HIGHLY IMPORTANT: Another Great Battle Yesterday in Maryland; THE POTOMAC RECROSSED BY JACKSON (9/17/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 9/17/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

A GREAT BATTLE IN PROGRESS.

HARRISBURGH, Tuesday, Sept. 15. -- 8 P.M.

Dispatches received from Hagerstown say Gen. McCLELLAN came up with the rear of the rebel army at Sharpsburgh, and that a battle is now in progress.

HARRISBURGH, Tuesday, Sept. 16. -- 10 A.M.

A dispatch, just received at headquarters, says Jackson has recrossed the Potomac, and Gen. McClellan has engaged him with tremendous force this side of Sharpsburgh and ten miles from that place. The whole rebel army in Maryland will be annihilated or captured this night.

No rebels can be found about Hagerstown and Williamsport, and none two miles on the other side of the Potomac.

Special Dispatch to the New-YorK Times.

HARRISBURGH, Tuesday, Sept. 16.

We have just received tidings of the two portions of the rebel army having United on this side of the Potomac, numbering, it is supposed, seventy thousand (70,000) men. A desperate battle is momentarily expected in Middletown Valley, between the Cos Locton Mountains and the South Mountain, the scene of the last battle. Reinforcements are going on actively,

LATER -- 8.40 P.M. -- A battle is reported as going on all this afternoon. The result is not yet known.

PREVIOUS REPORTS FROM HARRISBURGH.

PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, Sept. 16.

A special dispatch to the Bulletin, from Harrisburgh, says:

"Telegraphic and railroad communication to Hagerstown was reopened last night, showing that that place had been totally abandoned by the rebels, and reoccupied by our troops.

It is rumored at Hagerstown that another battle is going on this morning between Sharpsburgh and Middleburgh, but no particulars have been received.

Sharpsburgh is near the Potomac, about ten miles west of Middletown.

It is not unlikely that Gen. MCCLELLAN is engaging the rebels in that neighborhood, to-day, and disputing their passage of the river.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4093802/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Highly Important: Another Great Battle Yesterday in Maryland – 2-3
The Victory of Sunday: The Battle-Ground and the Forces Engaged – 4-5
Latest from the Front: The Pursuit of the Enemy by Gen. McClellan – 5-6
News from Washington: War Bulletins – 6-7
A Sword for Maj.-Gen. Sherman – 7
Editorial: The Invasion Policy at Richmond – 7
Editorial: From Maryland – 7-8
Editorial: Necessity for the Draft – 8
The Kanawha Valley Raid – 8
Editorial: The Battle of Hagerstown Heights – 8
Behavior of Fresh Troops Under Fire – 8
A Difference of Opinion – 8

[GreenLanternCorps]

“The whole rebel army in Maryland will be annihilated or captured this night.”

Not with McClellan in command...

[KC_Lion]

Today is the day of days.

I hope it was worth it.

[georgiarat]

Even though McClellan at this point had detail plans of Lee’s movements.

[BroJoeK]

Until "today" there were nearly as many engagements in Union States & territories (70) as in Confederate States (76), however, with the biggest battles fought in Confederate States, about 85% of total casualties fell in Confederate States.

"Today's" battle will change that, increasing total casualties from engagements in Union States from ~15% to nearly 25%.

[rxh4n1]

Although they are fiction, Bernard Cornwell’s Nathaniel Starbuck series is an excellent accounting of the campaign. His description of McClellan and his arm chair are spot on.

[jmacusa]

The Battle of Antietam. Worst loss of life in a single day in US military history.

82 years later, on the same date US Army units, the 101st. Airborne and the 82nd Airborne would have another bad day, in fact a whole week beginning on Sept. 17, 1944 in the Dutch city of Arnhem during WW2.

[MeganC]

Happy Hannukah!