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


made the line of march of our left wing
diyerge from the course intended, and
upon gap between it and the right.
which IT was necessary to fill by the troops
OF the second line. Batteries were accI-
mulated against US upon the semi-circular
ridge IN advance, and the advancing line
was subject to a most trying and destruc-
tive cross fire of artillery. The enemy
now brought up more fresh forces upon
the left, and whilst Gen. Rodman WAS
making disposition 10 meet them by a
change of front, of part of his command,
he fell desperately wounded Ly a bali
through his chest. The loss Of their COM
m nder at critical perion caused confrl-
siVn in part of the division ON the ex-
treme left. The second brigade of his
division, Colonel Harlan commanding was
forced to retire after an obstinate contest
in which they suffered terribly. Colonel
Scammon, of the Kanawha division. being
ordered to make disposition of the brig
ade with him, to oppose the rebel force
on the left, caused the 18th and 23d Ohio
regiments TO execute perpendicular
change of front, which was done with
precision and success, the other regiment
OF the brigade Doth Ohiol maintained its
RANRNA AC hnOlt line WhS now
engaged, the supports being brought to
the front, except the reserve division of
Gen. Sturgis at the bridge. This was now
ordered up, and came promptly, though
much exhausted and weakened by its
previous exertions during the day. The
mass OF the enemy OH the left still contin-
ued TO increase, new batteries were con-
stantly opening upon us, and it was man.
Itest the corps would, without re-enforce-
ments, de unable to reach the village of
Sharpsburg, since the movement could
not be made to the right, whilst the enc
my exhibited such force in front of the
extreme left, and the attack both to the
right and left at once would necessarily
separate the wings to such AN extent as 10
lmperll the whole movement unwarrant-
ably. The attack having already had the
effect OF most powerful diversion in IA
vor OF the center and right of the army,
which, by this means, had been able to
make decided and successful advances,
and no supports being at the time availa-
BILE Tor our exhausted corps, | ordered
the troops withdrawn from the exposed
ground in front to the cover of the curved
hill above the bridge which had been ia
ken from the enemy earlier in the after
noon. This movement was effected short
ly before dark, in perfect order and with
admirable GOODNESS and precision on the
part OF both officers and men The line
as then constituted was formed by Sturgis'
division in front, on the left, supported
by Fairchild's brigade of Rodman's divis-
ion, the Kanawha division under Col
Scammon in the conter, and Wilcox's di-
vision on the right. The enemy did not
venture an attack upon the position, but
kept up a brisk artillery fire until night
fall.
The bravery and soldierly conduct of
the men was most striking, and becomes
still more noticeable when it is considered
that for several days they had been march
ing and fighting, with scarcely any rest by
night or day, and the rapidity of the
movement had prevented their having
any regular supplies of food, the supply
train being detained at the rear by the ad-
vance of other troops.
The batteries on the left bank of the
Antietam were not only to assist in the
movement of the corps, but were most
efficiently turned upon the enemy in his
attack upon the center and right of the
army. They were all very we'll served,
and the 20-pounder battery and Lieut..
Beniamin's were especially efficient. In
their reports, (which are transmitted here
with, the commandants of divisions and
separate brigades speak in the highest
terms of their troops, and make special
mention of numbers of officers and men
who distinguished themselves These are
too numerous to be named in this report,
but the whole list will very shortly be
published in a special order from these
head quarters,
mist confne myself to the expression
of my great satisfaction with the manner
in which all the subordinate commands
of the.corps were handled, The move
ments were accurate as those of parade;
and the systematic order with which they
were executed, made the spectacle IN the
heat of the battle grand and imposing
one. Permit me, also, to express M OBJ
LEGATION to the gentlemen on Gen. Eurn-
sides staff, for the intelligence, courage,
and unwearied industry they exhibited in
the constant communication between him
and the headquarters of his corps.
The casualties in the corps during the
day were two thousand two hundred and
TWENTY-FIVE (2,222,) of which 357 were
killed: l,742 wounded, and l23 missing.
Among numerous officers killed and
wounded, we have to mourn the loss OF
Col. Henry W. Kingsbury, llth Connecti-
cut; Lieutenant Colonel A. Ii. Coleman,
commanding 11th o. V. l.. Lieutenant
Colonel NJ Clark, commanding Both Reg
iment o. V. l., and Lieutenant-Colonel
Bell, commanding 5lst Pennsylvania
All these gallant officers were killed in
the action whilst heroically leading their
men under terrible fire of shell. eanis-
! ter and musketry.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ISigned. ]. D. COX,
Brig. Gen. Com 9th Army Corps.
A true copy.