Gen. Burnside could not maintain his advantage, and was obliged to withdraw from the extreme position which he had gained to one slightly in rear. He, however, held his bank of the river completely, and maintained much ground beyond it which he had taken from the enemy. During the advance on the left Gen. Rodman was wounded.
Notwithstanding substantial and decided successes of the day, the Federal forces had suffered so severely during the conflict, having lost 11,426 killed and wounded, and among them many general and superior officers, that it was deemed prudent by Gen. McClellan to reorganize and give rest and refreshment to the troops before renewing the attack. The 18th was accordingly devoted to those objects. On the night of the 18th, however, Gen. Lee withdrew his forces hastily across the Potomac, abandoning further contest with the Union forces, and yielding all hopes of further remaining on Maryland soil. The Confederate army is supposed to have lost nearly 30,000 men during its brief campaign in Maryland. The Federal forces captured 39 colors, 13 guns, more than 15,000 small-arms, and more than 6000 prisoners.—Extracts from D. Appleton’s “History of the Rebellion,” by Tenney, “Lippincott’s Gazetteer,” and Haydn’s “Dates.”
Antioch. A city in Syria, built by Seleucus 300 B.C.; after the battle of Ipsus it acquired the name “Queen of the East.” Here the disciples were first called Christians, A.D. 42. Antioch was taken by the Persians, 540; by the Saracens about 638; recovered from the Eastern emperor, 966; lost again in 1086; retaken by the Crusaders in 1098, and held by them till 1268, when it was captured by the sultan of Egypt. It was taken from the Turks in the Syrian war, Aug. 1, 1833, by Ibrahim Pasha, but restored at the peace.
Antium. A maritime city of Latium, now Porto d’Anzio, near Rome; after a long struggle for independence it became a Roman colony at the end of the great Latin war, 340-38 B.C. The treasures deposited in the Temple of Fortune here were taken by Octavius Cæsar during his war with Antony in 41 B.C.
Antonia. A fortress in Jerusalem on the north side of the area of the temple, originally built by the Maccabees under the name of Baris, and afterwards rebuilt with great strength and splendor by the first Herod. The fortress communicated with the northern and western porticoes of the temple area, so that the garrison could at any time enter the courts of the temple and prevent tumults. Josephus describes it as standing on a rock 50 cubits high, and having everything necessary within itself.
Antustriones. A body-guard of the kings or chiefs of the ancient Germans, which was composed of volunteers.
Antwerp (Fr. Anvers). The principal port of Belgium; is mentioned in history in 517; it was pillaged and burnt by the Spaniards and the inhabitants massacred, November 4, 1576. This event has been termed the “Spanish Fury.” After Marlborough’s victory at Ramillies, Antwerp surrendered at once, June 6, 1706; the Barrier treaty concluded here, November 16, 1715; taken by Marshal Saxe, May 9, 1746; occupied by the French, 1792-94 and 1814. The Belgian troops, having entered Antwerp, were opposed by the Dutch garrison, who, after a dreadful conflict, being driven into their citadel, cannonaded the town with hot shot and shells, October 27, 1830; the citadel was bombarded by the French, December 4; surrendered by Gen. Chasse, December 23, 1832. The exchange burnt, archives, etc., destroyed, August 2, 1858; fortification completed, 1865.
Anvil. An archaism for the handle or hilt of a sword. Also, a little narrow flag at the end of a lance.
Anvil. The resisting cone, plate, or bar against which the fulminate in a metallic cartridge is exploded. See [Primer].
Aosta. A town in Piedmont, which was captured by the Romans in 24 B.C.