The Battle of Antietam ( Sharpsburg) September 17th 1862
Timeline 8.15 AM .
The Confederate reserve artillery commanded by Colonel Stephen Dill Lee has suffered fifty per cent casualties from the Union ‘batteries of position’ and is being withdrawn out of range. Any unit suffering more than fifty per cent casualties can not continue and hence this course of action in order to keep the unit in action.
The raw First Union Brigade, Second Division, Twelfth Corps, Lt, Colonel Hector Tyndale commanding has thrown an excellent movement roll which has allowed it to wheel into position facing the veteran Texans of Col. William Tatum Wofford’s confederate Brigade, which were attempting to out flank them
Unformed, with a raw unit status their volley is poor and their ranks are torn by the Confederate fire. However, this is a big unit and has the benefit of an enthusiastic General Mansfield in attendance. Their morale holds and the firefight continues.
Meanwhile the Union First Division, Twelfth Corps Brigadier General Alpheus S Williams is now advancing up the Smoketown Road with the battered Confederates conducting a fighting withdrawal.
The Union Forever….Advance!