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concentrated their fire upon every gun that opened, and soon disabled or silenced it.

turnpike; but they were soon undeceived. They to guard the Hagerstown pike. Just before sunwere heroically met and bloodily repulsed by the down I got up a battery (Lane's) of Cutt's batTwenty-third and Twenty-eighth Georgia regi- talion to open upon the Yankee column, advanments, of Colquitt's brigade. The fight lasted cing toward that pike, while Colonel Stephen for more than an hour after night, but gradually Lee brought up another farther on the right. subsided as the Yankees retired. General Hood These checked the Yankee advance, and enabled (who had gone in on the right with his two noble Jackson to take position on Hood's left, and covbrigades) pushed forward his skirmishers, and ering any attempt to turn us in that direction. drove back the Yankees. We retreated that My ranks had been diminished by some additional night to Sharpsburg, having accomplished all that straggling, and the morning of the seventeenth I was required the delay of the Yankee army had but three thousand infantry. I had, however, until Harper's Ferry could not be relieved. twenty-six pieces of artillery of my own, and Should the truth ever be known, the battle of near sixty pieces of Cutt's battalion, temporarily South Mountain, as far as my division was con- under my command. Positions were selected cerned, will be regarded as one of the most re- for as many of these guns as could be used; but markable and creditable of the war. The di- all the ground in my front was completely comvision had marched all the way from Richmond, manded by the long-range artillery of the Yanand the straggling had been enormous in conse-kees on the other side of the Antietam, which quence of heavy marches, deficient commissariat, want of shoes, and inefficient officers. Owing to these combined causes, the division numbered less than five thousand men on the morning of the fourteenth September, and had five roads to guard, extending over a space of as many miles. This small force successfully resisted, without support, for eight hours, the whole Yankee army, and when its supports were beaten, still held the roads, so that our retreat was effected without the loss of a gun, a wagon, or an ambulance. Rodes's brigade had immortalized itself. Colquitt's had fought well, and the two regiments most closely pressed (Twenty-third and Twenty-eighth Georgia) had repulsed the foe. Garland's brigade had behaved nobly until demoralized by the fall of its gallant leader, and being outflanked by the Yankees. Anderson's brigade had shown its wonted gallantry. Ripley's brigade, for some cause, had not been engaged, and was used, with Hood's two brigades, to cover the retreat.

At daylight a brisk skirmish began along Hood's front, and Colquitt, Ripley, and McRae, (commanding Garland's brigade,) were moved up to his support. Hood's men always fight well, and they were handsomely supported by Colquitt and Ripley. The first line of the Yankees were broken, and our men pushed vigorously forward, but to meet another and yet another line. Colquitt had gone in with ten field officers; four were killed, five badly wounded, and the tenth had been stunned by a shell. The men were beginning to fall back, and efforts were made to rally them in the bed of an old road, nearly at right angles to the Hagerstown pike, and which had been their position previous to the advance. These efforts, however, were only partially suc cessful. Most of the brigade took no further part in the action. Garland's brigade (Colonel McRae commanding) had been much demoralized Had Longstreet's division been with mine at day- by the fight at South Mountain; but the men adlight in the morning, the Yankees would have been vanced with alacrity, secured a good position, disastrously repulsed; but they had gained im- and were fighting bravely, when Captain Thompportant positions before the arrival of reënforce-son, Fifth North Carolina, cried out, "They are ments. These additional troops came up, after a long, hurried, and exhausting march, to defend localities of which they were ignorant, and to fight a foe flushed with partial success, and already holding key-points 'to farther advance. Had our forces never been separated, the battle of Sharpsburg never would have been fought, and the Yankees would not have even the shadow of consolation for the loss of Harper's Ferry.

We reached Sharpsburg about daylight on the morning of the fifteenth. The Yankees made their appearance that day, and some skirmishing and cannonading occurred. There was a great deal of artillery firing during the forenoon of the sixteenth; and late that afternoon the Yankees crossed the Antietam, opposite the centre of my line, and made for the Hagerstown turnpike. Had we been in a condition to attack them as they crossed, much damage might have been inflicted; but, as yet, there were but two weak divisions on the ground. Longstreet held the position south of the Boonsboro' turnpike, and I, that on the right. Hood's command was placed on my left

flanking us!" This cry spread like an electric shock along the ranks, bringing up vivid recol lections of the flank fire at South Mountain. In a moment they broke up and fell to the rear. Colonel McRae, though wounded, remained on the field all day, and succeeded in gathering up some stragglers, and personally rendered much efficient service. The Twenty-third North Carolina regi ment, of this brigade, was brought off by the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston, and posted, by my order, in the old road already described.

Ripley's brigade had united with Walker's, and fallen back with it behind the ridge to the left of this road, and near to it. We had now lost all the ground wrested from the enemy, and were occupying the position held in the morning. But three of my brigades had been broken and much demoralized, and all of the artillery had been withdrawn from my front. Rodes and Anderson were in the old road, and some stragglers had been gathered up and placed upon their left. It was now apparent that the Yankees were massing in our front, and that their grand attack would

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be made upon my position, which was the centre intercept it at the Hagerstown road. I found, of our line. I sent several urgent messages to though, that with the exception of a few men General Lee for reënforcements; but before any from the Twenty-sixth, Twelfth, and Third, and a arrived, a heavy force (since ascertained to be few under Major Hobson, of the Fifth, not more Franklin's corps) advanced in three parallel than forty in all, the brigade had disappeared lines, with all the precision of a parade day, upon from this portion of the field. This small number, my two brigades. They met with a galling fire, together, with some Mississippians and North however, recoiled and fell back, again advanced Carolinians, about one hundred and fifty in all, I and again fell back, and finally lay down behind rallied and stationed behind a small ridge leading the crest of the hill, and kept up an irregular fire. from the Hagerstown road. General G. B. AnI got a battery in position which partially enfiladed derson still nobly held his ground; but the Yanthe Yankee line, and aided materially to check kees began to pour through the gap made by the its advance. This battery was brought up by my retreat of Rodes. Anderson himself was morAid, Lieutenant J. A. Reid, who received a pain- tally wounded, and his brigade was totally routed. Colonel Bennett, of the Fourteenth, and Major ful wound in the discharge of that duty. In the There mean time, General R. H. Anderson reported to Sillers, of the Thirtieth North Carolina regime with some three or four thousand men as reën-ments, rallied a portion of their men. forcements to my command. I directed him to form were no troops near to hold the centre, except a That gallant and few hundred rallied from various brigades. The immediately behind my men. accomplished officer was soon wounded, and the Yankees crossed the old road, which we had occommand devolved upon General Pryor. The cupied in the morning, and occupied a cornfield Yankee fire had now nearly ceased, and but for and orchard in advance of it. They had now got Affairs an unfortunate blunder of Lieutenant-Colonel within a few hundred yards of the hill, which Lightfoot, Sixth Alabama, no farther advance commanded Sharpsburg and our rear. would have been made by them. General Rodes looked very critical. I found a battery concealed had observed a regiment lying down in his rear, in a cornfield, and ordered it to move out and and not engaged. He says, as the fire was now de- open upon the Yankee columns. This proved to sultory and slack, I went to the troops referred to, be Bryce's South Carolina battery. It moved and found that they belonged to General Pryor's out most gallantly, although exposed to a terrible brigade. Their officers stated that they had been direct and reverse fire from the long-range Yanhalted by somebody-not General Pryor. Find-kee artillery across the Antietam. A caisson exing General P. in a few minutes, and inform- ploded, but the battery was unlimbered, and, with ing him as to their conduct, he immediately grape and canister, drove the Yankees back. I ordered them forward. Returning toward the was now satisfied that the Yankees were so debrigade, I met Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot, moralized that a single regiment of fresh men Sixth Alabama, looking for me. Upon his tell- could drive the whole of them in our front across ing me that the right wing of the regiment was the Antietam. I got up about two hundred men, We met, however, exposed to a terrible enfilade fire, which the ene- who said that they were willing to advance to the my was enabled to deliver by their gaining some-attack, if I would lead them. what upon Anderson, (General G. B.,) I ordered with a warm reception, and the little command him to hasten back, and to throw his right wing was broken and dispersed. Major Hobson and back, and out of the old road referred to. Instead Lieutenant Gaff, of Fifth Alabama, acquittéd of executing the order, he moved briskly to the rear of the regiment, and gave the command, "Sixth Alabama - about face; forward, march." Major Hobson, of the Fifth, seeing this, asked him if the order was intended for the whole brigade; he said, "Yes; " and thereupon the Fifth and the other troops on their left retreated. I did not see their retrograde movement until it was too late for me to rally them; and for this reason: Just as I was moving on after Lightfoot, I heard a shot strike Lieutenant Bemey, (Aid,) who Wheeling around, was immediately behind me. I found him falling, and that he had been struck in the face. He found that he could walk after I raised him. I followed him a few paces, and It was now about four P. M., and Burnside's watched him till he reached a barn, a short distance in the rear, where he first met some one to corps was massing to attack on our right. A heavy help him in case he needed it. As I turned to-column was advancing up the Boonsboro' pike, ward the brigade, I was struck heavily by a piece and I ordered up some two or three hundred men of shell on my thigh. At first I thought that the under command of Colonel G. T. Anderson, to wound was serious; but finding, upon examina- the hill already described, commanding Sharpstion, that it was slight, I turned toward the bri- burg. But they were exposed to an enfilade fire, gade, when I discovered it, without visible cause from a battery near the church, on the Hagersto me, retreating in confusion. I hastened to town pike, and compelled to retire to another

themselves handsomely in this charge. Colonel Iverson, Twentieth North Carolina, Colonel Christie, Twenty-third North Carolina, Captain Garrett, Fifth North Carolina, Adjutant Taylor and Lieutenant Pierce, of the same regiment, had gathered up about two hundred men, and I sent them to the right to attack the Yankees in flank. They drove them back a short distance, but, in turn, were repulsed. These two attacks, however, had a most happy effect. The Yankees were completely deceived by their boldness, and induced to believe that there was a large force in our centre. They made no further attempt to pierce our centre, except on a small scale, hereafter to be mentioned.

been left. It is true that hunger and exhaustion had nearly unfitted these brave men for battle. Our wagons had been sent off across the river on Sunday, and for three days the men had been sustaining life on green corn and such cattle as they could kill in the fields. In charging through an apple orchard at the Yankees, with the immediate prospect of death before them, I noticed men eagerly devouring apples. The unparalleled loss of the division shows, that, spite of hunger and fatigue, the officers and men fought most heroically in the two battles in Maryland. The division lost three thousand out of less than nine thousand engaged at Seven Pines. Four thousand out of ten thousand in the battles around Richmond. But now the loss was thirty-two hundred and forty-one (3241) in two battles out of less than five thousand engaged; that is, the loss was nearly two thirds of the entire force. Of these, nine hundred and twenty-five (925) are reported missing. Doubtless a large number of the missing fell into the hands of the Yankees when wounded. But even supposing that none of the missing were killed or wounded, still we have twenty-three hundred and sixteen (2316) reported killed and wounded, or nearly one half of those taken into action. Among these was one Brigadier-General killed, one mortally wounded, and three brigade commanders wounded. Four Colonels killed, eight Colonels wounded. One Lieutenant-Colonel killed, seven LieutenantColonels wounded. Two Majors killed, and two Majors wounded. There were but thirty-four field officers present in the battles, and only nine left when they were over. The mortality was equally great among company commanders, and several regiments were left under command of Lieutenants. Still the stubborn spirit of the men was not subdued. From fifteen to seventeen hundred were gathered together on the morning of the eighteenth, and placed in a position more sheltered than the one occupied the day before, and, I think, would have fought with determination, if not with enthusiasm, had the Yankees made an advance. Our northern brethren were too much shattered to renew the contest, and that night we recrossed the Potomac.

hill. About thirty men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Betts, Twelfth Alabama, of my division, remained as supports to my division batteries, under Jones, Hardaway, and Bondurant. The Yankee columns were allowed to come within easy range, when a sudden storm of grape and canister drove them back in confusion. Betts's men must have given them a very hot fire, as Burnside reported that he had met three heavy columns on the hill. It is difficult to imagine how thirty men could so multiply themselves as to appear to the frightened Yankees to be three heavy columns. On our extreme right, however, the Yankees had been more successful. They had crossed the Antietam and were driving our men before them. Our forces (supposed to be A. P. Hill's or D. R. Jones's) had fallen back nearly to the road in rear of Sharpsburg, and the Yankees advanced in fine style to the crests commanding it. A few hundred yards more, and our only line of retreat would be cut off. I called Carter's attention to this imposing force of Yankees, and he opened upon them with three guns, aided by two, I think, of the Donaldsonville artillery. The firing was beautiful, and the Yankee columns (one thousand two hundred yards distant) were routed by this artillery fire alone, unaided by musketry. This is the only instance I have ever known of infantry being broken by artillery fire at long range. It speaks badly for the courage of Burnside's men. Captain Carter says, "The next movement of the enemy was to advance a heavy column on the extreme right, bearing down on what I supposed to have been the right wing of A. P. Hill's division. Our troops gave way entirely before the column. With three pieces of my battery, aided by two of Lieutenant Elliott's, this column was shattered and driven back, without the assistance (so far as I know) of any infantry whatever. Generals D. H. Hill and Rodes witnessed the firing." Our troops advanced, now, on the extreme right, and Burnside's whole corps was driven back. This virtually closed the operations of the day. But a movement of a rather farcical character now took place. General Pryor had gathered quite a respectable force behind a stone wall, on the Hagerstown road, and Colonel G. T. Anderson had about a regiment behind a hill, im- The battle of Sharpsburg was a success, so far diately to the right of this road. A Maine regi- as the failure of the Yankees to carry the position ment, the Twenty-first, (I think,) came down to they assailed. It would, however, have been a this hill, wholly unconscious that there were any glorious victory for us, but for three causes. Confederate troops near it. A shout and a volley 1. The separation of our forces. Had McLaws informed them of their dangerous neighborhood. and R. H. Anderson been there earlier in the The Yankee apprehension is acute: the idea was morning, the battle would not have lasted two soon taken in, and was followed by the most rap-hours, and would have been signally disastrous id running I ever saw. The night closed in, with to the Yankees. 2. The bad handling of our ar our troops in the centre, about two hundred yards tillery. This could not cope with the superior in rear of the position held in the morning. We weight, calibre, range, and number of the Yankee held, however, two thirds of the battle-field, including the ground gained by General A. P. Hill on our right. The only ground lost was in the centre, where the chief Yankee attack had been made, and where there had been the severest fighting and the heaviest loss to both parties. The skulkers and cowards had straggled off, and only the bravest and truest men of my division had

guns. Hence it ought only to have been used against masses of infantry. On the contrary, our guns were made to reply to the Yankee guns, and were smashed up or withdrawn before they could be effectually turned against massive columns of attack. An artillery duel between the Washington artillery and the Yankee batteries across the Antietami, on the sixteenth, was the

Fifth Alabama; Colonel C. A. Battles, Captain E. wounded, caring for the wounded, and fell into S. Ready, (badly wounded,) Lieutenant J. J. Lake, (killed,) Lieutenant E. L. Randle, (wounded,) Sergeant N. M. Howard, Sergeant William Taylor, Corporal Josiah Ely, Sergeant J. W. Hauxthall, private Joseph Lee, Sergeant James Stewart, Sergeant Henry Donnalson, Sergeant George Ellison, and private Hollanquist, Third Alabama.

the hands of the enemy. Privates Thomas S. Cartright, Joseph S. Richardson, and Henry E. Welch, Fourth Georgia, are mentioned with distinction. The first named fell with the colors of his regiment in his hand. Richardson was wounded. Privates R. Dudley Hill and Thomas J. Dinglers, two lads in the Forty-fourth Georgia, attracted, in an especial manner, the attention of their commander by their extraordinary daring. Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, of the First North Carolina regiment, who commanded in both battles in Maryland, says that all did their duty in his regiment, and he cannot discriminate.

Brigadier-General Colquitt reports, in like manner, N. B. Neusan, Color-Sergeant, J. J. Powell, W. W. Glover, H. M. James, and N. B. Lane, Color-Guard, Sixth Georgia; Corporal John Cooper, Corporal Joseph J. Wood, private J. W. Tompkins, privates B. C. La Prade, L. B. Lamnah, A. D. Simmons, W. Smith, J. M. Feltman, The following officers and men, of Garland's and J. C. Penn. Captain Arnold, Sixth Georgia | brigade, are specially commended for their good regiment, who commanded a battalion of skir- conduct: Colonels D. R. McRae, Iverson, and mishers at South Mountain and Sharpsburg, is Christie; Lieutenant-Colonels Johnston and Rufentitled to the highest commendation for his skill fin. The latter was wounded three times at and gallantry. Captain Garrison, commanding South Mountain, and exhibited the highest qualiTwenty-eighth Georgia, was severely wounded at ties of the officer and soldier. Captains Garret, the head of his regiment. Captain Banning, Robinson, Brookfield, Adjutant J. M. Taylor, and Twenty-eighth Georgia regiment, was distin- Lieutenant Peirce, of the Fifth; Captain Atwell, guished for his intrepid coolness, fighting in the (killed,) and Lieutenant Caldwell, of the Twentiranks, with gun in hand, and stimulating his men eth, conducted themselves with soldier-like galby his words and example. W. R. Johnson and lantry. Lieutenants King, Ray, Malone, Duguid, William Goff, Twenty-eighth Georgia, Sergeant Felton, and Sutten, Sergeants Riddick, Ingram, J. L. Moore, privates W. A. Estes, J. S. Wingate, Pearce, Johnson, and Dennis, privates Hays, W. S. Walker, Isaac Hundley, Thomas Sudler, Ellis, Campbell, Hillard, and Rinsart, of the J. J. Gordon, Simson Williamson, Lieutenant B. same regiment, are highly commended by their A. Bowen, Lieutenant R. S. Tomme, Lieutenant regimental commanders. Sergeant A. W. FulL. D. Ford, First Sergeant Herring, Sergeant T. | lenwider, John W. Glenn, C. W. Bennet, and P. W. Bullard, Sergeant J. J. Adams, privates Mosely, McCall, J. M. Vause, J. Hutchings, Thomas Argo, J. S. Denniss, W. C. Claybanks, Joseph Herron, W. D. Tingle, and Corporal J. A. Lee, Thirteenth Alabama.

privates E. F. Howell, and W. C. Watkins, of the Twenty-third North Carolina, exhibited extraordinary coolness and daring. Sergeant Fullenwider has been six times wounded during the war, but still lives to perform more heroic deeds. Private David Jones, Twentieth North Carolina, was specially distinguished as a bold and intelligent scout at South Mountain.

The officers commanding the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Georgia regiments report that it is impossible for them to make distinctions, where so many acted with distinguished bravery. In Anderson's brigade, the field officers present In the Twenty-seventh, every commissioned of in the battles, Colonel Tew, Second North Caroficer, except one, was killed or wounded at lina, (killed,) Colonel Grimes, Fourth North CarSharpsburg; and this sole survivor was un-olina, Colonel Bennett, (wounded,) and Lieuten willing to discriminate among so many brave ant-Colonel W. C. Johnston, (slightly wounded,) men. Brigadier-General Doles (now command- both of the Fourteenth North Carolina, Colonel ing Ripley's brigade) pays a tribute to the mem- Parker, (severely wounded,) and Major Sellers, ory of Major Robert S. Smith, Fourth Georgia, both of the Thirtieth North Carolina, are all and speaks in the most complimentary terms of worthy of the gratitude of their country, for galColonel De Rosset, and Major Thurston, Third lant and meritorious services. Colonel Grimes North Carolina, (the former severely, and the lat- was disabled, by the kick of a horse, from being ter slightly, wounded,) and Captains Meares, Mc- with his regiment (Fourth North Carolina) at Nair, and Williams, of the same regiment. Lieu- Sharpsburg, and unfit for duty for months aftertenant-Colonel H. A. Brown, and Captain J. A. ward. The Fourth thus lost his valuable serHannell, acting Major of the First North Caro- vices. This gallant regiment, which has never lina regiment, are also highly commended. Lieu- been surpassed by any troops in the world, for tenant-Colonel Phil Cook, Captains Willis, De gallantry, subordination, and propriety, was comGraffenreid, and Lieutenants Hawkens, Bisel, manded by the heroic Captain Marsh, and, after Hulbert, Gay, (wounded,) Stephens, Exell, Snead, his fall, by the equally heroic Captain Latham, Cobb, (killed,) Macon, (severely wounded,) "ali who shared the same fate. All the officers of commended themselves to my special notice by this noble regiment, present at Sharpsburg, were their gallant and meritorious conduct." Captain killed or wounded. Their names deserve to be Rey, commanding Forty-fourth Georgia, and Cap- preserved. Captains Marsh, Latham, and Ostain Reid, Assistant Adjutant-General, are equal-borne, Lieutenants Stansill, Colton, Allen, Parly commended. Assistant Surgeon William P. ker, Brown, Weaver, Crawford, and Bonner, SerYoung remained on the field after he was geants John Troutman, and J. W. Shinn, Corpo