page_title: Battle of Shepherdstown
section_title: Battle
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Shepherdstown / Battle
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of battlefield core and study areas. The Study Area encompasses the Potomac River crossings, Botelers Ford, the mill dam, mill ruins, the river itself, approach routes to the river, artillery positions along the river bluffs on the Maryland and West Virginia sides of the river, the fields over which the two sides fought (including the Osbourn Farm).
context_page_description: The Battle of Shepherdstown, also known as the Battle of Boteler's Ford, took place September 19–20, 1862, in Jefferson County, Virginia, at the end of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War.
context_section_description: Shortly before dusk on September 19, Union Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin sent two regiments, the 1st U.S. Sharpshooters and the 4th Michigan, across the Potomac River at Boteler's Ford. They attacked Pendleton's rearguard, capturing four artillery pieces before being recalled. Pendleton incorrectly reported to Gen. Robert E. Lee that he had lost all 44 guns of his artillery reserve.
  Early on September 20, Porter sent two brigades across the Potomac on a reconnaissance-in-force. Major Charles Lovell's brigade of Regulars encountered Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill's "Light Division" about a mile from the river. While withdrawing back to the ford Hill's men attacked under a withering hail of federal artillery fire, which inflicted tremendous casualties.
  Col. James Barnes's brigade was ordered to the top of the bluffs to cover the retreat, and two more Federal brigades were ordered to cross to the Virginia side of the river. After a violent clash along the heights bordering the river, Porter ordered a withdrawal. However, the colonel of the inexperienced 118th Pennsylvania (the "Corn Exchange" Regiment) refused to retire until orders were received through the proper chain of command. In this engagement, their first time under fire, the 118th Pennsylvania were driven in by four Confederate brigades and suffered 36% losses.
caption: Map of Shepherdstown Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.
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