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Antietam Battlefield Historical Tablet No. 121

Army of the Potomac

8 AM 17 September to 6 PM 17 September

U.S.A.

(September 17, 1862   continued.)
   French's Division, following Sedgwick across the Antietam, on reaching the East Woods wheeled to the left, drove the Confederate outposts from the Roulette buildings and, about 9:30 A.M., engaged the Brigades of Rodes, Colquitt and Garland, posted in the west end of Bloody Lane. Geo. B. Anderson's Brigade (on Rodes' right) endeavored to turn French's left but was forced back by the advance of Richardson's Division, which formed on French's left. Five Brigades of R.H. Anderson's Confederate Division came to the assistance of the four Brigades already engaged. About noon French and Richardson carried the Bloody Lane and the high ground immediately south of it, the Confederates retreating to and beyond Piper's.

Meanwhile, Pleasonton's Cavalry had crossed the Antietam by the Middle Bridge and, advancing on the Boonsboro Pike, drove in the Confederate skirmishers. Four Horse Batteries followed and were put in position on the ridge crossing the Pike about 880 yards southeast of this, and engaged the Confederate Artillery on Cemetery Hill. The Horse Batteries were relieved at intervals by two Batteries of Sykes' Division. After noon portions of Sykes Regular Division crossed the Antietam, and, in co-operation with the Ninth Corps, compelled the Confederate Artillery to abandon Cemetery Hill. About 5 P.M., the Seventh Maine Infantry charged across the Bloody Lane at a point about 450 yards west of this and reached the Piper barn but was soon driven back with great loss.

Location: north side of Bloody Lane at the Observation Tower (Map 3)

 

Units described and/or located by this Tablet:

Cavalry Division
        1st Maine Cavalry
        15th Pennsylvania Cavalry (detachment)
    1st Brigade, Cavalry Division
        5th United States Cavalry
        6th United States Cavalry
    2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division
        8th Illinois Cavalry
        3rd Indiana Cavalry
        1st Massachusetts Cavalry
        8th Pennsylvania Cavalry
    3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division
        4th Pennsylvania Cavalry
        6th Pennsylvania Cavalry
    4th Brigade, Cavalry Division
        1st New York Cavalry
        12th Pennsylvania Cavalry
    5th Brigade, Cavalry Division
        8th New York Cavalry
        3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry
    Horse Artillery, Cavalry Division
        2nd United States Artillery, Batteries B and L
        2nd United States Artillery, Battery A
        2nd United States Artillery, Battery M
        3rd United States Artillery, Batteries C and G

Second Army Corps
    Unattached Second Corps Artillery
1st Division, 2nd Corps
    1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps
        5th New Hampshire Infantry
        61st New York Infantry
        64th New York Infantry
        7th New York Infantry
        81st Pennsylvania Infantry
    1st Division, 2nd Corps Artillery
        1st New York Light Artillery, Battery B
        4th United States Artillery, Batteries A and C
    2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps
        29th Massachusetts Infantry
        63rd New York Infantry
        69th New York Infantry
        88th New York Infantry
    3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps
        2nd Delaware Infantry
        52nd New York Infantry
        57th New York Infantry
        66th New York Infantry
        53rd Pennsylvania Infantry
3rd Division, 2nd Corps
    1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps
        14th Indiana Infantry
        8th Ohio Infantry
        132nd Pennsylvania Infantry
        7th West Virginia Infantry
    2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps
        14th Connecticut Infantry
        108th New York Infantry
        130th Pennsylvania Infantry
    3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps
        1st Delaware Infantry
        5th Maryland Infantry
        4th New York Infantry
        1st New York Light Artillery, Battery G
        1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery B
        1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery G

Fifth Army Corps
2nd Division, 5th Corps
        12th United States Infantry, First Battalion
    1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Corps
    2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Corps
        2nd and 10th United States Infantry
    2nd Division, 5th Corps Artillery
        1st United States Artillery, Batteries E and G
        5th United States Artillery, Battery K

Sixth Army Corps
2nd Division, 6th Corps
    3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Corps
        7th Maine Infantry

Source: Antietam Battlefield Board, Antietam Battlefield Board Papers, Washington DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1891-1898, Entry 707, Record Group 92 (Historical Tablet text by Generals E.A. Carman and H. Heth)

 

Notes

1   Antietam Board, Antietam Battlefield Commission Papers, Washington DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1891-1898, Entry 707, Record Group 92 (Historical Tablet text by Generals E.A. Carman and H. Heth)  [AotW citation 16809]

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