Antietam Battlefield Historical Tablet No. 366
2nd, 20th, and 50th Georgia Infantry
8 AM 17 September to 2 PM 17 September
On the morning of September 17, 1862, this bridge was defended by the 2nd and 20th Georgia of Toombs' Brigade and the 50th Georgia of Drayton's Brigade. The 20th Georgia was on the high wooded bluff immediately opposite this end of the bridge; and the 2nd and 50th Georgia in open order, supported by one Company of Jenkins' S.C. Brigade, continued the line to Snavely's Ford. One Company of the 20th Georgia was was on the narrow wooded strip north of this point between the creek and the Sharpsburg Road. Richardson's Battery of the Washington Artillery was posted on the high ground about 500 yards northwest and Eubank's (Va.) Battery on the bluff north of and overlooking the bridge. The Artillery on Cemetery Hill commanded the bridge and the road to Sharpsburg.
At 9 A.M. Crooks Brigade of the Ninth Corps, moving from the ridge northeast of the bridge, attempted to cross it but failed. Soon after, the 2nd Maryland and 6th New Hampshire, of Nagle's Brigade, charging by the road from the south were repulsed. At 1 P.M. the bridge was carried by an assault of Ferrero's Brigade and the defenders, after a vain effort to check Rodman's Division, moving by Snavely's Ford on their right flank, fell back to the Antietam Furnace Road and reformed on the outskirts of the town of Sharpsburg.
Location: west side of the Burnside Bridge (Map 3)
Units described and/or located by this Tablet:
Drayton's Brigade
50th Georgia Infantry
Toombs' Brigade
20th Georgia Infantry
2nd Georgia Infantry
1st Battalion, Longstreet's Corps Artillery
Washington (LA) Artillery, 1st Company
Washington (LA) Artillery, 2nd Company
Washington (LA) Artillery, 3rd Company
Washington (LA) Artillery, 4th Company
2nd Battalion, Longstreet's Corps Artillery
Bath (VA) Battery
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 16770]
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