Smyrna times., 1862-10-02
THE DELAWARE REGIMENTS I'M
THE BATTLE OF AMTIETAM

LIE DhTTLE UF RMTlETkM,
The Chicken gives the following as the correct
account of the part taken by the First Delaware
in the battle of Antietam, fought on the 18th inst:
The Regiment lost Al killsd, 200 wounded, and II
missing Total 257. This is as near, as at present.
can be ascertained. 1t only numbered six hundred
when il went into the fight. The rest were sick in
the hospital at Portsmouth and Norfolk; and at
tending to the cooking and baggage of the company
On the morning of the 18th, the regiment was
stationed within II miles ofSharpsburg, between
Sharpsburg, and Buonsboro. At about u in the
morning, they with the rest of the army, formed in
line Of battle. Max Weber's brigade in which they
we're, consisting of the lst Delaware, 5th Maryland,
and 4th New York. The Ist Delaware had the
post Of honor on the right of the Brigade. As soon
as they formed the line Of battle, they marched OH
the enemy After advancing about a mile and
half through woods and fields the enemy keeping up
a steady fire Of artillery on them the whole time,
they came up TO the infantry. which they found
toned IN what was formerly carriage road, be-
tween two hills, hut had been so washed out by
heavy rains. that it was gully, and formed f.r-
midable breastwork. In front Of this gulley the
from a worm fence that all ng the edge Of the
road On top Of the hill, back Of this brcastwork,
vas the rebel reserve, Consisting of twe batteries Of
artillery and two regiments of infantry. As
the position Of the rebels perceived the regiment
had to climb the fence, when the enemy opened a
tremendous fire Of artillery and musketry. The
regiment formed Immediately as il on dress parade.
and they charged one man on the eRsmy's works.
When within about twenty yards OF the hsTTieadss,
the general Perceving heavy rsinforcements coming
to the rebels ordered the regiment 10 fall back 10 the
eornfeld. "a part of the regiment. owing to the
position Of the ground reached the borreade. and
few crossed bayonets with the enemy, and some two
three Of our men were dragged into the barrc,de
and made prisoners. Capt. Crossley here struck
with a buyOnct. The regiment fell back in perfect
order. and when in the corn returned the enomy's
fire. When regiment had entered the corn-feld,
however, the l lth Connecticut, who were the re-
serve, thinking we were the the enemy fired on ",
and retreated killing several men Of the regiment.
1t was during this gallant charge that Captains
Watson and Leonard received their death wound
Captain Watson was shot through the chest at the
commencement. All he said Oh, my compa.
n.y." He was killed near a tree. Capt. Leonard
instantly killed on the left of the limo at almost
precisely the same time, They retired about o.
clock, P. VI.
The fight ragged furiously with our regiment in
the cornheld and enemy behind the barricadcs for
about 5 hours. During the time Maj Smith, Capt,
Richards, Lieut.. Postlcs acting Adutant, Leuts.
Nichols, Smith and Tanner, and about fifty men
fret from IL r. A..
extreme right Of ours the le of the rebels posi-
ton, the officers using muskcts with the men which
they obtained from the killed and wounded around
the This and the front fire so harasscd the rebels
that their fire slackened as they were fearful of
raisng above the barricldes. During the charge
four color bearers having been shot down. the cooTs
were E, owing 20 the staff being shot in two by
within twenty yards Of tic cnemy,s
barricade Three separate charges were made by
the enemy TO obtain them, but were successfully
rePulsed by our gallant boys. Whom the fire Of the
rebels slackened a little owing 10 the above cross
fire, Lieut.. Colonel Hopkinson and Lieut.. Chas. b
Tanner and a corporal of company A, ran fowaTd
ard brought the colors safely off, amid tho cheers O
the regiment, although they had both beon previous
ly wounded. Whilst these gallant officers and sold
bers were tuus DdLllgS humping ICOeis suppObeo tC
be wounded coming up the road trailing
his gun. One of the men was about firing at him
when Capt. Richards checked him with the word
ayou wouldn't shoot wounded man." Immediate
ly the rebel up, leveled his gun and shot Capt
Richards dead. He instantly riddlcd by tn
shots Of our men. Lieut.. Tanner approached hin
Immediately and said. "Captain are you badI,
hurt" lie replied, "ho hit pretty fair. but
don't hurt much" and in a few moments aflsrward
expired with his head on Lieut.. Nichols knos
The rebels now undertook to flank our regiment o.
the right, which caused change in our position t
meet them, aud placed our front nearly at rigl
unges with our former position. Our fire assiste
by the battery the hin and on right, drov
the rebels back. Just before the rebels made III
flank movement, however, the rebels be hind III
barricade threw down their arms and surrendered
They had previously raised white flag but our me
paid no attention 70 il, they were fearful q
trsachsry, and il was shot away snd il was not unt
lhey came out without weapons that they paid an
attention TO ii. Many endcsvored to escape frol
ihe barricade the hill, in their rear, but the
gere at once shos down by our men. Thoy surrel