Marching On Richmond: Fall 1862

Having set forth into Maryland in pursuit of General Robert E. Lee we headed North-West as part of the great Union Army, a mighty force of 80,000 or more men that surely would finally end this break in the Union, and restore the country. After two weeks rapid marching through the hills and mountains we came upon the main rebel army, and as our forces converged I was tasked with holding a vital section of river, to ensure the enemy could not use it as a route to slip out of our trap!

During our march rebel cavaliers had been harrying some of our supply columns, cutting or intercepting our telegraph lines, and generally making a nuisance of themselves. As a result as my small Division deployed to its allotted flank guard position I was conscious of the possible presence of enemy raiders in my rear – having no cavalry in my command I had no means either to effectively monitor for their presence.

Union Forces At Antietam Creek. — Union Forces At Antietam Creek (20th Indiana Infantry).

I have previously described to you, my readers, the current state of my command – and it was with this force that I deployed to secure several important fords across the generally impassable lower Antietam Creek. My deployment consisted of covering each of 4 identified fords with a portion of my force, with the artillery centrally placed to cover as much of the battlefield as possible, and some of my infantry forming a second line as my reserve.

The two New York Regiments’ held my right and the two Michigan ones the centre. My main reserve was the 63rd Pennsylvania and the 20th Indiana had the left supported by the mighty 1st Massachusetts. The enemy forces soon appeared, unknown to us at the time they had advanced knowledge of our situation due to the aforementioned raiders and cavaliers, and we soon spied General A.P.S. Longman’s brigade advancing on our right in some numbers.

The Antietam Creek at this point is really a small river, due to the nature of its banks it is somewhat impassable, and as a consequence the 4 fords or fordable sections of the creek in my forward positions were of critical importance. As a result as soon as the enemy’s positions and apparent intent became known I aggressively advanced to engage him, sending forces across the 2 right flank fords (the 12 NY & 2 MI), and moved the 20th Indiana to utilise the central ford as a possible flanking position against the enemy’s attack.

19th Mississippi & 11th Virginian Volunteer Regiments.

A brisk action with skirmishers soon developed all along the line and I noted General Longman already redeploying an Infantry Regiment (the 7 VA) and his cavalry into his centre in response, which had previously been vacant. By this time my 2 Regiments were ensconced across the right flank fords, and their supporting regiments had moved up in direct support behind them. In the centre the 20th Indiana was crossing the ford and beginning to surmount the small hill that the creek wound its way around. It is of note that the creek ran through, in this area, a rather wooded and scrubby area, providing much cover for the approaching Confederates.

The brisk skirmishing on my right soon developed into a major action and the Rebels were soon upon my forward regiments with their bayonets – regrettably the 12th New York was trapped across the creek and quickly overrun by 17th Virginia Volunteers, while the 2nd Michigan was thrown back over its ford by the combined 11th Virginia & 19th Mississippi Regiments. The time was now right for the 20th Indiana to strike, the 19th Mississippi had dangerously exposed it’s flank and was open to being dealt a good blow – alas some confusion and apparent questioning of the intent of my orders by the Colonel (William L. Brown) resulting in the opportunity being missed and my plan for the centre stalling.

The 20th Indiana Cross The Ford To Counter-Attack... — The 20th Indiana Cross The Ford To Counter-Attack…

The 20th Indiana were then hit in their flank instead, by the 7th Virginia and chased back across their ford, while the 19th Mississippi followed up its success and following the retiring 2nd Michigan across its ford resumed its assault. On the extremes of both flanks the sounds of on-going skirmishing and occasional heavier volley firing rolled through the air continuously.

Battery M, 2nd U.S. Artillery now joined the fray, blasting the 19th Mississippi at close range directly across the creek, as the battle weary 2nd Michigan got thrown back from the ford by the Mississippians with more casualties. (By this stage the casualty count favoured the Confederates 11 to 4). Some devastating close range volley fire from the 11th and 17th Virginian Regiments then decimated the supporting 3rd Michigan Infantry, and suddenly my division was almost spent. With our will shattered we were forced to abandon the contest and gave the field to Longman’s Brigade!

The 1 MA & 63 PA Skirmish With The 10 AL On The Union Left.

It had been a very bloody affair, and my forces had ended up at the conclusion thus:

1st “Mighty” Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Strength 3; Veteran)
2nd Michigan Infantry Regiment (Strength 3; Veteran)
3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment – Dispersed, Attempting to Reform
12th New York Infantry Regiment – Dispersed, Attempting to Reform
69th New York Infantry Regiment (Strength 4; Veteran)
20th Indiana Infantry Regiment (Strength 7)
63rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (Strength 5)
Battery M, 2nd US Artillery (2 x Rifles)
Victory Points Earned: 2

Meanwhile General Longman’s brigade were left in possession of the battlefield in (we believe) the following state:

1st Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Strength 3)
7th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Strength 4; Veteran)
11th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Strength 5; Hero)
17th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Strength 3; Sharpshooters)
10th Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Strength 4; Veteran)
19th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Strength 7)
2nd Virginia “Lynchburg Cougars” Cavalry (Strength 4)
Victory Points Earned: 5

The following day the armies fought a major action just North of our position across the same creek, just in front of the town of Sharpsburg, our action proving a precursor to it. The result was inconclusive yet again and General Lee eventually retired back to Virginia. We followed him warily, then shortly after, with October arriving, we headed for our winter quarters…