THE GREAT VICTORY: The Flight of the Rebel Army into Virginia; A Portion of Our Army Across the Potomac in Pursuit (9/21/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 9/21/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Saturday Morning, Aug. 20.

The rebel army has succeeded in making its escape from Maryland. They commenced to leave about dusk on Thursday evening, and by daylight yesterday morning were all over, except a small rear-guard. They saved all their transportation, and carried off all their wounded but about 300. Between 300 and 400 rebel stragglers were taken during the day by Gen. PLEASONTON's cavalry, who took the advance.

Nearly every house in Sharpsburgh was struck by our shells. Two were burnt, and also a large barn located in the centre of the town. The citizens who remained escaped injury by staying in their cellars. One child was killed. Two rebels, while cooking their supper on Tuesday, were killed by one of our shots passing through the kitchen.

The name given to this battle is the Antietam.

After our forces occupied the whole field, the rebel loss was found to be far greater, particularly in killed, than was at first supposed. Fully 2,500 were found lying on the field, while a larger number had been buried the day before by their friends.

Their loss in killed and wounded will not come far from 18,000 to 20,000.

Gen. STARX, of the rebel army, was killed, and Gens. RIPLEY, WALKER and HAYES were wounded.

The rebels on Thursday night burnt the railroad bridge and several houses at Harper's Ferry.

The citizens of Sandy Hook were fleeing into the country on Thursday night to escape being impressed into the rebel service and carried into Virginia.

Large details of men were made this morning to bury the remaining dead, which have become offensive.

The troops are all in excellent spirits ever the result.

The rebels are still visible on the opposite shore in force.

[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/4094682/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Great Victory: The Flight of the Rebel Army into Virginia – 2-3
Battle of Antietam: Further Particulars from Our Special Correspondents – 3-7
Important from the Southwest: A Great Battle at Iuka, Mississippi – 7
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 7-8
Cultivating a Thankful Spirit – 8
Editorial: The By-Gone Week – Its Battles and Its Triumphs – 8
A Word About Stonewall Jackson – 8
Editorial: Battle of Antietam – 8-9
Too Young Men in the Army – 9
Editorial: The Rebels on Civilized War – 9
A Good Idea – Publishing the List of Exempts and Their Diseases – 9-10
The Capitulation at Harper’s Ferry – 10
Write to the Soldiers – 10
In Front of Richmond – McClellan and Kearny – 10
General News – 10

[BroJoeK]

The Battle of Iuka, Mississippi, was the war's 147th engagement, a Union victory:

Mississippi 1862 Engagements

Date	Engagement	Military Units	Losses	Victor
April 29 - May 30	Corinth, MS	Union Army of the Mississippi (Halleck, Grant, Thomas, Buel ~120,000), Confederate Army of the Mississippi (Beauregard, Bragg, Van Dorn ~65,000)	Union 1,000+ total, Confederates 1,000+ total	USA
Sep 1	Denmark, MS	Union Army of the Missippi, (Dennis ~1,000), Confederate Army of the West (Armstrong -4,000)	Union 108-total (8-killed), Confederates 288 total (11=killed)	CSA
Sep 19-20	Iuka, MS	Union Army of Mississippi (Rosecrans, ~4,500), Confederate Army of the West (Price, ~3,179)	Union 790-total (144-killed), Confederates 1,516-total (263-killed)	USA

Iuka could have been worse for Confederate Gen. Price, because US Grant's forces (under Ord) were also nearby and could have helped cut off Price's escape from Rosecrans' corps-sized forces.
Grant's & Ord's intention was to march to the sounds of battle, but a temperature inversion prevented them from hearing the battle and so they stayed in place, allowing Price to escape.

Confederate forces will soon regroup and move towards Corinth, Mississippi.