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Meade's division left Catoctin creek about 2 o'clock, and turned off to the right from the main road on the old Hagerstown road to Mount Tabor Church, where Gen. Hooker was, and deployed a short distance in advance, its right resting about one and a half miles from the turnpike. The enemy fired a few shots from a battery on the mountain side, but did no considerable damage. Cooper's battery "B," 1st Pennsylvania artillery, was placed in position on high ground at about 3 o'clock, and fired at the enemy on the slope, but soon ceased by order of Gen. Hooker, and the position of our lines prevented any further use of artiller by us on this part of the field. The 1st Massachusetts Cavalry was sent up the valley to the right to observe the movements, if any, of the enemy in that direction, and one regiment of Meade's division, posted to watch a road coming in in the same direction. The other divisions were deployed as they came up. General Hatch's, on the left, and General Ricketts', which arrived about 5 P. M., in the rear.

General Gibbon's brigade was detached from Hatch's division by General Burnside for the purpose of making a demonstration on the enemy's centre up the main road, as soon as the movements on the right and left had sufficiently progressed.

The 1st Pennsylvania rifles, of General Seymour's brigade, were sent forward as skirmishers to feel the enemy, and it was found that he was in force. Meade was then directed to advance his division to the right of the road, so as to outflank them if possible, and then to move forward and attck, while Hatch was directed to take, with his division, the crest on the left of the Hagerstown road, Ricketts's division being held in reserve.

the enemy on the right, General Hatch's division was engaged in a severe contest for the possession of the crest on the left of the ravine. It moved up the mountain in the following order: two regiments of General Patrick's brigade deployed as skirmishers, with the other two regiments of the same brigade supporting them: Colonel Phelps's brigade in line of battalions in mass at deploying distance: General Doubleday's brigade, in the same order, bringing up the rear. The 21st New York having gone straight up the slope, instead of around to the right, as directed, the 2d United States sharpshooters was sent out in its place.

Phelps's and Doubleday's brigades were deployed in turn as they reached the woods, which began about half way up the mountain. General Patrick, and his skirmishers, soon drew the fire of the enemy, and found him strongly posted behind a fence which bounded the cleared space on the top of the ridge, having in his front the woods, through which our line was advancing, and in his rear a cornfield, full of rocky ledges, which afforded good cover to fall back to if dislodged.

Phelps's brigade gallantly advanced under a hot fire, to close quarters, and after ten or fifteen minutes of heavy firing on both sides, (in which General Hatch was wounded while urging on his men), the fence was carried by a charge, and our line advanced a few yards beyond it, somewhat sheltered by the slope of the hill. Doubleday's brigade, now under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hoffman, (Colonel Wainwright having been wounded), relieved Phelps, and continued firing for an hour and a half; the enemy behind ledges of rocks some thirty or forty paces in our front, making a stubborn resistance, and attempting to charge Seymour's brigade was sent up to the top of on the least cessation of our fire. About dusk the slope on the right of the ravine, through Colonel Christian's brigade, of Ricketts's divis which the road runs, and then move along the ion, came up and relieved Doubleday's brigade, summit parallel to the road, while Col. Galla- which fell back into line behind Phelps. gher's and Col. Magilton's brigades moved in Christian's brigade continued the action for the same direction along the slope and in the thirty or forty minutes, when the enemy retired, ravine. The ground was of the most difficult after having made an attempt to flank us on the character for the movements of troops, the hill-left, which was repulsed by the 76th New York, side being very steep and rocky, and obstructed and 7th Indiana. by stone walls, fences, and timber. The enemy The remaining brigade of Ricketts's division,. was soon encountered, and in a short time the action became general along the whole front of (General Hartsuff's), was moved up in the cen tre, and connected Meade's left with Doublethe division. The line advanced steadily up day's right. We now had possession of the the mountain side, where the enemy was posted summit of the first ridge, which commanded the behind trees and rocks, from which he was gradually dislodged. During this advance turnpike on both sides of the mountain, and the Colonel Gallagher, commanding 3d brigade, troops were ordered to hold their positions unwas severely wounded, and the command de til further orders, and slept on their arms. volved upon Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ander- Late in the afternoon, General Gibbon with his brigade, and one section of Gibbon's battery, (B, 4th U. S. artillery), was ordered to move up the main road on the enemy's centre.

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General Meade, having reason to believe that the enemy were attempting to outflank him on his right, applied to Gen. Hooker for reinforce-vanced a regiment on each side of the road, ments. General Duryea's brigade, of Ricketts's preceded by skirmishers, and followed by the division, was ordered up, but it did not arrive other two regiments in double column; the aruntil the close of the action. It was advanced on Seymour's left, but only one regiment could open fire before the enemy retired, and darkness intervened. General Meade speaks highly of General Seymour's skill in handling his brigade on the extreme right, securing by his manœuvres the great object of the movement, the outflanking of the enemy.

While General Meade was gallantly driving

tillery moving on the road until within range of the enemy's guns, which were firing on the column from the gorge. The brigade advanced steadily, driving the enemy before it from his positions in the woods and behind stone walls, until it reached a point well up towards the top of the pass; when the enemy, having been reinforced by three regiments, opened a heavy fire on the front, and on both flanks. The fight con

tinued until 9 o'clock, the enemy being entirely repulsed; and the brigade after having suffered severely, and having expended all its ammunition, including even the cartridges of the dead and wounded, continued to hold the ground it had so gallantly won until twelve o'clock, when it was relieved by General Gorman's brigade, of Sedgwick's division, Sumner's corps, (except the 6th Wisconsin, which remain ed on the field all night). General Gibbon, in this delicate movement, handled his brigade with as much precision and coolness as if upon parade, and the bravery of his troops could not be excelled.

The 2d corps, (Sumner's), and the 12th corps, (Williams's), reached their final positions shortly after dark. General Richardson's division was placed near Mount Taber church, in a position to support our right if necessary; the 12th corps, and Sedgwick's division bivouacked around Bolivar, in a position to support our centre and left.

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cupy Rohrersville by a detachment, and endeavor to relieve Harper's Ferry,

Generals Burnside and Porter, upon reaching the road from Boonsboro to Rohrersville, were to reinforce Franklin or to move on Sharpsburg, according to circumstances.

Franklin moved towards. Brownsville, and found there a force of the enemy much superior in numbers to his own, drawn up in a strong position to receive him.

At this time the cessation of firing at Harper's Ferry indicated the surrender of that place. The cavalry overtook the enemy's cavalry in Boonsboro, made a dashing charge, killing and wounding a number, and capturing 250 prisoners and two guns.

General Richardson's division of the 2d corps, pressing the rear guard of the enemy with vigor, passed Boonsboro and Keadysville, and came upon the main body of the enemy, occupying in large force a strong position a few miles beyond the latter place.

ions, Richardson's and Sykes's in position, the other troops were halted in the road, the head of the column some distance in rear of Richardson.

General Sykes's division of regulars, and the It had been hoped to engage the enemy on artillery reserve, halted for the night at Middle- the 15th, accordingly instructions were given town, so that, on the night of the 14th, the that if the enemy were overtaken on the march, whole army was massed in the vicinity of the they should be attacked at once; if found in field of battle, in readines to renew the action heavy force and in position, the corps in adthe next day, or to move in pursuit of the ene- vance should be placed in position for attack my. At daylight our skirmishers were advanced and await my arrival. On reaching the advance and it was found that he had retreated dur-position of our troops, I found but two divising the night, leaving his dead on the field, and his wounded uncared for. About fifteen hundred prisoners were taken by us during the battle, and the loss of the enemy in killed, was much greater than our own, and probably also in wounded. It is believed that the force opposed to us at Turner's gap, consisted of D. H. Hill's corps, (15,500), and a part, if not the whole of Longstreet's, and perhaps a portion of Jackson's; probably some 30,000 in all. We went into action with about 30,000 men, and our losses amounted to 1,568, aggregate; (312 killed, 1,234 wounded, 22 missing).

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On the night of the battle of South Mountain, orders were given to the corps commanders to press forward their pickets at early dawn. This advance revealed the fact that the enemy had left his positions, and an immediae pursuit was ordered; the cavalry under General Pleasanton, and the three corps under Generals Sumner, Hooker, and Mansfield, (the latter of whom had arrived that morning and assumed command of the 12th [Williams's] corps), by the national turnpike and Boonsboro; the corps of Generals Burnside and Porter (the latter command at that time consisted of but one weak division, Sykes's) by the old Sharpsburg road; and General Franklin to move into Pleasant valley, oc

The enemy occupied a strong position on the heights, on the west side of Antietam creek, displaying a large force of infantry and cavalry, with numerous batteries of artillery, which opened on our columns as they appeared in sight on the Keadysville and Sharpsburg turnpike, which fire was returned by Captain Tidball's light battery, 2d United States artillery, and Pettit's battery, 1st New York artillery.

The division of General Richardson, following close on the heels of the retreating foe, halted and deployed near Antietam river, on the right of the Sharpsburg road. General Sykes, leading on the division of regulars on the old Sharpsburg road, came up and deployed to the left of General Richardson, on the left of the road.

Antietam creek, in this vicinity, is crossed by four stone bridges, the upper one on the Keadysville and Williamsport road; the second at the Keadyville and Sharpsburg turnpike, some two and a half miles below; the third about a mile below the second, on the Rohrersville and Sharpsburg road; and the fourth near the mouth of Antietam creek, on the road leading from Harper's Ferry to Sharpsburg, some three miles below the third. The stream is sluggish, with few and difficult fords.

After a rapid examination of the position, I found that it was too late to attack that day, and at once directed the placing of the batteries in position in the centre, and indicated the bivouacs for the different corps, massing them near and on both sides of the Sharpsburg turnpike. The corps were not all in their positions until the next morning after sunrise.

On the morning of the 16th it was discovered that the enemy had changed the position of his

batteries. The masses of his troops, were, how-| boro, and General Humphrey's division of new ever, still concealed behind the opposite troops, en route for Frederick, Md. About day heights. Their left and centre were upon and light on the 16th the enemy opened a heavy fire in front of the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown of artillery on our guns in position, which was turnpike, hidden by woods and irregularities of promptly returned, their fire was silenced for the ground; their extreme left resting upon a wooded eminence near the cross roads to the north of J. Miller's farm, their left resting upon the Potomac. Their line extended south, the right resting upon the hills to the south of Sharpsburg, near Snaveley's farm.

the time, but was frequently renewed during the day. In the heavy firing of the morning, Major Arndt, commanding 1st battalion 1st New York artillery, was mortally wounded, while directing the operation of his batteries.

It was afternoon before I could move the

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The bridge over the Antietam, described as troops to their positions for attack, being cou No. 3, near this point, was strongly covered by pelled to spend the morning in reconnoitering riflemen, protected by rifle-pits, stone fences, the new position taken up by the enemy, exain&c., and enfiladed by artillery. The ground in ining the ground, finding fords and clearing front of this line consisted of undulating hills, their approaches, and hurrying up the ammmtheir crests in turn commanded by others in tion and supply trains, which had been delayed their rear. On all favorable points the enemy's by the rapid march of the troops over the few artillery was posted, and their reserves hidden practicable approaches from Frederick, These from view by the hills on which their line of had been crowded by the masses of infantry, battle was formed, could manoeuvre unobserved cavalry, and artillery, pressing on with the hope by our army, and from the shortness of their of overtaking the enemy before he could form line, could rapidly reinforce any point threat to resist an attack; many of the troops were ened by our attack. Their position, stretching out of rations on the previous day, and a good across the angle formed by the Potomac and deal of their ammunition had been expended in Antietam, their flanks and rear protected by the severe action of the 14th. these streams, was one of the strongest to be found in this region of country, which is well adapted to defensive warfare.

My plan for the impending general engagement was to attack the enemy's left with the corps of Hooker and Mansfield, supported by Sumner's, and if necessary, Franklin's, and as soon as matters looked favorably there, to move the corps of General Burnside against the enemy's extreme right, upon the ridges running to the south and rear of Sharpsburg, and having carried their position to press along the crest towards our right, and whenever either of these flank movements should be successful to advance our centre with all their forces then die

On the right near Keadysville, on both sides of the Sharpsburg turnpike were Sumner's and Hooker's corps. In advance, on the right of the turnpike, and near the Antietam river, 'General Richardson's division of General Sumner's corps was posted. General Sykes's division of Gen eral Porter's corps was on the left of the turn pike, and in line with General Richardson, protecting the bridge, No. 2, over the Antietam The left of the line, opposite to, and some disposable. tance from bridge No. 3, was occupied by General Burnside's corps. Before giving General Hooker his orders to make the movement which will presently be described, I rode to the left of the line to satisfy myself that the troops were properly posted there to secure our left flank from any attack made along the left bank of the Antietam, as well as to enable us to carry bridge No. 3.

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I found it necessary to make considerable changes in the position of General Burnside's corps, and directed him to advance to a strong position in the immediate vicinity of the bridge, and to reconnoitre the approaches to the bridge carefully.

About 2. P. M. General Hooker, with his corps, consisting of Generals Rickett's, Meade's, and Doubleday's divisions was ordered to cre the Antietam at a ford, and at bridge No. 1, a short distance above, to attack, and if possible turn the enemy's left. General Sumner was OF÷ dered to cross the corps of General Mansfield (the 12th) during the night, and hold his own (the 2d) corps ready to cross early the next morning. On reaching the vicinity of the one my's left, a sharp contest commenced with the Pennsylvania reserves, the advance of General Hooker's corps, near the house of Dr. Miller. The enemy was driven from the strip of woods where he was first met. The firing lasted until dark, when General Hooker's corps rested on their arms, on ground won from the enemy,

In rear of Generals Sumner's and Hooker's corps, near Keadysville, General Mansfield's corps was massed; the cavalry on the turnpike in rear of Keadysville. On the ridge of the first line of hills overlooking the Antietam, and between the turnpike and Fry's house, on the right of the road, were placed Captains Taft's, Langner's, Von Kleizer's, and Lieutenant Weaver's batteries of 20-pounder Parrott guns. On the crest of the hill, in the rear and right of bridge No. 3, Captain Weed's 3-inch and Lieutenant Benjamin's 20-pounder batteries. General Franklin's corps, and General Couch's division held a position in Pleasant valley, in front of Brownsville, with a strong force of the enemy in their front. General Morell's division of General Porter's corps was en route for Boons-pike.

During the night General Mansfield's corps, consisting of Generals Williams's and Green's divisions, crossed the Antietam at the same ford and bridge that General Hooker's corps had passed, and bivouacked on the farm of J. Poffenberger, about a mile in rear of General Hooker's position. At daylight, on the 17th, the action was commenced by the skirmisher's of the Pennsylvania reserves. The whole of General Hooker's corps was soon engaged, and drove the enemy from the open field in front of the first line of woods, into a second line of woods beyond, which runs to the eastward of and nearly parallel to the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown turn

halted, faced to the front, and established by General Sumner in three parallel lines by brigade, facing towards the south and west; General Gorman's brigade in front, General Dana'a second and General Howard's third, with a distance between the lines of some seventy paces,

This contest was obstinate, and as the troops advanced, the opposition became more determined, and the numbers of the enemy greater. General Hooker then ordered up the corps of General Mansfield, which moved promptly towards the scene of action. The first division, General Williams, was deployed to the right on The division was then put in motion, and approaching the enemy; General Crawford's moved upon the field of battle under fire from brigade on the right, its right resting on the the enemy's concealed batteries on the hill beHagerstown turnpike, on his left General Gor-yond the woods, passing diagonally to the front don's brigade. The 2d division, General Green's, joining the left of Gordon's, extended as far as the burnt buildings on the north and east of the white church on the turnpike. During the deployment, that gallant veteran, General Mansfield, fell mortally wounded while examining the ground in front of his troops. General Hartsuff, of Hooker's corps, was severely wounded while bravely pressing forward his troops, and was taken from the field.

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across the open space, and to the front of the 1st division of General Williams's corps; this latter division withdrew.

Entering the woods on the west of the turnpike, and driving the enemy before them, the first line was met by a heavy fire of musketry and shell from the enemy's breastworks and the batteries on the hill commanding the exit from the woods. Meantime a heavy column of the enemy had succeeded in crowding back the The command of the 12th corps fell upon troops of General Green's division, and appeared General Williams. Five regiments of the first in rear of the left of Sedgwick's division. By division of this corps were new troops. One command of General Sumner, General Howard brigade of the second division was sent to sup-faced the third line to the rear, preparatory to port General Doubleday's. The 124th Pennsyl- a change of front, to meet the column anvancvania volunteers were pushed across the turn-ing on the left, but this line now suffering from pike into the woods beyond J. Miller's house, a destructive fire both in front and on its left, with orders to hold the position as long as pos- which it was unable to return, gave way towards sible. the right and rear in considerable confusion, and was soon followed by the first and second lines.

The line of battle of this corps was formed, and it became engaged about seven A. M., the attack being opened by Knapp's Pennsylvania, General Gorman's brigade, and one regiment Cothran's New York, and Hampton's Pittsburg of General Dana's, soon rallied and checked batteries. To meet this attack the enemy had the advance of the enemy on the right. The pushed a strong column of troops into the open second and third lines now formed on the left fields in front of the turnpike, while he occu- of General Gorman's brigade, and poured a depied the woods on the west of the turnpike instructive fire upon the enemy. strong force. The woods (as was found by subsequent observation) were traversed by the outcropping ledges of rock. Several hundred yards to the right and rear was a line which commanded the debouche of the woods, and in the fields between was a long line of stone fences, continued by breastworks of rails, which covered the enemy's infantry from our musket

ry.

The same woods formed a screen behind which his movements were concealed, and his batteries on the hill and the rifle works covered from the fire of our artillery in front.

During General Sumner's attack, he ordered General Williams to support him. Brigadier General Gordon, with a portion of his brigade, moved forward, but when he reached the woods the left of General Sedgwick's division had given way, and finding himself, as the smoke cleared up, opposed to the enemy in force, with his small command he withdrew to the rear of the batteries at the second line of woods. As General Gordon's troops unmasked our batteries on the left, they opened with canister, the batteries of Captain Cothran, 1st New York, and For about two hours the battle raged with "I," 1st U. S. Artillery, commanded by Lieuvaried success, the enemy endeavoring to drive tenant Woodruff, doing good service. Unable our troops into the second line of wood, and to stand this deadly fire in front and the mus ours in turn to get possession of the line in ketry fire from the right, the enemy again front. Our troops ultimately succeeded in forc-sought shelter in the woods and rocks beyond ing the enemy back into the woods near the the turnpike. turnpike, General Green, with his two brigades, crossing into the woods to the left of the Dunker church. During this conflict, General Crawford, commanding 1st division after General Williams took command of the corps, was wounded, and left the field. General Green, being much exposed and applying for reinforcements, the 13th New York and 27th Indiana, and the 3d Maryland were sent to his support, with a section of Knapp's battery.

During this assault Generals Sedgwick and Dana were seriously wounded and taken from the field. General Sedgwick, though twice wounded and faint from loss of blood, retained command of his division for more than an hour after his first wound, animating his command by his presence. General Howard assumed command after General Sedgwick retired.

About the time of General Sedgwick's advance, General Hooker, while urging on his At about 9 o'clock A. M., General Sedgwick's command, was seriously wounded in the foot division of General Sumner's corps arrived. and taken from the field. The repulse of the Crossing the ford previously mentioned, this enemy offered opportunity to rearrange the division marched in three columns to the sup-lines and reorganize the commands on the port of the attack on the enemy's left. On right, now more or less in confusion. The bathearing the scene of action the columns were teries of the Pennsylvania reserve, on high

ground near I. Poffinburger's house, opened fire and checked several attempts of the enemy to establish batteries in front of our right, to turn that flank and enfilade the lines.

While this conflict was so obstinately raging on the right, General French was pushing his division against the enemy still further to the left. This division crossed the Antietam at the same ford as General Sedgwick, and immediately in his rear. Passing over the stream in three columns, the division marched about a mile from the ford, then facing to the left, moved in three lines towards the enemy, General Max Weber's brigade in front, Colonel Dwight Morris's brigade of raw troops, undrilled and moving for the first time under fire, in the second, and General Kimball's brigade in the third. The division was first assailed by a fire of artillery, but steadily advanced, driving the enemy's skirmishers, and encountered the infantry in some force at the group of houses on Roulette's farm. General Weber's brigade gallantly advanced with an unwavering front, and drove the enemy from their position about the houses.

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ford crossed by the other divisions of Sumner's corps, it moved on a line nearly parallel to the Antietam, and formed in a ravine behind the high grounds overlooking Roulette's house. The 2d (Irish) brigade, commanded by General Meagher, on the right, the 3d brigade, commanded by General Caldwell, on his left, and the brigade commanded by Colonel Brooks, 53d Pennsyl vania volunteers, in support. As the division moved forward to take its position on the field, the enemy directed a fire of artillery against it, but owing to the irregularities of the ground, did but little damage.

tation.

Meagher's brigade advancing steadily, soon became engaged with the enemy posted to the left and in fornt of Roulette's house. It continued to advance under a heavy fire nearly to the crest of the hill overlooking Piper's house, the enemy being posted in a continuation of the sunken Него road, and corn-field, before referred to. the brave Irish brigade opened upon the enemy a terrific musketry fire. All of General Sumner's corps was now engaged, General Sedgwick's on the right, General French in the While General Weber was hotly engaged centre, and General Richardson on the left with the first line of the enemy, General French | The Irish brigade sustained its well-earned repureceived orders from General Sumner, his corps commander, to push on with renewed vigor to make a diversion in favor of the attack on the right. Leaving the new troops, who had been thrown into some confusion from their march through cornfields, over fences, &c., to form as a reserve, he ordered the brigade of General Kimball to the front, passing to the left of General Weber. The enemy was pressed back to near the crest of the hill, where he was encountered in great strength, posted in a sunken road running in a northwesterly direction and forming a natural rifle-pit. In a corn field in rear of this road were also strong bodies of the As the line reached the crest of the enemy. hill, a galling fire was opened on it from the sunken road and oorn field. Here a terrific fire of musketry burst from both lines, and the battle raged along the whole line with great slaughter. The enemy attempted to turn the left of the Kine, but were met by the 7th Virginia and 132d Pennsylvania volunteers, and repulsed.

Foiled in this, the enemy made a determined assault on the front, but was met by a charge from our lines, which drove him back with severe loss, leaving in our hands some three | hundred prisoners, and several stands of colors. The enemy having been repulsed by the terrible execution of the batteries, and the musketry fire on the extreme right, now attempted to assist the attack on General French's division, by assailing him on his right, and endeavoring to turn his flank, but this attack was met and checked by the 14th Indiana and 8th Ohio volunteers, and by canister from Captain Tompkins's battery, 1st Rhode Island artillery. Having been under an almost continuous fire for nearly four hours, and their ammunition being nearly exhausted, this division now took position immediately below the crest of the heights on which they had so gallantly fought, the enemy making no attempt to regain their lost ground.

On the left of General French, General Richardson's division was hotly engaged. Having erossed the Antietam about 9.30 A. M., at the

After suffering terribly in officers and men, and strewing the ground with their enemies as they drove them back, their ammunition nearly expended, and their commander, General Meagher, disabled by the fall of his horse, shot under him, this brigade was ordered to give place to General Caldwell's brigade, which advanced to a short distance in its rear. The lines were passed by the Irish brigade, breaking by company to the rear, and General Caldwell's by company to the front, as steadily as on drill. Colonel Brooks's brigade now be came the second line.

The ground over which General Richardson's and French's divisions were fighting was very irregular, intersected by numerous ravines, hills covered with growing corn, enclosed by stone walls, behind which the enemy could advance unobserved upon any exposed point of our lines. Taking advantage of this, the enemy attempted to gain the right of Richardson's position in a corn-field, near Roulette's house, where the division had become separated from that of General French. A change of front by the 52d New York and 2d Delaware volunteers, of Colonel Brooks's brigade, under Colonel Frank, and the attack made by the 53d Pennsylvania volunteers, sent further to right by Colonel Brooks to close this gap in the line, and the movement of the 132d Pennsylvania and 7th Virginia volunteers, of General French's division, before referred to, drove the enemy from the corn-field, and restored the line.

The brigade of General Caldwell, with de termined gallantry, pushed the enemy back opposite the left and centre of this division, but sheltered in the sunken road they still held ou forces on the right of Caldwell in check. Colo nel Barlow, commanding the 61st and 64th New York regiments, of Caldwell's brigade, seeing a favorable opportunity, advanced these regiments on the left, taking the line on the sunken road in flank, and compelled them to surrender, capturing over three hundred prisoners and three stands of colors.

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