The troops move quickly to the attack. Wilcox and Crook sweep all before them. The Rebel batteries which have had possession of the hills east of the town through the day are compelled to fall back from knoll to knoll. There is a mill by the roadside, a half-mile east of the town. The hills opposite the mill on the right hand are sharp and steep. It is about half a mile across the fields to the Boonesboro' pike, where Richardson's left has been struggling to gain a foothold. The Rebel batteries, which have been thundering all day from these hillocks between the Boonesboro' road and the highway to Burnside's bridge, have enfiladed Richardson. They have answered Taft, and Weber and Porter's batteries upon the east bank of the river; they have thrown solid shot almost to the head-quarters of General McClellan; but now, under the resolute advance of Wilcox and Crook, they are forced to withdraw. Rodman meanwhile is wheeling in the open field, under a fire from front, right and left, pouring hot upon him like the concentrating rays of a lens. Hill had his own division, consisting of Branch's, Gregg's, Field's, Pender's and Archer's brigades, also Jenkins and Toombs. Hood was sent down from the church, and held in reserve.[75] [Footnote 75: Campaign from Texas to Maryland, and Charleston Courier.] [Illustration: BURNSIDE'S SECOND ATTACK. 1 Wilcox's Division. 2 Sturgis's " 3 Rodman's " 4 Scammon's brigade. 5 Union batteries on ground from which the Rebels had been driven. 6 Batteries of heavy guns. H A. P. Hill. L Part of Longstreet's command. Hd Hood. T Toombs's brigade. S Sharpsburg. M Mill. R Rohrbach's house.] Rodman and Fairchild's and Harland's brigades; Scammon had his own and Ewing's. They drove Hill's first line back upon the second. Fairchild ordered a charge. His troops went across the field, through the waving corn with a huzzah. They faced a destructive fire. One shell killed eight men of the Ninth New York. The color-bearers were shot. The guards fell. Captain Leboir seized one, Captain Lehay the other, and led the regiment up the hill to the road leading south from Sharpsburg. They found shelter under the wall, and halted. The other regiments of the brigade joined them. Harland found greater opposition. His troops were cut down by a volley from a brigade of Rebels lying in a cornfield. They fought a while, became confused, crowded together, and were forced back. General McClellan, from his head-quarters, can see all that is going on, for there is an unobstructed view of the field. He is with Fitz-John Porter on the high hill east of the Antietam. An officer rides up swiftly. He is Burnside's aide. His horse pants. "I must have more troops and guns. If you do not send them I cannot hold my position half an hour."