed by our supplies of information. On the other hand, we have the most conclusive evidence that this point was not re-taken at the time stated, to wit, Tuesday afternoon. We yesterday had a long conversation with Lt. T. W. Saunders, of Gen. A P. Hill's division, who left Harper's Ferry on Wednesday. At that time all was quiet, and one brigade of our forces in occupancy of the town. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad bridge over the Potomac was destroyed before Gen. Jackson left to reunite his forces with those of Gen. Lee at Sharpsburg. That the place may have since fallen into the enemy's hands we think not unlikely, as its occupancy could be a matter of no importance to us after the withdrawal of our army from Maryland.
