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HDQRS. FIRST BATTALION FOURTEENTH INFANTRY,
Camp near Sharpsburg, Md., September 24, 1862.
Lieutenant WILLIAM H. POWELL,
Acting Asst. Adjt. General, First Brigade, Sykes' Division.
SIR: In compliance with instructions this day received, I have the honor to report the part taken by the First Battalion, Fourteenth Infantry, in the recent battle:
The battalion was first posted in line of battle at 6 p.m. on the 15th, on the left of the Second Battalion, Fourteenth Infantry, and in rear of the Second Battalion of the Twelfth Infantry. In this position I bivouacked.
September 16, occupied the same ground under heavy artillery fire for several hours, and remained in this position all day.
September 17, occupied the same ground under very heavy artillery fire until 3 p.m., at which time I received orders to cross the Antietam Creek in company with the Fourth Infantry, Captain Dryer, Fourth Infantry, in command.
I then continued up the road nearly 1 mile toward Sharpsburg, under heavy artillery fire and musketry firing from the enemy's sharpshooters. At this place the Fourth Infantry were deployed as skirmishers, and I received orders to hold the battalion in reserve near a wagon road which crossed said pike about 1 mile from the position I had occupied during the early part of the day. The battalion remained here about three hours, 2 men being wounded by scattering shots from the enemy's skirmishers. At dark two companies (F and G) were thrown forward as skirmishers about 100 yards to the edge of a cornfield occupied by the enemy's sharpshooters. In a short time thereafter I received orders to withdraw my command, and in company with the Fourth Infantry returned to camp, where I remained until the morning of the 19th, when I received orders to march in the direction of the Potomac, and bivouacked 1 mile from Sharpsburg. On the morning of the 20th marched about three-fourths of a mile nearer the river, for the purpose of supporting some batteries. On the evening of the 21st the battalion was on picket along the Potomac River; returned on the 22d.
The following commissioned officers were present with the battalion, viz: Captain W. Harvey Brown, acting field officer, commanding battalion; Asst. Surg. W. H. Forwood, U. S. Army, attending battalion; First Lieutenant Daniel Loosley, adjutant; Captain H. W. Keyes, acting field officer; Captain Guido Ilges, commanding Company E; Captain W. R. Smedberg, commanding Company F; Captain C. B. Watson, commanding Company H; Captain S. W. Burbank, commanding Company A; First Lieutenant D. M. Brodhead, commanding Company G; First Lieutenant J. H. Walker, commanding Company B; First Lieutenant Pat. Collins, commanding Company C; First Lieutenant J. Henton, on duty with Company A; Second Lieutenant A. J. Bellows, commanding Company D; Second Lieutenant T. S. Doebler, on duty with Company C; Second Lieutenant P. H. Moroney, on duty with Company F.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. HARVEY BROWN,
Captain Fourteenth Infantry, Commanding First Battalion.
Source: OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol 19, Part 1 (Antietam - Serial 27) , Pages 359 - 360