Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[476] and Sergeant McMurray, (the latter mortally,) of the same regiment, were wounded. Private Slade, of the Second Georgia, killed.

This list imperfect, perhaps, limited as it is, and comprises only such names as I have been able to gather up during the progress of the fight. My arrangements have all been made to procure full, as far as possible, correct lists of the killed and wounded, provided the army should not move immediately.

But I cannot say more at this time. This brief and hastily written note is designed to be the forerunner only of my account of the battle, and is sent now because an opportunity is offered to forward it to the post-office at Winchester.

I will only add, that the timely appearance of McLaws on the left, about nine o'clock in the morning, saved the day on that part of the field, and that to Toombs we are indebted for saving it in the afternoon on the right. Both charges were brilliantly successful. A. P. Hill got up at two P. M., and went in at four, and contributed largely to the success of the day. Nearly all the troops behaved with great spirit.

Again I say — and with this remark I conclude this note — the prospect is, we shall have to return to Virginia.

We have received authentic particulars of the sanguinary battle at Sharpsburgh alluded to elsewhere, and concerning which so many painful rumors were afloat on yesterday. We have the gratification of being able to announce that the battle resulted in one of the most complete victories that has yet immortalized the confederate arms. The ball was opened on Tuesday evening about six o'clock, all of our available force, about sixty thousand strong, commanded by General Robert E. Lee in person, and the enemy about one hundred and fifty thousand strong, commanded by Gen. McClellan in person, being engaged. The position of our army was upon a range of hills, forming a semi-circle, with the concave towards the enemy; the latter occupying a less commanding position opposite, their extreme right resting upon a height commanding our extreme left. The arrangement of our line was as follows: Gen. Jackson on the extreme left, Gen. Longstreet in the centre, and Gen. A. P. Hill on the extreme right.

The fight on Tuesday evening was kept up until nine o'clock at night, when it subsided into spasmodic skirmishes along the line. Wednesday morning it was renewed by Gen. Jackson, and gradually became general. Both armies maintained their respective positions, and fought desperately throughout the entire day. During this battle Sharpsburgh was fired by the enemy's shells, and at one time the enemy obtained a position which enabled them to pour a flanking fire upon a portion of our left wing, causing it to waver. At this moment Gen. Stark, of Mississippi, who had command of Gen. Jackson's division, galloped to the front of his brigade, and seizing the standard, rallied them forward. No sooner did the gallant General thus throw himself in the van than four bullets pierced his body, and he fell dead amidst his men. The effect, instead of discouraging, fired them with determination and revenge, and they dashed forward, drove the enemy back, and kept them from the position during the rest of the day.

It being evident that the “Young Napoleon,” finding he could not force his way through the invincible ranks of our army in that direction, had determined upon a flank movement towards Harper's Ferry, and thus obtain a position in our rear. General Lee, with steady foresight, anticipated the movement by drawing the main body of his army back on the south side of the Potomac, at Shepherdstown, Va., whence he will, of course, project the necessary combinations for again defeating his adversary.

The enemy's artillery was served with disastrous effect upon our gallant troops; but they replied from musket, howitzer, and cannon with a rapidity and will that carried havoc amidst the opposing ranks. The battle was one of the most severe that has been fought since the opening of the war. Many of our brave men fell. At dark the firing ceased, and in the morning (Thursday) our army were ready to recommence the engagement, the enemy having been forced back the evening before, and the advantage of the battle being still on our side.

Firing was consequently opened upon the new position supposed to be held by the enemy, but no reply was obtained, and it was then discovered that he had disappeared entirely from the field, leaving many of his dead and wounded in our hands, and about three hundred prisoners. The report current on yesterday that a truce occurred on Thursday for the burial of the dead was unfounded. The prisoners stated that their force was more than a hundred thousand strong, and that McClellan commanded the army in person.

Our loss is estimated at five thousand in killed, wounded and missing. The prisoners state that their ranks were greatly decimated, and that the slaughter was terrible, from which we may infer that the enemy's loss was fully as great, if not greater, than our own.

The following is a list of commanding officers killed and wounded in the engagement:

Gen. Stark, of Mississippi, commanding Jackson's division, killed.

Brig.-Gen. Branch, of North-Carolina, killed.

Brig.-Gen. R. H. Anderson, wounded in hip, not dangerously.

Brig.-Gen. Wright, of Georgia, flesh wounds in breast and leg.

Brig.-Gen. Lawton, in leg.

Brig.-Gen. Armistead, in the foot.

Brig.-Gen. Ripley, in neck, not dangerously.

Brig.-Gen. Ransome, of North-Carolina, slightly.

Col. Alfred Cummings, in command of Wilcox's brigade, slightly.