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By Telegraph.
Another Terrible Battle near Sharpsburg.
The Battle raged for Fourteen Hours.
THE REBELS ARE DEFEATED.
The loss on both sides is Terrible.
McClellan's presence on the Battle Field adds much to our success.
GEN. MANSFIELD KILLED.
LEESBURG CAPTURED BY THE FEDERAL TROOPS.
Critical position of Buell in Kentucky.
THE GREAT BATTLE STILL GOING ON.
McClellan thinks the final result depends on who gets reinforcements first.
Twenty thousand soldiers expected from Harrisburg.
A GLORIOUS RESULT EXPECTED.
The Rebels Completely Surrounded.
THE INDIANS WANT PEACE.
Telegraphed to the Rock Island Argus.
Headquarters of Army of Potomac,
Tuesday, Sept. 16th, vis. Frederick, 18th.
To the associated Press.
During this afternoon information was received at headquarters, showing that the enemy were recrossing the river and concentrating their forces on Ridge Hill, outside the town of Sharpsburg within 3 miles of the main body of our army.
Jackson left Harper's Ferry this morning, his troops beginning to arrive in the afternoon.
When it became evident that Lee proposed to engage our forces at this point, McClellan sent for Franklin's corps and Conche's division, when were seven miles distant on the other side of Elk Ridge.
Considerable artillery firing took place during the day, resulting in loss to both sides. — Our loss 40 killed and wounded.
The disposition of troops in the impending battle is as follows:
Sumner's corps with Bank's division occupy the centre; Hooker's corps, with Penna. Reserves and Franklin's corps on the right; Porter and Burnside on the extreme left, with a view to turning the enemy's right flank.
Pleasanton supported the centre with 2500 cavalry and 4 batteries.
Hooker in the afternoon crossed Antietam creek and took position on the hill lacing towards Sharpsburg, 3 miles to the right of Keyesville. His troops got into action at dusk.
The battle lasted 7 hours, during which the enemy was driven half a mile, with considerable loss.
The Pennsylvania reserves, in front, suffered much.
The night was occupied in getting the troops into position, while the ammunition trains and ambulances were forwarded to the different commands.
Sept. 17. — This has been an eventful day in the history of the rebellion. A battle has taken place in which the army of the Potomac was again victorious, exceeding in the extent any battle heretofore fought on this continent. At daylight the battle was renewed on the centre and right by Hooker and Sumner, who after a sharp contest of two hours drove the enemy two miles.
The rebels rallied shortly with terrible loss and regained most of the ground.
At this time Hooker received a shot in the ankle and was carried from the field. The command of his troops now devolved upon Sumner. Richardson, commanding a division, was severely wounded at the same time.
Sumner, determined to retake the lost ground, and ordered the troops to advance, driving the rebels before them with great slaughter.
They not only retook the ground but drove the rebels a quarter of a mile beyond.
In this action Gen. Mansfield was shot through the lungs and died soon after.
During this time Burnside and Porter had not been idle. They drove the rebels from the line of Antietam Creek on the main road to Sharpsburg; rebuilt the bridge — the old one having been destroyed, and occupied the opposite bank. The loss here was considerable. Our troops now hold both banks of the creek, and to get possession of the ridge of hills on the right and left hand sides of the road, from which the rebels were thundering away with artillery, was not a task easily accomplished.
Sykes' brigade, with the assistance of Sumner, carried the right hand side, after a considerable loss — rebels running in all directions.
It is now five o'clock and all the enemy's positions are carried, except one on the left hand side of the road. To do this duty Burnside was assigned. His artillery opened and his infantry advanced, and the point was carried at the charge. But we were forced to retire before a superior forced, knowing that if they lost this ridge, the complete route of their army would be the result, and they fought desperately.
Darkness now overlooked the two armies, and hostilities ceased.
The battle lasted from 5 a.m. until 7 p.m. without a moment's cessation.
The conduct of the troops, without exception, was excellent.
It is impossible now to form a correct idea of the loss on either side — heavy on both sides. Our loss will probably reach 10,000, that of the enemy will not exceed it.
The enemy's dead nearly all fell on our hands, and were thickly strewn over the field. In some places they were lying in heaps. Our wounded were all carried from the field.