Reports
Report of Brig. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, U.S. Army, commanding First Brigade
of the battles of Crampton's Pass and Antietam.
Near Sharpsburg, Md., September 21, 1862.
MAJOR: I have the honor to report that during the operations before Crampton's Pass on the 13th [14th] instant my brigade was held in reserve and was not engaged with the enemy.
On the morning of the 14th [15th] we crossed the mountain and reached a point about 1 mile from Brownsville. Here the Sixth Regiment Maine Volunteers, under command of Col. Hiram Burnham, together with the. Fourth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, of General Brooks' brigade, was ordered to reascend the mountain and to take possession of the pass about 1 mile below that above referred to, which was known to be in possession of the enemy. This was accomplished, the command only receiving the fire of the pickets of the enemy. Two pieces of artillery were also added to the command.
Later in the day, the enemy having withdrawn their forces in front of us, the force in question was ordered to pursue, which was accomplished, until a halt was ordered, the artillery firing into the enemy's retreating cavalry. The remainder of the brigade, together with a battery of artillery and the Third Brigade, all under command of Major-General Smith, pursued the enemy on the main road toward Harper's Ferry, firing a few shots from the artillery into the retreating cavalry. The pursuit was then abandoned, the enemy having entirely withdrawn, and having so much the advance toward Harper's Ferry that further pursuit seemed unnecessary in connection with subsequent operations to be carried out by the command.
A list of casualties has been transmitted.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Brigadier General, Commanding.
Maj. CHARLES MUNDEE,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Smith's Division
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HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SECOND DIV., SIXTH CORPS,
Near Sharpsburg, Md., September 21, 1862.
MAJOR: I have the honor to report that on the 17th instant my brigade, leading Smith's division, arrived on the battle-ground in front of Keedysville about 9 o'clock a.m., and subsequently led the advance of Franklin's corps to support the right wing under command of Major-General Sumner, then fiercely engaged and hard pressed by the enemy.
Arriving on the ground, the regiments of my brigade were placed in position supporting three batteries--Cowan's, of Smith's division, on the right (3-inch guns); Frank's, of French's division, in the center (12-pounder brass guns), and Cothran's battery, of Banks' corps (rifled guns), on the left, the regiments being placed in the following order: The Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Lieut. Col. William Brisbane, on the right of Cowan's battery; the Forty-third New York Volunteers, under command of Maj. John Wilson, and a detachment of the One hundred and thirty-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Col. Henry M. Bossert, between Cowan's and Frank's batteries; the Sixth Maine Volunteers, under Col. Hiram Burnham, and the Fifth Wisconsin Volunteers, under Col. Amasa Cobb, between Frank's and Cothran's batteries, the whole line being parallel to the woods in front, then occupied in force by the enemy, and at canister distance therefrom.
Skirmishers were immediately thrown forward, who met those of the enemy advancing through the cornfield separating us. The houses and inclosures in front of our position were occupied by detached companies from my command.
Very soon the enemy placed two batteries in front of the woods, their infantry in the edge of it in support, and opened a heavy fire with shell, round shot, shrapnel, and grape. I applied to General Sumner for another regiment to place in the woods on my extreme right. The Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteers, Col. W. R. Lee commanding, was sent to me, and posted by Brigadier-General Howard.
After a severe cannonading, our skirmishers doing good execution at the same time, the enemy's batteries were silenced by our artillery, and withdrawn from the field with the loss of several limbers and many men. At the same time a portion of the Third Brigade of Smith's division assaulted the enemy's advancing column on our extreme left. In this position the field was maintained throughout.
The conduct of the batteries and the troops under my command was excellent without exception. Our loss in the infantry was slight, as the men were lying down during the cannonading. The batteries in question met some losses in men and horses, but the reports have not been made to me. A list of the casualties in the brigade has been transmitted. Early in the afternoon of the 17th I was directed by Major General McClellan in person, who was on the field, to take command of Richardson's division, and to command the center of our forces, General Richardson having been so seriously wounded as to require his removal.
Herewith please find a copy of the order(*) relieving me from the command of my brigade, which was transferred to Col. A. Cobb, Fifth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, the senior colonel, who conducted the subsequent operations of the brigade.
My staff officers, Capt. John Hancock, assistant adjutant-general; First Lieut. William G. Mitchell, aide-de-camp; First Lieut. I. B. Parker, aide-de-camp, behaved with gallantry, and rendered very efficient service in carrying orders under the fire of the enemy. The commanders of regiments and batteries above mentioned deserve especial mention for their good conduct.
Maj. F. N. Clarke, chief of artillery of Sumner's corps, was present, and had general direction of the artillery in these operations.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Maj. CHARLES MUNDEE,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Smith's Division.
Battle
Second
Corps
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