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[700] the Potomac on the fifth September, passed through Frederick City, Maryland, and camped two miles beyond. Recrossed the Potomac on the eleventh of September at Williamsport, passed through Martinsburg, thence to Harper's Ferry, and took part in the reduction of that place. Crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown on the sixteenth of September, and the same evening formed line of battle, slept on our arms and in position, near Sharpsburg, Maryland. Early on the morning of the seventeenth the engagement became general, continuing throughout the day, the brigade sustaining its part. It was in this battle that Brigadier-General W. E. Starke fell, while gallantly leading his command. Remained in line of battle all night of the seventeenth; remained in position on the day of the eighteenth; recrossed the Potomac, near Shepherdstown, on the morning of the nineteenth; held in reserve on the twentieth; went into camp, near Martinsburg, on the twenty-first; remained in camp until the twenty-eighth, and moved to Bunker Hill on or about the fifth of October. My command, the Ninth regiment Louisiana volunteers, was transferred from Starke's brigade to that commanded by Brigadier-General Harry T. Hays. No report of casualties has been received from Coppens's battalion, Captain Raine's and Captain Brockenbrough's batteries. Enclosed find list of casualties of the First, Second, Ninth, Tenth, and Fifteenth regiments Louisiana volunteers.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

L. A. Stafford, Colonel, commanding Brigade.


Report of Colonel McRae, commanding Garland's brigade, of battle of Sharpsburg.

headquarters Garland's brigade, October 20, 1862.
Major: I submit the following report of the action of the brigade in the battle of seventeenth September, near Sharpsburg:

The brigade was moved from its position on the Hagerstown road to the support of Colquitt's, which was then about engaging the enemy on our left and front. This was about ten o'clock. We moved by the left flank until we reached a point near the woods, where line of battle was formed and the advance begun. Some confusion ensued from conflicting orders. When the brigade crossed the fence it was halted and formed, and again advanced. Coming in sight of the enemy, the firing was commenced steadily, with good will, and from an excellent position. But, unaccountably to me, an order was given to cease firing, that General Ripley's brigade was in front. This produced great confusion, and, in the midst of it, a force of the enemy appearing on the right, it commenced to break, and a general panic ensued. It was in vain that the field and most of the company officers exerted themselves to allay it. The troops left the field in confusion, the field officers, company officers, and myself bringing up the rear. Subsequently several portions of the brigade, under Colonel Iverson, Captain Garnett, and others, were rallied and brought into action, rendering useful service. I refer to their general reports for this conduct.

I am, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

D. F. Mcrae, Colonel, commanding Brigade.


Report of Colonel Pendleton, commanding Starke's brigade, of operations in Maryland.

headquarters Starke's brigade, camp near Martinsburg, October 20, 1862.
Lieutenant Mann Page, A. A. A. General First Division, Jackson's Corps:
Lieutenant: In obedience to the order of Lieutenant-General Jackson, requiring of brigade commanders reports of the participation of their commands in the late engagements with the enemy, I have the honor to submit the following statement of the part taken by this brigade in the capture of Harper's Ferry and the immediate following battle of Sharpsburg, Maryland:

Having marched from Martinsburg about dawn on the morning of the thirteenth September, we reached the vicinity of Bolivar Heights, where the enemy was strongly intrenched, shortly after noon on the same day, and bivouacked on the Charlestown road, just beyond the range of his guns, until two o'clock the next day. At that hour we were ordered to move, by an unfrequented road, to our left, and almost at right angles with the Charlestown road, to a position nearer the Potomac, supporting the Baltimore battery of light artillery, commanded by Captain Brockenbrough and attached to this brigade, which opened upon the enemy, and continued its fire until dark, the enemy responding, but without damage to us. At eight o'clock P. M., when darkness entirely concealed the movement, we were ordered to move forward in close proximity to the Potomac, and within close range of the enemy's artillery; in obedience to which order, we silently occupied a wooded ridge overlooking the river, and along the crest of which a road leads directly to the enemy's fortified position. The brigade being formed in line across and at right angles with the course of the ridge, we lay upon our arms till nearly daylight — the quietude of the night being unbroken save by a sharp musketry fire of a few minutes' duration in front of our right, and a few hundred yards distant, which proved to have occurred between two regiments of the enemy on picket duty, who had mutually mistaken each other for foes. Shortly before dawn we resumed our position of the evening before, again supporting the Baltimore battery, which reopened its fire and delivered a few telling shots, some of them, I regret to say, after the besieged hoisted the white flag. It is but justice, however, to add that from the position we occupied the flag was imperceptible; nor were we aware of the surrender until a message was received from the Major-General commanding directing a cessation of the fire.


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