who was retiring for ammunition, and took position near a stone wall east of the farm-house, holding the same until ordered to support Col onel Brooke.

During this movement, while marching by flank, a shell was thrown into our ranks, killing several of our men. The ranks were at once closed, the regiment moving forward at quick time and in good order. At this time and during the remaining thirty-six hours, being under your immediate command, requires no further detail.

Where all behaved so well it may seem invidious to particularize, but I feel bound to mention Captain Blinn, of Company F, and Captain Willard, of Company G, who fell at their posts gallantly cheering their commands. Also First Lieutenant Coit, commanding Company K, and Lieutenant Crosby, of the same company, were dangerously wounded, leaving that company without a commissioned officer. Acting Adju tant Lucas, Assistant Adjutant-General Ellis, together with Maj. C. C. Clark, rendered great assistance in rallying the command under a galling fire, at which time the horse of Assistant Adjutant-General Ellis was disabled. Sergeant Mills, color-bearer, was severely, if not mor tally, wounded while bearing and waving aloft our standard, and his place was filled by Lieutenant Comstock, Company H, who, with Sergeant Foote, of Company I, retained them until the close of the action. Our colors are riddled with shot and shell, and the staff broken. Captain Gibbons, of Company B, deserves notice, who, finding the farmhouse occupied by a large force of the enemy, ordered his company to advance and fire, scattering them and driving a portion of them into the cellar, where, by closing the door, a large number of them were captured.

As you are aware, our men, hastily raised and without drill, behaved like veterans, and fully maintained the honor of the Union and our native State.

Total killed, wounded, and missing, 156.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

SANFORD H. PERKINS,

Lieut. Col., Commanding Fourteenth Regiment Conn. Vols.

Col. DWIGHT MORRIS,

Commanding Second Brigade, General French's Division.

No. 80.

Report of Col. Oliver H. Palmer, One hundred and eighth New York Infantry, of the battle of Antietam.

HEADQUARTERS 108TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,

Near Sharpsburg, September 19, 1862.

I have the honor to report that on the 17th instant my command left camp near Keedysville about 6 o'clock in the morning, and, after marching about 2 miles, having formed into line of battle, eutered into action on the crest of the hill on the left of the brigade in the front line of battle, and in front of the corn-field and rifle pits occupied by the rebels. The action commenced about 7.30 o'clock in the morning. My command remained in line, and continued in position, firing with great rapidity and energy, in the face of a deadly fire of the enemy, who were stationed in the corn field and rifle-pits, not more than 20 or 30 rods distant, until about 12.30 o'clock in the afternoon.

During the action a charge was made upon the rifle-pits, and we took

159 rebel privates and non-commissioned officers, 3 rebel captains, and 6 lieutenants, also one stand of regimental colors of the Fourteenth North Carolina Regiment. These colors were taken by Henry Niles, of Company K, of this regiment, but after taking the colors some officer of another regiment told him to give them up, stating that if he carried them he might be fired into by our own men. Not knowing any better, he handed them to such officer. The prisoners were taken under guard by Capt. E. P. Fuller, of Company H, of my regiment, and delivered to an officer of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, guarding at Boonsborough, Md., and a receipt taken, which has been delivered to General French. The prisoners were so taken and delivered by direction of an aide-decamp of General Sumner.

At about 12.30 p. m. of the 17th my command was relieved for a time by the Irish Brigade, by order of General Richardson. It was then ordered to fall back about 100 rods. It did so, and was then reformed upon the colors, but I was only able then to collect about 100 men. I was then ordered by General Richardson to again march into line to the front, to fill a gap in the line of battle farther to the left and in General Richardson's division, and my command was marched there accordingly, and remained there under a severe fire from the enemy's batteries until the close of the action, at dark.

By order of General Hancock my command was then placed on the front line of pickets to do picket duty, and remained in that position until 9 o'clock on the morning of the 18th, and until relieved by order of General French. During their picket duty a rebel prisoner was taken by a private in Company B, and delivered to General Caldwell.

During the action my officers and men conducted themselves with gratifying coolness and bravery. My loss has been severe, and I regret to report that early in the action my major, George B. Force, was instantly killed while in the fearless discharge of his duty. Lieut. D. B. Tarbox, of Company B, and Lieut. R. E. Holmes, of Company G, were also killed while leading their commands in action. Lieut. W. W. Bloss, of Company A, bravely took the colors, and, while advancing in the face of the enemy, was severely wounded. Lieutenant Porter, of Company F, was shot through the foot while bravely discharging his duty. Twenty-three privates were killed and 122 non-commissioned officers and privates were wounded. Forty-seven privates are missing-whether killed or wounded I am unable to report. My total loss in killed, wounded, and missing is 196.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
O. H. PALMER,
Colonel One hundred and eighth New York Volunteers.

Colonel MORRIS,
Commanding Second Brigade, General French's Division.

No. 81.

Report of Col. Henry I. Zinn, One hundred and thirtieth Pennsylvania Infantry, of the battle of Antietam.

HDQRS. 130тH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,

September 19, 1862.

COLONEL: In accordance with your order of this morning, I have the honor to report as follows:

About 8 o'clock on the morning of the 17th instant we left our camp, on the south side of the Sharpsburg pike, and marched by a flank move

ment to a point about 14 miles north, where a line of battle was formed. We then moved forward a little west of south about half a mile to a farm-house, in and about which a small force of the enemy was posted, whose fire we received, wounding several men. After the enemy was driven from his position at the house, we advanced through a small orchard and plowed field to the crest of a hill, where the fight became general. The enemy had taken position with his first line in a ravine in front of and about 75 yards distant from our position, having two other lines in a corn-field in rear of his first. We received the fire of the enemy's first line and of the force on the right, together with that of a battery posted in the corner of the field on the enemy's right, and distant 200 yards. The firing on both sides continued for more than two hours, when the enemy was driven from his position by a force on our left.

About this time a force of the enemy advanced on a battery posted on our right, which was withdrawn. The enemy then changed front, and advanced on our right to the fence bounding the field in which we were posted. Changing our front to meet his advancing lines, we held him in check until a charge was made by a brigade on our right, which drove the enemy back in great disorder. By this time our ammunition was expended, when we withdrew and reformed our line at the farmhouse first spoken of. Having become separated from our brigade, we were ordered by General Kimball to fall in with the brigade under his command, where we remained until this morning.

Owing to the circumstances in which we are placed at present, I am unable to give a more detailed account of all that occurred. Our loss is 32 killed, 146 wounded.

I have the honor to remain, your very obedient servant,

H. I. ZINN,

Colonel, Commanding One hundred and thirtieth Pa. Vols.

Colonel MORRIS,

Commanding Second Brigade, French's Division.

No. 82.

Report of Col. John W. Andrews, First Delaware Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of the battle of Antietam.

BATTLE-FIELD OF THE 17TH INSTANT,

Near Sharpsburg, September 20, 1862. GENERAL: The Third Brigade met the enemy in a strong position, under cover of natural and artificial defenses. The command continued fighting until their ammunition was expended. They were exposed to a heavy fire and suffered severely. The survivors joined the second and third lines. We captured about 300 prisoners and sent them to the rear. Brig. Gen. Max Weber and Captain Burleigh, his assistant adjutantgeneral, were wounded while attempting to bring on the Fifth Maryland Regiment. I have no idea of the time further than the above; was myself employed in ordering men to join the second line and preventing too many from taking the wounded away.

The First Delaware Regiment lost in killed and wounded, out of 708, 264.* Lieutenant-Colonel Hopkinson wounded, 3 captains killed and 4 wounded, 4 lieutenants wounded. All the field officers' horses killed. The Fourth New York lost 182* men out of 540; 2 officers killed and

* But see revised statement, p. 193.

5 wounded; color guards all killed or wounded. The same with the color guard of the First Delaware. The major commanding the Fifth Maryland was wounded, and I have received no report from this regi

ment.

ans.

The officers and men behaved with the coolness and bravery of veter A more formal report will be made on the first opportunity. JOHN W. ANDREWS, Colonel and Acting Brigadier-General.

Brig. Gen. WM. H. FRENCH,

Commanding Third Division, General Sumner's Corps.

No. 83.

Report of Col. John W. Andrews, First Delaware Infantry, of the battle of Antietam.

HDQRS. FIRST DELAWARE INFANTRY,

THIRD BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, SECOND CORPS,

Near Sharpsburg, Md., September 18, 1862. CAPTAIN: The First Delaware Infantry, forming the right of Brig. Gen. Max Weber's brigade, after fording Antietam Creek, marched in column for a mile, then, facing to the left, advanced in line of battle, forming the first line of General French's division. The enemy's batteries now opened a severe fire. Having advanced steadily through woods and corn-fields, driving all before us, we met the enemy in two lines of battle, posted in a road or ravine 4 feet below the surface of the adjoining field, with a third line in a corn-field in the rear, the ground gradually rising so that they were able to fire over the heads of those in the ravine; our right was also exposed to the sudden and terrible fire from the troops who succeeded in breaking the center division of the line of battle. We were at this time about 20 paces off the enemy, and returned their fire for some time with much coolness and effect. charge was then ordered and attempted, but our second line, composed of new levies, instead of supporting our advance, fired into our rear. We had now lost one-third of our men, and 8 officers commanding companies were either killed or wounded. Under these circumstances we fell back gradually to a stronger position until relieved by our third line, composed of veterans under General Kimball. This was our first battle, and I cannot speak in too high praise of the conduct of the officers and men.

A

The following officers, all commanding companies, were killed or wounded: Killed, Captains Watson, Leonard, and Rickards; wounded, Captains Yardley, Woodall, and Shortlidge, and Lieutenants Swiggett and Tanner. In fact, but few escaped. The color guard were all killed or wounded, the field officers' horses killed.

The command exhibited a degree of gallantry, efficiency, and per sonal bravery seldom equaled. I must also particularly mention the services of Lieutenant-Colonel Hopkinson, Major Smyth, and Acting Adjutant Postles, who behaved with exemplary coolness and bravery. JOHN W. ANDREWS, Colonel First Delaware Infantry.

Captain BURLEIGH,

Assistant Adjutant-General on the Staff of Brig. Gen. Max Weber. 22 B B-VOL XIX, PT I

No. 84.

Report of Maj. Gen. Fitz-John Porter, U. S. Army, commanding Fifth Army Corps, of the battle of Antietam, skirmish at Blackford's or Boteler's Ford, and action near Shepherdstown.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,

Camp near Sharpsburg, Md., October 1, 1862. GENERAL: I have the honor to present the following report: I received at Arlington, Va., about midnight on the 11th ultimo, orders from the General-in-Chief to report on the following day, with my corps, to Major-General McClellan at Brookeville, Md. The only por tion of the Fifth Corps then under my control was Morell's division, thus distributed: One brigade at Upton's Hill, one at Hunter's Chapel, and one at Fort Corcoran. At 6 a. m. on the 12th, the division (about 6,000 strong) was in motion via Leesborough to join the active army. Tyler's and Allabach's brigades, constituting then Whipple's now Humphreys' division, were assigned to me on the 12th on personal ap plication to the General-in-Chief, and on the morning of the 14th (having been delayed by exchanging unserviceable arms in five regiments and obtaining transportation and provision), that division, about 6,000 strong, marched to join me near Middletown, Md.

On the morning of the 14th September, I reported in person to the major-general commanding the Army of the Potomac and troops engaged in the defense of Washington, and resumed command of Sykes' division and that portion of the Reserve Artillery not distributed to corps. This portion of the command was held in readiness to take part in the battle of South Mountain, but so gallantly and effectually was the enemy driven from the heights by Burnside's and Sumner's [Hooker's] commands, that its services were not called for.

On the 15th, in compliance with instructions to pursue the enemy until I came upon him in large force or in position, and then to take position and await arrival of other corps, I passed through Burnside's command, which had halted for some hours on South Mountain, and moved on the direct road to Sharpsburg as far as the Antietam Bridge, where, on the right, I found a portion (Richardson's division) of Sumner's corps in line of battle opposite the enemy, then formed on the Sharpsburg Heights. Sykes at once took position behind commanding heights to the left of the road approaching the bridge, and, protected by him, artillery was posted to command the bridge, the roads, and the ground in front of both. The Reserve Artillery, having been accidentally cut off by infantry of another corps (Burnside's), arrived too late to be located that night.

Soon after daybreak of the 16th the enemy's artillery opened from the Sharpsburg Heights, and as soon as our guns were in proper posi tion it was vigorously replied to, and the guns brought to bear throughout the day effectively upon the enemy in front of Sykes, Sumuer, and Hooker. Morell's division arrived at about noon, and on the 17th replaced Richardson's division in support of the batteries on the right of Antietam Bridge. Two brigades of Morell's division were dispatched in the afternoon to the aid of General Sumner, then hard pressed. They were halted near their destination by the major general commanding, who had sent for them. They returned after dark.

From early in the morning of the 17th till dark the artillery was en gaged with great effect upon that of the enemy, or upon his infantry, whenever it showed itself. The men were in many cases driven from