The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-07 00:00:00

THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM

General Kimball's official report of the battle of
Antietam, as the recent great fight near Sharps-
burg is now called, has been published:—
" Head-quarters Kimball's Brigade, French's Division,
Sumner's Corps, Army of the Potomac, on the field
of battle near Sharpsburg, Md.
" General,—On the morning of the 17th inst., in obedi-
ence to your order, my brigade crossed Antietam Creek, and
was formed into line of battle on the left of Gen. Sedgwick's
divison, and in the third line, Generals Weber and Morris
forming the first and second lines. In this position I moved
directly forward about three-fourths of a mile, when Gen.
Weber encountered the enemy's pickets and drove them
back, and soon came upon the enemy in force, posted in a
strong position in an orchard, corn field, ditches, and upon
the hill sides.
"At this moment, in obedience to your command, I
moved my brigade forward and formed my line in front, on
the left of General Weber. My right wing, consisting of
the 14th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, Colonel Harrow,
and the Bth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, Lieut.-Colonel
Sawyer commanding, was posted on the hillside in front of
the orchard, their left resting on a lane running in the di-
rection of Sharpsburg. My left wing, consisting of the 7th
Virginia Volunteers, Colonel Snyder, and the 132 d Regi-
ment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Oakford com-
manding, resting on an extension of the same line, their
right resting on the lane running towards Sharpsburg, and
their left extending towards the creek. Directly on my
front, in a narrow road, running parallel with my line, and
being washed by water, forming a natural rifle-pit between
my line and a large cornfield, I found the enemy in great
force, as also in the cornfield in rear of the ditch.
" As my line advanced to the crest of the hill a mur-
derous fire was opened upon it from the entire force in
front. My advance further was checked, and for three
hours and 30 minutes the battle raged incessantly, without
either party giving way. The enemy having been rein-
forced made an attempt to turn my left flank, by throwing
three regiments forward entirely to the left of my line,
which I met and repulsed with loss by extending my left
wing—the 7th Virginia and 132 d Pennsylvania Volunteers
—in that direction. Being foiled in this he made a heavy
charge on my centre, thinking to break my line, but was
met by my command, and repulsed with great slaughter. I
then in turn ordered a charge, which was promptly re-
sponded to, and which resulted in driving the enemy re-
tirely from the ditches, and some distance into the corn field
beyond. In this charge my command captured about 300
prisoners, and the enemy in his flight left on the field seve-
ral stands of colours, which were taken by some parties out-
side of my brigade while pursuing them. At this time
a brigade of Gen. Richardson's Division advanced to my
relief on the left of my line, securing that flank from further
assaults.

" In the meantime, the line on my left having been aban-
doned, the enemy made an attempt to turn that flank, and
by that, to gain my rear, and succeeded in gaining a corn
field directly on my right. To repulse them a change of
front was made by the 14th Indiana Volunteers and Bth
Ohio, which resulted in driving the enemy from my right
and restored the line, which was afterwards occupied by
Smith's division of Gen. Franklin's corps,
" For four hours and a half my command was under a
most galling fire, and not a man faltered or left the ranks
until the field was left by the rebels in our possession, those
who were sent with wounded to the rear quickly returning
to their places in line. For three and a half hours of this
time we were upon the field and maintained our position
without any support whatever. My men having exhausted
all their ammunition, the fight was maintained for some
time with the supplies stripped from the bodies of their
dead and wounded comrades.
" Every man of my command behaved in the most exem-
plary manner, and as men who had determined to save their
country or die. The 14th Indiana and Bth Ohio Volunteers,
in the change of front which saved our right, executed it as
veterans and as only brave men could. The battle was
fought under your eye, General, and I need not tell you
how terrible was the conflict. The loss in my command is
a lasting testimony of the sanguinary nature of the conflict,
and a glance at the position held by the rebels tells how
terrible was the punishment inflicted on them. The corn-
fields in the front are strewn with their dead and wounded,
and in the ditch first occupied by them the bodies are so
numerous that they seem to have fallen dead in line of
battle, for there is a battalion of dead rebels. We maintained
our ground and drove the enemy from his.
" After the firing had ceased on my front the foe seemed
to have concentrated his force on Gen. Richardson's com-
mand. Col. Brooks, commanding a brigade, sent to me for
assistance. You having previously ordered Col. Morris,
commanding Second Brigade, to take orders from me, I
ordered him to Col. Brooks's assistance.
" The loss in my command is as follows:
" 14th Indiana Volunteers.—Killed, 30 ; wounded, 151.
" Bth Ohio.—Killed, 32; wounded, 129.
" 7th Virginia—Killed, 29 ; wounded, 116.
" 132 d Pennsylvania—Killed, 30; wounded 114.