Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-01-07
The Fight at the Cement Mill.

Mr.. John 7. Smith, Of Sharpsburg,
has recently collated the facts con-
cerning the bloody battle at the Ce-
ment Mill, mile east of Shepherds
town, which occurred couple of days
after the battle Of Antletam, in Sep
tember, 1862. 1t was in this engage
ment that the 118th Pennsylvania
Regiment (the Corn Exchange Regi-
ment) was almost annihilated. Follow
ing are the inscriptions on two iron
tablets at the Cement Mill and at the
intersection of the road the 1l8th
marched upon the cliff. Also, the
reports of Lieut.. Col. James Gwyn
and Major Gen. A. P. Hill:
Inscriptions on tablet boards at the
Virginia Cement Mills:
U. S. A.-Barnes' Brigade, 18th
Massachusetts, Infry., commanding or
ganization End Maine, 18th and 22d
Massachusetts,, lst Michigan. 18th and
25th New York-ll8th Pennsyl-
vania Infantry, 2nd company, Mass
achusetts Sharpshooters, Sept. 20,
1862. Barnes Regiment of Mor'll's
division, Fifth Corps, crossed the Pc
tomac at the ford -42Q yards south Of
this mill at 9 a. m. September 20,
under orders to march on the river
road to Shepherdstown. When it be-
came known that A. P. Hills Con-
federate division was in front and ad-
vancing General Sykes ordered the
brigade to suspend its movement for
Shepherdstown and take position. on
the right of LovellS Brigade, which
was on the bluffs south of this point.
The greater part of the brigade
pushed part way up the slope Of the
bluffs few yards west of this, with
skirmishers thrown well to the front.
The 118th Penn. Corn Exchange Reg
iment advanced up the bluff north of
this point to extend the brigade line
to the right. The forward Of the line
had not bsen completed when the brl-
gade was ordered to be withdrawn.
That portion Of the brigade in front
and to the left of this was withdrawn
under fire and recrossed the river in
good order with slight loss, but the
118th Pennsylvania wa, attacked by
A. P. Hills Division and suffered Sc
verely in killed and prisoners.
Second tablet: ll8th Pennsyl-
vania Corn Exchange Regiment, COL
onel Chas. NJ. Provost, commanding,
September 20, 1862.
The ll8th Pennsylvania Corn EI-
change Regiment Of Infantry with
737 officers and men, crossed the river
by the ford, south Of the mill, and
was ordered into position on the bluff
running north from this point. This
regiment ascended the bluff and had
not completely formed line 375 to 425
yards north Of this point and about
425 yards west of the river road,
when it was attacked in front and on
both fanks by A. P. Hills Division
and after short and sanguinarY en-
gagement was ordered to retire, which
they did, in considerable confusion.
Manyof the men escaped bythi' ravine,
others were driven over the precipl-
tous bluff north and killed or mangled.
Some recrossed the river at the tord,
some by the breast of the dam l9O
yards north of this. Others swan the
stream above the dam, or crossed be-
tween the dam and ford. Numbers
were killed while crossing by the Con-
federates who advanced to the edge of
bluff. Some of them occupied the
mill, and fred from the windows.
Others were drowned. The loss Of the
regiment was 63 killed, l0l wounded
1O5 captured or missing; total loss
269. A. P. Hills Division in the days
operation was 80 killed and 23l
,roupIa1