Maj Silas M Baily's Official Report

Report of October 2, 1862

[author biography]

CAMP NEAR SHARPSBURG, MD., October 2, 1862.

General MAGILTON.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the battles of the 14th, 16th, and 17th ultimo, in which the Eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, was engaged:

On Sunday, the 14th, the regiment, which constituted part of the Second Brigade, Pennsylvania Reserves, was marched from Monocacy bridge to near the base of South Mountain, when it was marched about a mile to the right of the National pike, when the division deployed into line. The Third Brigade having been sent toward the right, the Eiglith Regiment formed the extreme left of the division. The order to advance soon passed along the line, which the men responded to in fine style, and were soon engaged with the enemy on the mountain side, whom they drove at every point, and about dark had the satisfaction of seeing the last of them pushed over the brow of the hill in full retreat, leaving their dead and wounded in our hands. I regret to have to report the death of First Lieut. William M. Carter, of Company B, a fine soldier and brave man, who fell while gallantly leading his company in the thickest of the fight. The loss of the regiment in this engagement was 13 killed and 36 wounded. On the 16th ultimo the regiment, with the division, was thrown across Antietam Creek, and after marching for some distance through woods and fields, the First Brigade became engaged with the enemy; but on being sent farther forward was not engaged except with artillery. Being screened by a strip of woods, we were ordered to lie down, where we remained all night. We were thrown into the field with the division early on the morning of the 17th, and were soon hotly engaged in front of the corn-field. Officers and men behaved themselves nobly. Where all did their duty so well it would be invidious for me to mention names. The loss of the regiment was 11 killed and 40 wounded, including 3 commissioned officers, who were wounded; two of them but slightly, however, who are again at their posts.

Respectfully submitted.

S.M. BAILY,
Major, Comdg. Eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Corps.

Source: OR1