Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/207

Rh corn in rear of the wheat stacks, we were ordered to advance in the "face of a storm of round shot, shell and grape." We moved forward in line until we reached General Pender's brigade, sheltered behind the hill, in front of the residence near the ferry. Finding that General Pender was outflanked on the left, we moved by the left flank until we unmasked his brigade, and then moved forward in line again. The men, on reaching the top of the hill, raised a yell, and poured a deadly fire into the enemy, who fled precipitately and in great confusion to the river. Advancing at a double-quick we soon gained the bank of the river, and continued our destructive fire upon those who were attempting to regain the Maryland shore at the old dam just above the ferry. We held our position all that day immediately upon the bank of the river, though exposed to the heaviest cannonading of the war, and in range of the enemy's sharpshooters, who were posted in strong force in the bed of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal.

We captured a number of prisoners. Our loss was three killed and seventy-one wounded.

Lieutenant-Colonel Purdie, who bravely commanded the Eighteenth in most of these engagements, desires that special mention should be made of Captain John D. Barry, of Company I, for his coolness and gallantry and devotion to duty.

Captains Turner and Knox, of the Seventh, have, on all occasions, but especially as commanders of skirmishers, won the admiration of the entire brigade by their daring and efficiency.

Lieutenants Cloninger and McCauley, of the Twenty-eighth, are also deserving special notice for their great bravery and faithfulness in the discharge of their duties.

, Brigadier-General.

Sharpsburg, 17th September—General Branch's brigade came down about thirty minutes after I reached the wall and formed some thirty paces to my rear, where General Branch was killed, and Colonel Lane, assuming command of his brigade, moved it down to my left.

The next morning, about nine o'clock, the little strength with which I entered the fight being completely exhausted, I turned over the command to Colonel Turney, reported to the Major-General-Commanding, and left the field.