Today in History:

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

Page 653 Chapter XXXI. MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.

Captain BENJAMIN F. POTTS, called by General White, and sworn and examined as follows:

By General WHITE:

Question. What position do you hold in the military service?

Answer. I have been commanding a battery of light artillery, for the last three monts-about three months.

Question. Were you present at Harper's Ferry during the siege?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Your guns were located a portion of the time on Camp Hill, were they not?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Operating against Maryland Heights?

Answer. Yes, sir; Maryland and also Loudoun Heights.

Question. Were you subsequently removed to the front?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. By whose order?

Answer. By your order.

Question. What day was that?

Answer. On the evening of Sunday.

Question. Were you there the next morning during the engagement?

Answer. Yes, sir; I was there until after the surrender.

Question. Who was in command there that morning-in general command?

Answer. You were there, the only person I saw in command.

Question. Did you observe how much artillery the enemy appeared to have at work that morning-how many batteries?

Answer. Seven batteries was what I counted in front and on Loudoun Heights. There was another battery on Maryland Heights, making eight batteries in all; that is my recollection.

Question. Who located your battery that morning? Who gave you directions where it should be placed?

Answer. You gave me the directions on Sunday night about dark.

Question. Who directed you to open fire that morning?

Answer. You did.

Question. Did I tell you where to fire?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. What was the result of the engagement on Sunday evening?

Answer. I did not do any firing on Sunday evening.

Question. What was the general result of the engagement?

Answer. The enemy was repulsed-our troops were repulsed, as I understood it. As far as I know, I believe it was an infantry engagement, although there was some artillery out there.

Question. What time did you get there?

Answer. About dark.


Page 653 Chapter XXXI. MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.