fifty prisoners from the retreating foe. The infantry followed promptly on the heels of General Lee's rear guard, but could not bring on an engagement. The enemy carefully retired, and passing throngh Boonesboro' and Keedysville, crossed Antietam Creek and took up a strong position upon the heights beyond. General Richardson's division of General Sumner's corps was in the advance on this road, and immediately upon approaching the enemy's position deployed between the turnpike and the old Sharpsburg road. General Sykes's division, which was in the advance of General Burnside's pursuit, reaching a point contiguous to General Richardson's position, deployed upon the left of the Sharpsburg road. The remaining troops occupied the two roads in columns. General McClellan states that he was desirous of engaging the enemy on the 15th. But the relative positions of the two armies forbade any such enterprise, and the commanding general was only able to post his batteries and mass his troops near and on both sides of the Sharpsburg road. The Ninth Corps occupied the extreme left close to the hills on the southeast side of the valley of the Antietam.*

Antietam creek at this point is a sluggish stream, with but few fords and those difficult of crossing. Above in the neighborhood of Funkstown, there are high banks, and the scenery up and down the river is quite picturesque. The battle, however, was confined to the region adjacent to the lower part of the stream. Here the creek is spanned by four substantial stone bridges, the upper one on the Keedysville and Williamsport road; the second about two miles and a half below on the Keedysville and Sharpsburg turnpike; the third about a mile below the second on the Rohrersville and Sharpsburg road; and the fourth near the mouth of the creek, three miles below the third. Our army lay along the eastern bank of the creek not quite down to the bridges, but with the right wing commanding the two upper bridges and the roads towards Funks

*Cox's Report. McClellan's Report, p. 200.

town beyond. General Burnside-now in command upon the extreme left was posted opposite the bridge upon the Rohrersville and Sharpsburg road, but at some distance from it. The enemy showed evident signs of standing to his defence. General Lee had carried his troops across the creek, had stationed them in a commanding position between that and the Potomac river, and was thus within easy communication with his detachments on the Virginia side near Harper's Ferry, and manifested every sign of making a severe fight. His campaign in Maryland had thus far been entirely fruitless with the exception of the capture of Harper's Ferry, and he could not endure to retire across the Potomac without making some endeavors to retrieve his ill-fortune. During the night of the 15th he changed his position and threw up some slight intrenchments. Through the same night General McClellan's army was occupied in getting into position on the hither side of the creek. General Franklin remained in camp near Crampton's Gap and did not come up till the day of the main battle. Two divisions of General Fitz John Porter's corps, to which General Sykes's division belonged, were on the way from Boonesboro' and Frederick, but were making slow progress on account of the crowded state of the roads. Supplies of provision and ammunition were not abundant, as the troops in advance had hurried forward with great celerity, leaving their baggage train to follow more leisurely. On the morning of the 16th General McClellan was not ready for offensive operations, and the enemy showed a decidedly threatening front.

The bridge in front of the Ninth Corps was a substantial structure difficult of approach on either side, when well guarded by a resolute enemy. Our line had been formed at some distance from the bridge, and it was thought best on the morning of the 16th that it should be moved to a nearer position, from which an assault could be made with greater assurance of success. General Burnside accordingly advanced his command to the immediate vicinity of the bridge, and proceeded to reconnoitre the approaches from his front. During the day his

troops were placed in position, and bivouacked at night in line of battle. "The distribution of the forces was as follows :* On the crest of the hill, immediately in front of the bridge was Benjamin's battery of six 20-pounders with the remaining batteries in rear of the crest under partial cover. In rear of Benjamin's battery, on the extreme right, joining on to General Sykes's division was General Crook's brigade with General Sturgis's division in his rear. On the left and in rear of Benjamin's battery was General Rodman's division with Colonel Scammon's brigade in support. General Willcox's division was held in reserve." Nothing of especial moment occurred during the day in this part of our lines. The enemy dropped some shells in the midst of our troops at intervals, but did not succeed in doing much execution or causing much alarm. On the right the army was a little more busy, and there was considerable fighting before our formations were entirely completed.

As the enemy during the night of the 15th had contracted his lines, General McClellan decided to throw a portion of his. forces across the creek on the 16th, and occupy the opposite bank and the ground adjoining, threatening the enemy's left. The morning was spent in making preparations for the intended movement, and in the afternoon our right was advanced. About two o'clock General Hooker took his corps over the creek by the upper bridge and a ford in the immediate neighborhood. The command struck the enemy's left soon after crossing and a spirited skirmish ensued. The enemy gradually gave way, and General Hooker's troops rested on their arms upon the ground which they had occupied. During the night General Mansfield's corps following General Hookers', crossed the creek, and bivouacked about a mile in his rear.

On the morning of the 17th, the lines of our army were formed as follows: Across the creek beyond the upper bridge were the two corps of General Hooker and General Mansfield,

*Burnside's Report.

the latter directly in rear of the former. On this side the creek, in support of the advanced line, was General Sumner's own corps*the second-ready to move over as soon as its services were required. General Fitz John Porter's corps occupied the centre, and was posted upon the main turnpike leading to Sharpsburg. General McClellan considered this as the vital point, as it was the main avenue of communication to the rear and to the position of our supply and ammunition trains. General Franklin's corps was now upon the march from Crampton's Gap, heading directly for the scene of the impending engagement. The left was occupied by General Burnside, with the Ninth Corps in the position which has already been described. The enemy's position was extremely well chosen, and his lines were formed as follows: Two divisions of General Jackson's command, (commanded respectively by Generals J. R. Jones and Lawton,) which had reached the enemy's position on the morning of the 16th, were on the left flank formed in two lines. General D. H. Hill's corps occupied the centre; General Longstreet's the right. The batteries of Poague, Carpenter, Brockenbrough, Raine, Caskie and Wooding were posted on the left and centre. The divisions of Generals McLaws, R. H. Anderson and Walker came up on the morning of the 17th, and were posted in support of the centre and left. General Hood's command had been engaged on the previous evening with General Hooker's advance, and was relieved during the night by the brigades of Generals Lawton and Trimble, belonging to General Jackson's corps.† Hooker and Jackson were well matched in fighting qualities, and their troops now stood face to face ready for the impending death-struggle. The forces on either side were very nearly equal-not far from one hundred thousand men in each army being engaged during the day or within supporting distance.

General McClellan states that his plan of battle " was to attack the enemy's left with the corps of Generals Hooker and

*General Sumner was in command of the right wing. Jackson's Report.