Today in History:

511 Series I Volume XIX-I Serial 27 - Antietam Part I

Page 511 Chapter XXXI. THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.

the action of the Third Maryland Regiment in the battle near Sharpsburg on the 17th of this month:

We rested from 3 o'clock a. m. in a field about 1 mile from the bridge over the Antietam. At 6.30 o'clock in the morning General Greene, commanding the division, marched us from this field in column by companies, and, advancing in a southerly direction, we reached a point about 1 mile from our starting place. We here met the enemy, who was in possession of a piece of woods. Deploying in line of battle, we here met our first loss; 3 of our men fell. After a short but severe contest, we drove the enemy out of this wood and across a newly plowed field. This woods was filled with the wounded and dead of the enemy, who had taken refuge behind one of the batteries n front and toward our left. Arriving at the farther and of this field, we halted for some minutes, in order to form again in line. Our left rested on a burning farm-house, said to have been the commissary store-house of the enemy, who had, before leaving, set fire to the same and thrown his salt in the will.

After again being formed, we advanced over a meadow toward the battery of the enemy, who had vigorously shelled us during our advance from the woods. Arriving behind the crest of a little elevation, we been ordered tour support, and of which a section shortly came up and unlimbered. A full battery, said to have been knap's, came up soon after and went directly into action. The enemy's infantry advanced from the right, apparently designing to take our battery. We were ordered up, fixed bayonets, and charged forward past the battery, which in the mean time had given the enemy the benefit of two rounds and across the road leading from Bakersville to Sharpsburg. On the other side of the road is a church or school-house, surrounded by woods. Charging through this piece of woods, we drove the enemy out, and held possession nearly two hours. The enemy occupied a corn-field in front of us, and, judging from his fire, must have been in strong force. In this woods I lost most of my men. I took 148 men into action. Our casualties amount to 1 killed and 25 wounded, some of whom have since died. Four were missing.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. M. SUDSBURG,

Commanding Third Regiment Maryland Volunteers.

Lieutenant-Colonel LANE,

Commanding Second Brigade.


Numbers 188. Report of Lieutenant Colonel James C. Lane, One hundred and second New York Infantry, of the battle of Antietam.


HDQRS. ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND NEW YORK STATE VOLS.,
Camp in Field near Antietam Creek, September 18, 1862.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that in the action of yesterday the One hundred and second New York State Volunteers entered the field for duty, according to orders, at 6.30 a. m., in common with the rest of the brigade; that we marched to the woods held by the rebels in close column by division, and that line of battle was formed by deployment of column. While the line was forming, under fire of


Page 511 Chapter XXXI. THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.