THE BATTLE AT HAGERSTOWN HEIGHTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1056, 24 December 1862, Page 3

THE BATTLE AT HAGERSTOWN HEIGHTS.

We have details of the battle at Hagerstown, briefly announced in our last accounts from America. At eight 6'clock on Sunday morning, 14th September, M'Clellan's army came fairly up with the enemy posted on the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, stretching on a-line north to south from Middletown on the Rogerstown road to Jefferson on the Harper's Ferry road. Our right, under Burnside, rested on Middletown, and our left wing, under Franklin, on Jefferson. A general engagement immediately commenced, M'Clellan necessarily attacking the enemy in their advantageous position. The battle was obstinately contested until nine in the evening, by which time the enemy were gradually driven up South Mountain and over its top, into the valley on the other side. Burnside held the top of the mountain during the night. At nine yesterday morning, the engagement was not renewed. A letter from Washington, dated 16th September, says :—Firing was heard at daylight yesterday morning by the telegraph operator at the Point of Rocks, who says it was from the direction of Jefferson, probably an attack by the enemy on Franklin. Neither Sumner's corps nor Couch's division were in the fight on Sunday, although they were doubtless supporting Franklin •yesterday, as they were in a position to do soon Sunday evening. The corps of Fitzjohn Porter passed through Frederick yesterday morning, and would arrive at the battle field at noon. ' Sunday's battle was fought principally with infantry and artillery. It was almost impossible to bring artillery into the field in full play. Captain Gibbons, however, with much labor, succeeded in getting a battery upon the mountain to the right of the infantry, and did good execution. Bloonesboro, Md., September 15th.—The battle of South Mountain Gap, yesterday, resulted in a complete Federal victory. The battle-fteld is located in a gorge of the mountain, of the turnpike" between Middletown and Boonesboro. At twelve o'clock, General Reno ordered the ascent of the mountain on the left, for the purpose of flanking the enemy. The battle, with musketry, for half an hour was terrible, resulting in the enemy giving way, and leaving our troops in possession of that part of the ridge. General Hooker the mountains on the right, getting his troops into position and moving on'the enemy two hours before sundown. At the other ridge of the mountain, bur troops were successful in driving the enemy before them with great slaughter. The enemy here suffered more than in the other part Of the battle field. Had our troops two hours more of daylight, the greater portion of the rebel army would have been captured, as they were nearly surrounded on all sides. They made their escape, however, through a narrow defile in the mountain, which our artillery would soon have rendered impassable. All their wounded men were left on the/field. General Franklin's attack on the enemy at Burkittsville Gap, six miles nearer Harper's Ferry, also resulted in the rebels' complete route in one charge. General Hancock's brigade captured the brigade (six pieces), Howell Cobb, and nine hundred of his Georgians. The loss during the day and night is fully fifteen thousand killed, wounded, and missing. General Lee acknowledged to the citizens of Boonesborough that he had been defeated with terrible loss. Our killed and wounded will probably reach 3000.

Booneshoro', 16th September.—The larger portion of the Federal army has arrived on the ground, but up to nine o'clock this morning no engagement has taken place. The rebels are rapidly giving way across the river. "■ Frederick, Md., September 16.—The after battle of South Mountain Gap and Burkittsvilje Gap, was fought respectively by the forces of Burnside and Franklin. On Sunday, the rebels fell back rapidly to Boonesboro', and thence southward to Sharpesbtirg, and began crossing the Potomac above and below Shephardstown, pursued by our troops rapidly. Hooker, supported by Sumner and Banks, following by the way of Boonesboro.' The corps of Reno and Porter took a shorter road over the mountain, and arrived at Sharpesburg on Monday. Franklin's corps, supported by Couche's division, passed through Burkittsville Gap, striking the valley and moving, direct from Boonesboro' to Harper's Ferry, thence moving in the direction of. the latter place, gaining Elk Ridge Mountain, which flanks the enemy's position. On Sunday Longstreet marched from Hagerstown to reinforce the rebel troops fighting at the Gap, arriving in time to join in the rout, Previous to the news of the surrender of Harper' 4 Ferry,- such disposition had been made of our forces

as would have resulted in the pasture of nearly the entire rebel forces; Th'e rebel loss since Friday last has been very large, and the number of prisoners sent to the rear yesterday' will' jtfobably reach eight thousand.' Our total Joss frill'hot: ertieai 2tfoO.fc£iled and wounded, with a: small proportion ot killed; ' The Union army is in splendid condition. The i men' 'ate all in light marching order, and- in buoyant 1 spirits over the successes. c fh Chicago, Oct. 3.—The New York 'TittiesMoorrespondent, writing from Sharpesburg Sept '80, r sayi: —Yesterday, Farns worth's: Brigade -of iCfwrshy, vjiiecompanied by Gibson's and Timliall'*rUnie6J States Batteries, crossed .the Potomad below: Shepftardstown in force, and reconnoitered the countiyifor & distance of five or six miles from the river. Thley;difciovert4 that the enemy still held their position m thd of Winchester. Major Medili. with thrte took the road leading from Shephahi&own •■ito/MA'*tinsburg; met one regiment. oif theenemy'* ca*4iry, four miles from the former. place; Thd enemyMul two,piece's of artillery; . and fired a fdw gheil*,feet without effect., The rebel.' videttes, which weprest Shephardstown and along the roads in the morning, retired as our, cavalry advanced: FarnsWortfy-of/the 18th Illinois,-took the road to Winchester. In: the houses along the way he took prisoner 'oVeri,twenty of the enemy's wounded,: including Colonel Migfel; «f 6. All were paroledat Shephardßtowii, Gteiianil Pleasonton's Provost Marshal> rebels who had been wounded. OnrartiHeryb«ri»«ol brought into practice. Despatches: toe east here, in consequence of thei aijr that Staple's brigade of Sigel's corps went to Wasrtenton, fifty miles west of Washington, on the 29ttf,:nfi made prisoners of a large number ; of wounded rebels, together with a few conacriptM, whom they paroled. The reconnoissance continued to Saalem and White Piains, but found no' >rfeb6l*iin that neighbourhood. Reports prevaited : afcAlexander on the 30th, that Sigel had recaptured and cars which the enemy had abandoned at Brislow andWarrenton Junction. 7 General Butler restored civil law in New Orleans on ; the2#rd nlth^Or Sf., Louis, October 3 —Advices at head-quarters here, from General Schofield, whicp state that an engagement took place near [between lpoo Kansas troops.and asupejibr the former were obliged to retire, leaving the Am,to the enemy. The loss, was trjivi^l..j," T ; K Louisville, October .3,—'The rehear seem: to. toe still hanging around wntesting of the country with our pickets, t&fcpxfey afiey. noon our forces were drawn up in line of the rebel advance approached, -a upon them and they were driven baidfc trough Jsddleton as fax as Flod's. Our forces The number of rebels is estimated at , 600q! There was skirmishing last evening at Feerin Greek, ■ a mile from the city on the Bardstown road;, 'The | rebels were defeated with a loss of 112 killed and wounded. Our loss was severe. These .forces i probably were only the rearguard of, Bragg's 1 watching Buell's movements. The anny of Ifttte? has left the city in light marching order from iis'advance of one wing state that. it is' up ,to Shelbyville and Pike, sixteen miles from, the city. Bragg has issued a proclamation threateniiig ap immediate and vigorous enforcement of the Conniption Act in all parts of Kentucky under the of the rebels. The van of Buell's waggon train Jhsi just reached Louisville, the rear of the 'train resting on Salt River, twenty, niiles distant. >, i.-.. Washington, October 3.— Richmond;' Whig' of the 30th, contains the rep6rt of t the the rebel Senate on President 'Lincoln's tion Proclamation. A resolution was daring that the levelled, agamst certain Confederate States, a.nd ; k such a violation of the usages of civilised w-arfare, such, ait outrage on the rights of private property, an invitation to atrocious, servile wa*, therefore it should be held up to the execration of counteracted by such .severe retaliatory, in the judgment of the President are best calculated to secure its withdrawal or arrest its execution. Speeches were made by several members in favour of raising the black flag, and proclaiming the war one of extermination ifjfc all the ik the Southern soil. The resolution was referred, tii'the Judiciary Committee. Beauregard, on the 1 24thof September, officially announced his assumption! of »,the command of the district of South Georgia. The Richmond 'Whig' losses at the Manassas battles dd and the losses in the engagements in 5000 to 7000. The same paper says tion from Lee's army indicates an pending, which will' take place at the week, and claims that the army is in excfellerit cotir dition.

Fortress Monroe, October 3. —The flag of trace boat, from Aiken's Landing, brought about W dozen passengers, ong of "whom reports thatthe rebel COngress had resolved' that in all futui'e' President orders tlie black; flag_ to be exterminate the Federals without granting 4urirter to any one. : . ..