Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-10-15
From the Cincinnati Gazette.l
The Battles of South MGun
tain and Antietan,
THE PART TAKEN BY OHIO
TROOPS.
OFFnlAL REPORT OF GEN. cox.
OmeiaI Report of the Movements OF the
ohio Troops, composing the HaRa8ha
Division in the Battle OfSOuth Noun
lain. Maryland. September Ia, 1852,
HEADauARTERs KASAwHA DITIsIoN,
--..---- Ninth ARMY CoRPs, :
Sanf % lS6o l

#H l..H-.-- NlNTH Army lOhfs-
..r.-s Sept 20, 1862
L;sateaaat Colonel l.. Richmond, 4. 4. G.,
.Gs,.eraE B,n,is;ds's Headquarters, R;ght
WG,,g Army ofthe Potomac:
SIR: have the honor to submit the
following report of the part taken by the
Kssuax ha Division, Ninth Army Corps. Ma
lor General Burnside commanding, in the
battle of South Mountain; j
At u clock on the morning OF septem-
Der I4rii. the division marched from Mid
dletown, under an order received by me
from Major General Reno, directing me
10 support with my division, the advance
of Gen. sPleasanton, who with his brigade
oi cavalry and artillery, was moving up
the HaGerstown turnpike, toward the po-
sitions of the enemy in the pass of South
Mountain. Il ss ttt -
% The first brigade of the division, Colo
mel e. z. Scaminon commanding, consist
inc of the 18th, 2Sd, and and Both Ohio
regiments. and McAlullen's Ohio battery,
was ordered 10 proceed 10y the BoonSboro'
roat. running 10 the left-of the Hagers-
town turnpike, and 10 feel the enemy, as
.eertaining whether the crest of south
Mountain on that side, was held by any
considerable force. The second brigade,
Colonel Crook commanding, consisting OF
the llth, 2Sth and Both Ohio regiments,
and Simmonds' bafterIy With Sehambeck
cavalry troop. was ordered to follow on
the same road, 10 support the first brigade.
- Lt-soon- became evident the enemy
held de crest in considerable force, and
the whole diyision was ordered TO advance
to assault the positio9, word being receiv-
ed from Major Gen. Reno that the col
unln would he supported by the corps
Two twenty-four pounder Farrott guns
fro1s S;mmonds' battery and two sections
of NcA Mullins battery were LETT an the
rear in position nlieaF ths turnpike, where
they we're most efficiently served during
the action, in opposition TO the enelppy's
guns, in the center of the line along the
iiagerstown road.
The first brigade being in advance. the
l'rwenty-third Ohio Regiment, Lieut.. Col.
Il. b. Hayes commanding, was deployed
| 70 our left and ordered to move through
the woods to the left OF the road, and up
to tb,, crest of the mountain, gaining, Il
noSsible the enemy's right, so as to turn
it and attack his flank The 18th Ohio
Regiment. Col. Carr b. White command,
ing. occupied the center of the line, and
the both Ohio RegimeRt, Col, Hugh Ewing
commanding, was ON the right.
The second brigade marched in colnmn
OF reserve, and within supporting dis
tance. The whole line in advancing was
well covered with skirmishers, whose du-
ty was very effectively performed,
The 23d Ohio having reached the crest
on the left established itself there in spite
of a most vigorous resistance on the part
of the enemy TN the right the 30th
Ohio also succeeded in reaching the top
| of the slope, in the face of showers of can
lster and spherical case from a battery OF
| the enemy commanding that part OF the
/ line. A section of McMullin's battery
was Immediately advanced to the front,
and opened an effective FIRE on the enc
nav. but its position was necessarily SO
in1,sar near the enemy's infantry as TO be great
| ly exposed, and after losing Lieut.. Croome,
commanding the section, and the wound,
ing of six gunners of the section, 1t was
Withdrawn, having rendered good service,
however, in enabling the infantry to gain
tenable positions along the ridge.
In the center of the line the Twelfth
Ohio was obliged to advance several hun
dred yards over open pasture ground, un-
der most CALLING fire from the edge of the
wood which crowned the slope, and be
| hind stone fences. The skirmishers OF
1.-THE regiment, advancing with admirable
courage and firmness, drove in those OF
the enemy, and the regiment, with loud
| hurrahs, charged up the slope with the
bayonet. The rebels stood firmly, and
| keptup murderous fire until the adYapc-
ing line was within few feet of them, when
they broke and fed over the crest into
the shelter of dense thicket, skirtins
the other side.
The llth Ohio, Of the second brigade
was now sent to support the Left, and form
ed on the left of the 23d. The enemy
made several attempts 10 retake the crest
advancing with great obstinacy and bold
ness. In the center they were at one
time partially successful, but the Both
Ohio, of the second brigade, was brought
forward, and, with the 18th, drove then
back by q most dashing and spirited
charge.
The whole crest was now held by oul
troops AS follows: The left BIZ the It'll
! and 23d Ohio; the center bv the l2tl
Ohio, supported by the Both. formed In
! line in reserve, and the right by the 28th
and 30th. Two 10 FOUNDER PARROTS o
Simmonds, battery, under Lieut. Classic
were pushed forward to an open spot il
the woods and supported by the infantry
did good service throughout the rest o
the action. The enemy Withdrew thei
battery to new position upon ridge, NOR
to the front and right forming their ip
fantry in support, and moving column
In - n.
Il Such was the situation about noon
lWhen a lull occurred in the contest which
lasted some two hours, during which Ou
supports from the remainder of the corp
were arriving aud taking position.
n -.