The Battle Of South Mountain

On tiík ÏJattle Imeld, öept, J4. Althougli the baítle of to d;iy was of long duration, still ít w:is not so Bangui nnry, considtrinfr tbe foroos eognged, as a spectator wottld at first be inolinod to snppose. Our loss in killed and wounded will not probatíly oscced '-',000, and that I judge tM be a liiIi ostimate. - Since öen. Pleasanton's brigade of cav alry advanccd fiom Kookvillo, vn liave liad skirmislies daily aloug tho route.- During tliose skinnislics tilo eiiflmv'a forcé cousistod of about two rogiments of cavalry, and two or tiire'e pieens of ar;ülery. Q Satunlay, hnwevcr, moro regímenta of oavalry were addcd, naabing a forcé equ:il, if not superior to onr own Tlio forOS tliat opposcd our advaucco UDtil to dny was the rcar guard of the t'iiemy, and the battlc-ground of yester dy was evidcntly seleeted Wllh a view ol staving our further progress. THE BATTLK OROOND. Tho rebol position wís orí tlie sidos and sunimit of the Eluu llidge Mountiin on eaoh sidu üf tlie Gap, known as Frog Gap, througli wllich tho Diaio ruail on tho turnpike, from Middletuwn to gerstown, passes. xno Uap is distant [rom Middletow:) Ifarce milos, and from Froderick twelve milos Boousboro, the nuxt important town to Middk'toivn, un the tur;:pike, is two milos from the G;ip, on the other side of the mountaiiis. The mountains in the viciniiy of the Gap are steep and rugged, and rendurcd difficult to ascend uuluss by the ordinary thoroughfare, on account of the tiumeroua ledgea and Ioosü rocks. whieii nfford no permanent footho'd. ProBl baso to top thoy are covorud with n thick vvood, thereby giving protcction to the party in possoss on, and making the progresa of the ittacking foi'ce donbly hazarduus. Bolirar a villaje boasting of' six or eight Iwcllings, is situated on the main road, oetween Middletown and the Gap, and ibout onc and a half miles from the lat!er place. At Bolivar a road branches jfffrom each side of the main road, the :wo roads takiiig a cireuitous eourse to :he mountains, aud gradually ascending hem, oin the main road at the Gap. The early posiïion of the Union army, r where the line of battlo w;is formcd, vas on a picce of rising ground on the rigiu iiuu jerj, 01 me mam roaü oetwcen holivar aud the mountains. As the day advanced and our forcs moved t'orwanJ, the position was changod but r.evor for the better. The nearér we opprouched the mountains, the moro successfully could the enemy bring liis artillery to be:ir on our colunin?. No matter nhut positiou we held, the Blue Ridge raountains commanded that position. It will be observed at once, that the eneinv had formidable grouud of deronco, and nothing but undauntad courage wresled t from him. TUS FORCES EN'QAQEP. The first división to enter the field on our side was,, Cox's and Keno's corpa - Next came the Pennsylvania reserve corps, Rickett's and King'a divisions, under the cominand of the gallaut and brave Hooker. We had batteries Stationed on both wings, but at no one time was thar vèr ten or twclve pieees ii practice. The euemy's force is supposeel to have amounted to about 30,000 men. He proba bly used twclve pieees of cannon. The forces of General Longstreet and D. H. Ilill were engaged. TKK BATTLE. The battlo commeneed with artillery, at 7, A. M., Robertson's U. S. battory of four light field pieees fiiing the first shot. This battery was stationed about six hur.dred yard3 to the laft of the turupike, the flre being direotcd to no partió ular place, but with a view of shellir-g the woods generally, so aa to draw a replv from the rebels. The firing was continued over an hour, but the enemy did not respond until Cox's división appeared in Ilie main road, advancing to take a f tion. Two pieces stationed n the Gap ' then opened upon tbe coluran. Tlie troops liowevor, tunied hito a fiold at the left of - the road, and got out, of harm's way be fore any injuries were effected. Ilere they rctnained iu line of battle for an liour and a half. In the mean time the ' enemy's position liaving been disoovered, ' llobertsmi direcled the fire of his pieeos ' to the Gap. Súon íifter tlie rcbejs ' ed another battery at the right uf tlie ' Gap, and subsequcntly still anolher ' tery at thu left. It was then evident ' that the rebels ntended to make a vigorous stand on the mountain Sinee tha i preceding day thcy liad brought up ! tra pieces of cannon, for as btifore stated ' thcy had used but three, at the most, in ' the skirinishes duing the weck The j etiemy wás now firing from nine pieces. cnnsequently, to make a vigorous reply, Haync's U. S. bat tery of six pieces moved up to -tho left to tho assistance of Robertson. A heavy cannona'üng then ensueil, but as usual in artillery duels lit'le daraage was effected on either side. At 10, A. M., the enemy withdrew his piece.s on the left and right of the üap and worked prinoipally with those in tha Gap. A half an buur later all the enemv's gun8 were silent, but on the moving of Cox's división soon aftor to tho edge of the woods on the side of the niountain at the left, the rebels again produced their pieces at the right uf the Gap. Cook's Massachusetts battery of six guns was now brought up to the assistanco of Robertson's, and a coacentrating üre was poured into the Gap, many of the shells burstiug diiectly over the rebel guns - At first the eneijiy threw solid shot, but after a wbüa changed bis projectüe to shell. Thrce times during the day the rebels were forced to change the positiou of their pieces, and late in the afternoon their gur.s were RÍlent iltogether. By 11 o'clock Cox's división had arrived at the woods, and a í'ew minutes later bad entered for the purpose of getting round the enemy's riirht. At this juncture Geus McClellan and Burnside, with their staffs rode upon the field, wlicre tliey remaiued during the continuance of the battle. Cook's battery took a favorable position for shciüng tlie woods in advance of the división, but had hardly gol to work when the rebels fired a tren.endous volley of musketry at the caunoniers. This was repeated neveral tiiiies in quick succession, until at length the cannoniers abandoncd thoir pieces, and ran to the rear, leavir.g four or five of their comrudes dead upon the ground. The drivers of the caissons also partook of tb e pacii? 2rd 'i'.'sbsd baadiocff throagii tbè ranks of Cox's división, whieh wn drawn up in line of battle a few ynrda to tl)L rear. Two companios of a cavalry regiment, which wcre support ing the battery, aiso galloped through the iino of mfantry, tlius leaving four piecea of' ar tillerv (tlit? other two having been detathed to another part of the fiold) lo fa 11 into the h;iu'ls of the euoniy. Thu event caused temporniy. and ouly temporary coul'uaion auiong the troopa Thoy quick ly straightcüid the line, and preparad tu ■ resist a deuioiistraliün observable on the j part of tha enemy to soizo tho abandon cd pieoes, Tlie rebels marched i'orward to secure their antiüipated priz?, and at the u;ic moment ihe lveuty-tliii'd Oliio and One Hundredth Penusylvania lleginients advanecd in íplondid oidcr to repai.su them. Tho rebels had approached to williiu ten ieet of the cuns wlien the cont(.st comnieneed. Eaeü s'.do tetvaed disperute in it purpose, and the fctrujg!e was most fxeitiug. At iangth the Furty tit'ih New York eaine to the resem', and tunied thfi tide of fortunii in our tavor. Botb parties suffered wrerely in the action. The rebels retreated itl great coufusiin, while our njen muJe Iho woods resouud witli their elieera. Pjr ihe supoeediug two houis tbs in funtry undur the eominand of Reno ueastd operation, and the ai tiüery aloiiO eontiuued tho duel. The guaa u-ed thus t'ar wcre (5, 10 and po uu der pieces. - Simmous' Oüio battery of 20 pounder pieecs was now placed in position on tlio int'l, and connuciiced throwitig shells to the riqht oL ihe Gap, at wliicli [ oiut the rakels had agaiii stationcd a baltery - The linng fut a while was exceediijgljr animaled, but ihe 2U pounders proved tuo ijiuuh fur tlio rebels, ud they wera oora pulled ia the course of half an hour to chango the posilion of tlicir guiws. At the' oxpiratiun of the next hall' hour llieir guus were siletced. Iu this battle the eiiemy did not appenr to have ao iwxny guns as usual, or if lic did huve theiu, lie uid not hfifcjj '.!:.,)] ;,tu prao tice. Tho 32 poundor which he was so fond of using agaiust us on the Pouinsula did not make its appearance here. At 2, P. M., the head of Cíen. Hooker's column nppearcd enmiag np the turnpiko to roiuforce Bouo. The column (ook the road branchiiig otf frons tho turnpike to the right, near Bolivar, and [troceeded to the loot of the inountains. All along the line the utmost enthusiasm was mauifested i'or Hookar. Every man in tho corps w;is evidently impressed with tho idea that he had a General able and wiiling to lead thom forward to face the enemy. At 3, P. M., the lino cf battle from right to lef t was formed in the following order, near the baso of mouutaina on tho right, and at the udge of u piece of woods ou tliQ raountain skpe at the left The First Brigade of R:'ckettslivision oo ibe extreme right, which wns about one mile north of liio turnpike; the Pennsylvania liosorve Corps, the right re.-t)ng on R'icketts' left ; the Second Lgïment U. S. Shiirpshooters on the road brenchisg off from tho tnrnpiktj on the rieht ; the Second and Third BrigaGes of líicketts' División between the bnmch road und the turnpike ; King's División (coinmanded by Gen. ITatch) at ttie left jí tllA t.urnrtikA tl rio-ïit. rACt.i- qq hf turupikc; Oen. Ileno's foree ou the extreme k'ft, about a niile and a half from the tunipiko. The ftisth United States, Eiglith Illiqoís, E ghtli, Third and Twellh Penniylvania, Sixtb New York, Third Indina aud First Massachusctts Cavalry Regiments, were on different portions of ' the íieid peri'oruiiiig picket duty, acting as guards t-j the roads aud supportmg the batteries. Up to this time all our britteries had beeu statiuned to the left of the ! pike, aa the positions secured there enabled the gunuers to work their pieces to advantage. About one hundred yards in the rear of the Pennsylvania lïesei ve Uorps was stationed Gapt. Cooper's Fiint Pennsylvaoia Battery of four pieees; Capt. lïatisom's (Jompany G, Fifth Uuited States ' Battery of fuur pieces, took a position at the extreme right 'in the rear of the First Brigade of Ricketts' División. Immeaiately aft.er tho Jiue of battle was formed, the right, left and centre coinmenced nioving siiuultaneously towards tho euemy on the slope of the ' mountatns. The rebsls opened on the column with two pieces of camión, di reetnig the fire of one to the riht, and of the othcr to the left of the lino. Thcy were replied to by one of Sin.tr:ons' 20pouadera on our left, and Cooper's batte ry on our right. Tho euemy continued í!e uring for upwards of an bpiir, when, on account of the sevei'o puuishinoiit ha was receiving from our guna, and the near approuoh of our iufantry to bis pieces, bo disappeared ou the olljer side of the mounlain. Tlie cnemy's sheils for the most part wentovur the Union troops, eonsoqueutly. they did not effect muuh iainag. Steadily onward went our long unbroken line ot iufantry, until the right wing had gained a piece of woods on the mountain, a short dis: anee from the basty when the Buoktails, who were skiruiishiug on the right, discovercd the enemy's piekels. A desultory rambling ot musketry wa.i next heard, whieh indioated the coinmeucement of the battle on rtie part of the iufantry. The oolurai) from right to left still remained unbroken, and advaueed cautiously but firmly up the steep. In a short time iho encmy's main forco was encountered, and then carne heavy volleys of uiusketry on the right. The Pfiiiiisylvania Reserve corps and the First lirigade of liicketts' división were now hotly engaging the eneuiy. The enemy stuod thuir ground for a while, but after a contest of thiity miuutes they wavered, aud comnienced faüing back in disorder towards the suminit of tlie mountains. Our forces puslied thom vigorously, and kept up a coutinuoun fire. The valor displayed on this occasion by tho Pennsylvauia Reserves, and the corps formerly under the coinmand of McDowell is deserving of the highest praipo. Not a straggler eoiild be neen on ihe field, livery man was at liis pust in the line They all seemed detemnned to force back the enciny, and take posses-ion ■ ef the mountain, in pit) of a.iy opposition that might be placed in their way. Geu Hooier, acoompanied by his stuff v;is whore he nlways is on such occasions - at the front. The line did not give i war for an instant, but kopt moviug fqi'wai'd and upward, pouring voiley alter vollcy of' musketry into the enenn's ', riinks, until at last thö robels broke and I ran ijrecipitafcely to the top of the tcoun tin; tlisEcs de. r:de Keuu's corps un tlie 1 e f 't did its part uobly. Tiie men wera called upyn t do I gome severo fiffliting. nnd tliey pcrformcd tlieii' duty witha will and lierOisnS scldam befoio dieplayed. Tlie Bngbgetuent 011 the left suceeeded thnt on the rigli', and lasted about au huur and a half. The cnemy coutesti'd every inch of fjround, but oveiituaily yiolded it up tu the cancjuerürs. Tlie centre column vras tbc last to come i uto tlie nction. The same suceess tbat ' maiked the advance of the two wings a's) attended the centre At 0. P. M., af er an engageraeijt of tlifee bours duration, tlie rcbelh ili'd, leaving the top iif the mountain in possession of tlid Uuion troops. .Darkness prevented us from pursuiug ibe cnemr further at the time. THE RKSULT. Tlie resuU of the battle seoures to tlie Union troops a very important position, inastuucli as it comiuauds the approaches on eaeh side of the mouutain, aisu a vast area of the furroundiii" country. I estímate, ns bitfore stated. tlmt t!vo tliousand will ecver tlie list of our caiisalties, I t hink that t(ie criemv's loss in killed and w( u ided will not exeeed our own, Ithough vva ciptured a,0HO prkonets. G;n. l{eoo was killed on the lidd oí battle At tlie time of the galamity bo was observiug, by aid of a lass, the enerny's movements. He was siruek iu tlie spine by a musket bul - tho buil lodging in the breast. JIüN'PAY MOu.NING. Sumuor'.s corps eame up from i'Yederick hist night.. JJuring the nigbt our forcos slept ou the mouutara. Banks' and Portur's corps are on tlie tumpikc between Frederiek and the mountain. Tho exaet position of the enemy this iBoraing is uot (Jeüuitely kuown to us. It is suppo.-ed that be has relrea.ted in the direc tion of Hagerstown. Our farces are novv advancing rupidly and may possibly overtake lutil befuro night. Tho troops are in the bost of spirits, wan.