Fairchild's Brigade, Rodman's Division

   On the morning of the 17th, Fairchild's Brigade moved from its position southeast of the Burnside Bridge, down the left bank of the Antietam, which it crossed at Snavely's Ford about 1 P.M., and forced the right of Toombs' Brigade from its position on the high ground above the ford and, moving up the right bank of the creek, formed line on the left of Willcox's Division a short distance northwest of the bridge. About 3 P.M. the Brigade, under a heavy fire of Artillery from Cemetery Hill and the adjacent heights, advanced from the ridge 450 yards east of this, reached the open fields west and gained the high ground about 400 yards northwest of this point, forcing the Brigades of Kemper and Drayton through the streets of Sharpsburg. Its position being endangered by the advance of A.P. Hill on its left and rear, it was withdrawn by the ravines to the Sharpsburg Road and thence to the bank of the Antietam near the Burnside Bridge.