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division was silently withdrawn, and, as directed by
General Lee, covered the retirement of our army.
My division crossed the
Potomac, into
Virginia, about ten A. M., the next morning, every wagon and piece of artillery having been safely put on the
Virginia shore.
I bivouacked that night, nineteenth, about five miles from
Shepherdstown.
Shepherdstown.
On the morning of the twentieth, at half past 6, I was directed by
General Jackson to take my division and drive across the river some brigades of the enemy, who had crossed during the night, driven off
General Pendleton's artillery, capturing four pieces, and were making preparations to hold their position.
Arriving opposite Boteler's Ford, and about half mile therefrom, I formed my line of battle in two lines — the first, the brigades of
Pender,
Gregg, and
Thomas, under command of
General Gregg, and the second,
Lane, (
Branch's brigade,)
Archer, and
Brockenbrough, under the command of
General Archer.
The enemy had lined the opposite hills with some seventy pieces of artillery, and the infantry, who had crossed, lined the crest of the high banks on the
Virginia shore.
My lines advanced simultaneously, and soon encountered the enemy.
This advance was made in the face of the most tremendous fire of artillery I ever saw, and too much praise cannot be awarded my regiment for their steady, unwavering step.
It was as if each man felt that the fate of the army was centred in himself.
The infantry opposition in front of
Gregg's centre and right was but trifling, and soon brushed away.
The enemy, however, massed in front of
Pender, and extending, endeavored to turn his left.
General Pender became hotly engaged, and informing
Archer of his danger, he (
Archer) moved by the left flank, and forming on
Pender's left, a simultaneous, daring charge was made, and the enemy driven pell-mell into the river.
Then commenced the most terrible slaughter that this war has yet witnessed.
The broad surface of the
Potomac was blue with the floating bodies of our foe. But few escaped to tell the tale.
By their own account they lost three thousand men, killed and drowned, from one brigade alone.
Some two hundred prisoners were taken.
My own loss was, thirty killed, and two hundred and thirty-one wounded. Total, two hundred and sixty-one.
This was a wholesome lesson to the enemy, and taught them to know that it may be dangerous sometimes to press a retreating army.
In this battle I did not use a piece of artillery.
My division performed its share in the destruction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and about the first November, took position at Castleman's Ferry, near Snicker's Gap. November fifth,
Archer's and
Thomas's brigades being on picket at the ferry with
Pegram's and
Latham's batteries, the enemy made an attempt to cross the river, but were handsomely repulsed by the Nineteenth Georgia, and the batteries, with a loss of two hundred men.
During this campaign, the especial good conduct of
Colonels Brewer,
Mallory,
Folsom, and
Major C. C. Cole, deserves mention.
Captain Wright, of
Georgia, commanding my escort, was invaluable to me, and proved himself a cool, clearheaded fighter.
My thanks are due my staff for their hearty cooperation and intelligent transmission of my orders under a fire frequently uncomfortably hot;
Major R. C. Morgan,
Assistant Adjutant-General;
Major Wingate,
Captain R. H. Adams,
Signal Officers;
Lieutenant Murray Taylor, Aidde-camp, and
Lieutenant Camfield, of my escort.
My loss during this series of battles was, three hundred and forty-eight killed, two thousand two hundred and nine wounded. Total, two thousand five hundred and fifty-seven.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
A. P. Hill,
Major-General, commanding Light Division.
.
