Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/118

 112 Southern Historical Society Papers.

of the 15th. J. G. Walker was close behind him. These two reached Sharpsburg during the forenoon of the i6th. McLaws and Anderson were a day later, and arrived on the morning of the 17th after the battle had been some hours in progress. A. P. Hill was sent for on the night of the i6th, and, leaving early on the 17th, reached the field, as we shall see, in time to snatch victory from Burn- side's corps. Thus, Lee, by great effort, concentrated all his army in time for participation in the batde. This concentration was, how- ever, effected by exhausting marches and at the price of much strag-

On the i6th the two armies were separated by Antietam creek, Lee occupying the hills west of the stream, which offered a fine commanding position. His right rested at the Burnside bridge — the lower one of the three which were used in the battle. His right cen- tre faced towards the bridge on the turnpike leading from Sharps- burg to Boonesboro'. His left centre and left extended northward, gradually receding from the creek and finally resting upon the Hagerstown turnpike some two miles or so north of Sharpsburg. Cavalry continued the line thence to the Potomac. Jackson's two divisions held the left, supported by Hood. In the centre was D. H. Hill. Beyond him, towards the right, was Evans and D. R. Jones's division of Longstreet's command. A part of Toombs's brigade held the bridge on the right. J. G. Walker's brigades had been sent to this flank on the i6th, but early on the 17th were or- dered to the other wing to help Jackson. Stuart's cavalry was mainly on Jackson's left guarding that flank. A number of batteries had been sent to assist him.

McClellan's plan was to throw the corps of Hooker, Mans- field, and Sumner, supported by Franklin if necessary, against the Confederate left wing, and, as soon, as matters looked fa- vorable there, to move Burnside's corps against the Confede- rate right wirg. Whenever either of these attacks were success- ful, he intended to advance his centre with all the forces then disposable. It thus appears that McClellan intended to throw the half of his army upon Lee's left and support it if necessary by Franklin in addition. His other operations were to be in concert with this, but subsidiary. At daylight on the 17th, Hooker opened the battle by fiercely attacking Jackson. After a terrible struggle, Jackson's two weak divisions were forced back, when Hood's veteran brigades and part of D. H. Hill's brave men came to the rescue, and Hooker's corps was broken in pieces. Mansfield, who was close