HEADQUARTERS ARTILLERY RESERVE,
Camp near Sharpsburg, Md., September 30, 1862.
Lieut. Col. FRED. T. LOCKE,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Fifth Army Corps.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following
report:
Early on the morning of the 16th instant I placed Captains Taft's and Langner's
and Lieutenant Von Kleiser's and Lieutenant Wever's batteries of 20-pounder
Parrott guns in position on a hill in rear of and near the bridge over the Antietam
Creek, the position being in rear of and about the center of our line of battle.
Soon after getting into position the enemy opened upon us a heavy fire from
several guns. The firing was returned, and kept up briskly until the enemy stopped
firing and withdrew his guns. In this engagement Major Arndt, commanding the
First Battalion, New York Artillery, was mortally wounded (died on the 18th)
while personally assisting at one of the guns. During the remainder of this
day there was occasional firing, and about sunset our guns were brought to bear
on the enemy's troops in front of General Hooker's command. Some time in the
afternoon Captain Taft's and Lieutenant Von Kleiser's batteries were moved to
the heights some distance to the left. Lieutenant Hazlett's battery, D, Fifth
Artillery, was placed at daylight on the 17th in the position occupied the previous
day by Captain Taft's battery.
From early in the morning of the 17th, until late in the afternoon, Captains
Taft's and Langner's, Lieutenants Von Kleiser's, Wever's, and Hazlett's batteries
fired at the enemy's batteries and troops whenever and wherever it could be
done without risk to our own troops. These batteries were well served and the
fire very effective. On the 19th, Captain Kusserow's and Captain Langner's batteries
were engaged firing across the Potomac. Captains Gibson's, Robertson's, Tidball's,
and Lieutenant Hains' batteries of horse artillery served with General Pleasonton's
command. Lieutenants Benjamin's and Muhlenberg's and Captain Edwards' batteries
were on duty with General Burnside's army, Lieutenant Butler's battery with
General Couch, and Van Reed's with Genera.] Sykes.
Captain Graham's battery, K, First Artillery, was sent by General Porter to
General Richardson's division. The battery was actively and warmly engaged and
did good service. His loss in men, horses, and material was very great. For
a more detailed account of the services of this battery, I call attention to
his report, herewith transmitted.
Lieutenant Miller's battery, G, Fourth Artillery, was on the 17th ordered to
join General Sykes' division, but was not engaged with the enemy. All the officers
acted with judgment and coolness, and the men were active and efficient. The
behavior of all, both officers and men, was highly praiseworthy. The members
of my staff, Dr. Gouley, medical director; Captains Sappington and Swift, assistant
commissaries; Captain Suydam, quartermaster; Lieutenant Brownson, acting assistant
adjutant-general, and Lieutenant Gilliss, conductor of ambulances, all performed
their respective duties well and efficiently.
The following is a list of the company officers present at the battle, viz:
Battery K, First Artillery, Capt. W. M. Graham, commanding battery; First Lieuts. S.S. Elder and W. M. Maynadier; Second Lieut. T. Von Michalowski.
Battery G, Fourth Artillery, Lieut. M.P. Miller, commanding battery; Lieut. G. Dickenson.
Fifth New York Battery Capt. E. D. Taft, commanding battery; First Lieut. T. Henderson, second Lieut. J.P. Denike.
Battery A, First New York Artillery, First Lieut. Bernhard Wever, commanding battery; Second Lieut. Bernhard Kohans.
Battery B, First New York Artillery, First Lieutenant Von Kleiser, commanding battery; Second Lieut. Charles Hansmann.
Battery C, First New York Artillery, Capt. R. Langner, commanding battery; Second Lieutenant [Michael] Lang.
Battery D, First New York Artillery, Capt. Charles Kusserow, commanding battery; Second Lieut. Gustave C. Blitsher, Second Lieut. George Gaston, Second Lieut. Adolph Reikert, First New York Artillery; Second Lieutenant [F. G.] Moller, acting adjutant.
I respectfully recommend Captain Graham and First Lieutenant Elder for promotion
by brevet for their conduct in the battle of the 17th instant.
WILLIAM HAYS,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Artillery Reserve.
Source: OFFICIAL RECORDS; Series 1, Volume 19, Part I (Antietam - Serial 27), Pages 342 - 343
© 1996 - 2013 by Brian Downey and contributors
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