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166 Series I Volume LI-I Serial 107 - Supplements Part I

Page 166 MD., E. N. C., PA., VA., EXCEPT S. W., & W. VA. Chapter XLIII.

Report of Captain Thomas H. Jackson, Fifteenth Georgia Infantry, of operations September 17.

CAMP NEAR MARTINSBURG, VA.,

September 23, 1862.

I have the honor to of operating through you to Colonel H. L. Benning commanding General Toombs' brigade, the following report of a battle fought near Sharpsburg, Md., on the 17th instant:

On the morning of the date above mentioned the regiment crossed the Potomac from Shepherdstown and marched toward the scene of battle; was ordered in position on the right wing on a road leading I know not where; remained but a short time, when orders came to move forward toward a bridge leading across the Antietam River. Before reaching there were ordered to halt by General Toombs in person, to remain in a corn-field, after which we were ordered to about-face, and marched by the right flank by file into a clover field, where we were ordered to lie down. In the meantime skirmishers were ordered forward, who engaged the enemy's skirmishers with great gallantry; also a company of the regiment was ordered to the right of our position as skirmishers to prevent a flank movement from the enemy. The regiment, then composed of eight companies, lay inactive until about 4 o'clock n the afternoon, when we were relieved by General Hill's division. We immediately were ordered by Colonel Benning to draw in our skirmishers in front and move, which we did, on the road we first occupied. We marched but a short distance up the road when the enemy advanced on a battery, which when we reached has been deserted by our troops. We checked them, crossed the fence at the road, and charged the enemy a distance of half a mile, until we reached a rock fence, where we halted and continued firing until dark, at which point the colonel commanding was killed, and I, second in command, was, after dark, ordered by General Toombs in persons to move the regiment and occupy a different position. Not knowing of the orders that were issued during the day, and unable to give a more perfect account of the movements ordered, of all I could see the officers and men behaved gallantly, and obeyed every all I could see the officers and men behaved gallantly, and obeyed every order issued to them with promptness. The company sent out as skirmishers on the right of our position reported back the next morning, they not being relieved until the regiment was moved from where they left it, which prevented them from finding the regiment sooner.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. H. JACKSON,

Captain, Commanding Regiment.

Lieutenant MOTT,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Indorsements.]

FIFTEENTH Georgia REGIMENT,

SHARPSBURG.

CAPTAIN: State the number of officers and men you carried into action as well as you can.

H. L. B.

One hundred and twelve men and thirteen officers.

[19.]


Page 166 MD., E. N. C., PA., VA., EXCEPT S. W., & W. VA. Chapter XLIII.