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

fight began, in which Benjamin's battery
and Durell's battery (the latter sent for
ward a little to the right of our position
under charge of Capt. Rawalle, by Gen
Sturgis, took an active part, cooperating
with batteries of other corps on our right
Two of the enemy's caissons were exploc
ed, and many OF their guns silenced. The
shot and shells fell thickly in our biyou
ac, but little damage was done us.
About seven o'clock orders were receiv-
ed from Gen. Burnside to move forward
the corps to the ridge nearest the Antie-
tam and hold it in readiness to cross the
stream, carrying the ridge and the nights
| above IL by assault. The command was
move forward in columns as it had been
formed the previous night, and promptly
took position as directed, and the hight
artillery was advanced to cover the move
ment; McMullin's, Durells, Clark's Muh-
lenberg's and Cooks batteries being plac-
ed on the nights TO right and left, and
somewhat to the front of Benjamin's bat
terry, to which a section of 20 Founders
from Simmonds' battery was also tempo
rarily attached. Wilcox's division was
also brought up and held as reserve.
| About nine o'clock the order was receiv-
ed to cross the stream Immediately the
llth Connecticut infantry, Col. Kines0ury
commanding, was detailed from Rodman S
division to deploy as skirmishers, and
drive the enemy from the head of the
brigade. the column ON the right, Cook s
brigade of the Kanawha division, support
ed by Sturgis' DIVISION was ordered to
march under cover of the llth Connecti-
cut, and attempt to carry the bridge by
assault, deploying to right and left as soon
as the bridge should be carried, and tax
ing the nights above it. The column on
the left, (Rodman's division, supported by
Ewing's brigade of the Kanawha division, J
was ordered to cross, if possible, by u ford
about one-third of mile below the bridge
take the nights above it, and join the col
umn crossing by the bridge.
The bridge itself is Il stone structure oi
three arches, with stone parapet above,
this parapet to some extent fanking The
approach to the bridge at either end.
The valley i'll which the stream runs is
quite narrow, the steep slope on the right
bank approaching quite 10 the waters
edge. In this slope the roadway is scarp-
ed running both ways from the bridge and
passing to the higher land above by as
cending through ray ines, above and below
the other ravine being some six humid
red yards above the bridge, the town
about half that distance below. On the
hill side Immediately above the bridge
was strong stone fence running parallel
to the stream, the turns of the roadway
were covered by rife pits and breastworks
made of rails and stone, all of which de-
ienses, as well as the woods which covered
the slope, were filled with the enemy
infantry and sharpshooters. Besides the
infantry defenses. batteries were placed
TO enfilade the bridge and all its approach
es. The crest of the first hill above the
bridge is curved toward the stream, form
ing sort of natural tete de pont. The next
ridge beyond rises somewhat higher,
though with less regularity, the depres-
sion between the two being but slight,
and the distance varying in places from
three to seven hundred yards.
In accordance with the order mention
ed above. the llth Connecticut advanced
to the stream and warmly engaged the
enemy across it. Crooks brigade NOV
ing forward was brought under so lively
an infantry fire as well as that of artillery,
that it was forced to halt and open fire in
return, and Sturgis' division passing by
the rear came first to the bridge and was
ordered to cross, under protection of the
artillery fire. Gen. Sturgis ordered for
ward the I'd Maryland and 9TH New Hamp-
shire, which charged at double-quick,
with fixed bayonets; but the concentrated
fire upon the bridge forced them to fall
back. After repeated brave efforts these
regiments were Withdrawn and the 5lst
New York and 5lst Pennsylvania, from
the same division, we're ordered up
About the same time Col. Crook of the
I'd brigade, Kanawha division, succeeded
in getting a section of Simonds' battery,
supported by the Twenty-eeiie.lh.tth Ohio IN
faptry, in position to bear directly upon
the epemy's position at the farther end of
the bridge, and aided by these guns, the
fresh troops charged with great enthusi-
asm, bearing bown all opposition, and at
one o'clock planted their banner on the
opposite bank. In this desperate fight in
| the valley, Colonel Kingsbury, of the l1th
Connecticut, fell, cheering his men on to
their duty.
General Sturgis' division Immediately
marched over, deploying one brigade to
the right and the other to the left of the
bridge, and advanced up the slope, driy-
ing the enemy before them. This divi-
| sion was followed by Colonel Crooks brig
ade, of the Kanawha division, which took
position on the right. -
Mean while, General Rodman's division
and the first brigade of the Kanawha di-
vision, under Colonel Scammon, had sue
ceeded in crossing at the ford below, after
a sharp engagement, and under heavy
musketly and artillery fire. and success
fully took the position assigned, at the
left of the line, of the crest above the
bridge The three divisions of the corps
at this time on the right bank OF the An
tietam, occupied the exact positions as
signed them before the commencement
of the movement, except that on the
right wing the division of Sturgis was in
front, and Crooks brigade in support OF
1.-THE order being reversed by the caus-
es before stated.
The bitterly contested fight at the
bridge having about exhausted the am
munition and greatly fatigued the troops
engaged, l sent a request to Gen. Burn
side that Mileox's division, which had
been held in reserve on the left bank,
might be sent over and take its place on
the right front, putting Sturgis' division
in reserve at the head of the bridge. This
was Immediately ordered by Gen, Burn
| side, and Gen. Wilcox came promptly
forward with his command. During, the
interval the enemy kept up an incessant
cannonade, and having the exact range
of the valley and the rayines, his shells
came in very fast, annoying US good deal,
causing numerous casualties, nOtwith-
standing the men were kept lying on the
ground near the crests of the hill, whilst
the changes in the line and the partially
new formation after the arrival of Wilcox's
division were being made.
At about 3 o'clock, the necessary chan.
ges in the line having been completed, the
order to advance was received from Gen
eral Burnside, and the whole force, except
Sturgis' division, was put in notion
Gen. Wilcox on the right-his whole di
vision in line and supported by Colonel
Crook-was ordered to move on Sharps
burg, which lay about mile distant to
the right of our front. General Rodman
supported by Colonel Scammon, was
| ordered to move in the same direction,