Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-10-15

| left which threatened to be turned b.
column of the enemy which moved il
that direction.
Gen. Sturgiss arriving subsequently,, sup
ported Gen. Wilcox, and Gen. Rodman'
was divided. Col. Fairchild's brigade be
ing posted ON the extreme left and Col
Harlan's under Gen. Rodman's persona
supervisory being placed on the right.
While these supports were arriving the
enemy made several vigorous efforts Il
regain the crest, directing their effort
chiefly upon our right, which was expos
ed not only to the fire in front, but to til,
batteries on the opposite side of the gorge
beyond our right, through which the Ha
gerstown turnpike runs
About four o'clock p. NJ. most of the
reinforcements being in position, the or
der was received to advance the whole
line and take or silence the enemy's bat
teries, Immediately in front. The order
was Immediately obeyed and the advance
was made with the utmost enthusiasm
The enemy made a desperate resist
ance, charging our advancing line:
with fierceness, but they were everywhere
routed and fed with precipitation. In
this advance the chief loss fell upon the
division of General Wilcox, which was
the most exposed, being on the right
as have said above, but it gallantly
overcame all obstacles and the success was
complete along the whole line Of the
corps. The battery of the enemy was
found to be across a gorge and beyond
reach of our infantry, but its position was
made untenable and it was hastily remov.
ed and not again put in position near us,
Gen. Sturgis' division was now moved
forward to the front of Gen. WilcoX's po-
sition, occupying the new ground gained
on the further side of the slope. About
dark brisk attack was made by the enc
nv upon the extreme left, but was quick
ly repulsed by Col. Fairchild's brigade OF
Gen. Rodman's division, with little loss.
About I o'clock still another effort to
regain the lost ground was made by the
rebels in front OF the positinn of Gen.
Sturgis' division, and part of the Kama
wha division. This attack was more per
sistent, and avery lively fire was kept up for
about an hour, but they were again re-
pulsed, and under cover of the night re-
treated in mass from our entire 'front.'
Just before sunset Major Gen. Reno was
killed. while making ngareconnoisancea at the
front, and by this lamentable occurrence
the undersigned was left in command OF
the corps.
Early in the engagement Lieutenant
Colonel L. d. Hays, commanding the I'D
Ohio, was severely wounded in the arm
whilst leading his regiment forward lie
refused 10 leave the field for some time,
however, till weakness from loss of blood
compelled him.
Major E. NJ. Carey of the Twelfth Ohio,
was shot through the thigh late in the ac'
ton, in which he had greatly distinguish
ed himself by his gallantry and cool cour-
age,
CAPTAINS Skiles and Hunter; and Lieu
tenants Hood, Smith, Naughton and Rit-
ter of the Twenty-third Ohio, and Cap
tains Liggett and Wilson of the Twelfth
Ohio. were also wounded in the engage
ment.
Lieutenant Croome, commanding sec,
ton of McMullin's battery. was killed
whilst serving piece in the place of the
gunner, who had been killed.
In the Kanawha division the casualties
were 52S. of which LOG were killed. 336
wounded, and Sc missing, OF all oi when
a full list viii be Immediately forwarded'
I take pleasure in calling attention to
the gallantry and efficiency displayed In
the action by Coils. Scammon and Crooks,
commanding the brigades OF the division
The manner in which their commands
were handled reflected great credit on
them, and entities them to the highest
/ beg leave, also, to mention my indebt
edness to Capt L. 2. Fitch, Captain u. M
Bacon, and Lieuts, j. w. Conlne apo
S. L. Christie, of my personal staff, for the
devotion and courage displayed by then
in the laborious and hazardous duties o.
the dsy also to Brigade Surgeon W. W
Holmes, Medical Director of the division
Tor his tifelkss aetiFfty and ettheieIncy in
his department.
The conduct of both officers and mer
was everything that could be desired, and
every one seemed stimulated by the de
Termination not to be excelled in any sol
dierly quality.
cannot close this report without speak
ing of the meritorious conduct OF Flrsl
Lieutenant H. Belcher, of the Eighth
Michigan, regiment belonging to anoth
er division. His regiment having suffer
ed severely on the right, and being part
ly thrown into confusion, he rallied about
one hundred men and led them Up TO thf
front. Being separated from the brigade
TO which he belonged, he reported TO me
for duty. and asked position where he
might be of use till his proper place could
be ascertained. He was assigned posi-
on the left and subsequently, in support
of the advanced section OF Slmmonds
battery, both of which places he and hi:
men performed their duty Admiralty, ano
after the repulse of the enemy in the ev
ening. he carried his command to theil
proper brigade.
About six hundred prisoners were ia
ken by the Kanawha division, and sent tC
Middletown, under guard. The losses o
the enemy in our immediate front were
not definitely ascertained. but it is known
they very greatly exceeded our own.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ISignedl J. D. cox,
Brigadier General, commanding kanawhf
Division.
A true eopy.l
oSlIi saS ar%s nspSSEa Corps P son.. ed in part o
ohio Troops, In the . n. Shnrps
burg, Nd, Sept, IL, ISS:
HEADQUARTERS 9TH Al a CORPS.
MOUTH OF ANTIETAM, Sep. %, 'G2.
Lieutenant Colonel L. Richmond. A. Il. O..
Headquarters Right Wing, MAJOR Genera
Burnside commanding:
SIR: l have the honor to submit the
following report of the movements OF the
9th army corps on the 10th inst, and theil
parts in the battle of Sharpsburg on the
18th, 80, ~,
On the evening of the 18th inst, the 9tl
army corps having been ordered away
from the remainder of the right wing, was
encamped in the rear of the extreme lef
OF the whole line of the army of the Po
tomac. close to the hills on the south cas-
side of the valley of the Antietam, ant
on the left of the road from Rohersvill'
to ShaFpsburg.
In the afternoon of the 10th the whole
corps, except Wilcox's division, Eas NOV
ed forward, and to the left and front, b.
command of Major General Burnside, il
three columns, and took up new posi-
ton upon the rear slopes of the ridges OF
the left bank of the Antietam, the cente
Of tba oorns being nearly opposite thu