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HDQRS. SIXTY-SIXTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEERS,
Camp near Harper's Ferry, Va., September 25, 1862.
Major O. J. CRANE,
Comdg. First Brig., Second Div., Second Corps, Army of Va.
SIR: In compliance to orders received from headquarters of First Brigade, Second Division, Second Corps, Army of Virginia, I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Sixty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the late action near Sharpsburg, Md., on the 17th instant:
The regiment moved to the field of battle in column, in company with the Fifth and Seventh Ohio Volunteers (infantry), and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, composing the First Brigade, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Hector Tyndale, of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania. Moving in front of a piece of woods in which the enemy were in force, and under whose fire we were placed, having 2 wounded while we were in column, I immediately deployed my regiment, and two high fences were a serious obstacle to my deploying to the left. I formed in line of battle, moving to the right. I observed that the Seventh Ohio had formed line in a similar manner, and I immediately attached my regiment on the left of the Seventh Ohio, and together we moved toward the right of the line that the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania were forming, which brought us immediately in front of a line of the enemy drawn up along a fence, in the edge of a corn-field. We immediately opened fire upon the enemy, who soon broke. We advanced, firing, in connection with the other regiments composing the First Brigade.
The retreat of this line of the enemy soon became a rout. My regiment took a number of prisoners, who were sent to the rear. The regiment moved rapidly forward and formed, with the rest of the brigade, under shelter of a small knoll, directly in front of the church on the Sharpsburg road. This regiment assisted in repulsing the several attacks made by the enemy to drive us from this position, and in their last attack I was wounded by a musket-shot along the cheek and neck, which disabled me from remaining on the field the rest of the day.
From the report of the acting adjutant of the regiment, we went into action 120 strong, and this small force acted as efficiently as it was possible for it to do. I had but two commissioned officers with me in the action, Lieutenants Smith and Yagel, both of whom escaped unhurt.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
EUGENE POWELL,
Lieutenant-Colonel Sixty-sixth Ohio Vols., Comdg. Regiment.
Source: OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol 19, Part 1 (Antietam - Serial 27) , Pages 508 - 509