(September 16-17, 1862.)
On the night of September 16th Sturgis' Division bivouacked on the eastern slope of the ridge bordering the east bank of the Antietam to the left of this point. On the morning of the 17th Durell's Pennsylvania Battery and Battery E, 4th U.S. Artillery (Clark's) were put in position on the left of Battery I, 5th U.S. Artillery (Weed's) and on the right of Battery E, 2d U.S. Artillery (Benjamin's) and engaged the enemy guns west of the Antietam. The 2d Maryland and the 6th New Hampshire supported by the other Regiments of Nagle's Brigade made an unsuccessful attempt to carry the bridge. At 1 P.M. Ferrero's Brigade carried the bridge and the entire Division crossed and occupied the high ground beyond, supported on the right by Crook's Kanawha Division.
In the general advance of the Ninth Corps on Sharpsburg the Division was held in reserve. Late in the afternoon Nagle's Brigade was sent to the support of Rodman's Division on the left and, after a severe contest, succeeded in checking the right of A.P. Hill's Division.
Ferrero's Brigade was sent in support of Willcox's Division on the right and advanced to Otto's farm lane.