Kershaw's Brigade, McLaws' Division

   Kershaw's Brigade crossed the Potomac at Blackford's Ford about daybreak of the 17th and halted in the western suburbs of Sharpsburg until nearly 9 A.M., when it crossed the fields and took position in the open ground southwest of the Dunkard Church from which, supported by Walker's Division and Early's Brigade, it moved to the attack of the 34th New York Infantry of Sedgwick's Division, Second Corps, and the 125th Pennsylvania of the Twelfth Corps, just west of the church, causing them to retire. Efforts to drive Greene's Division and the Federal Artillery from the ridge east of the Hagerstown Pike were repulsed and the Brigade fell back beyond the western limits of the West Woods.

Later in the day it moved to the northern part of the West Woods, where it remained until the night of the 18th, when it was withdrawn and recrossed the Potomac.