Here sits
Colonel T. G. Morehead, who commanded the 106th Pennsylvania, of the Second Corps.
At 7.20 A. M. the order came to advance, and with a cheer the Second Corps--men who for over two years had never lost a gun nor struck a color — pressed forward.
But again they were halted.
It was almost an hour later when
Sedgwick's division, with
Sumner at the head, crossed the
Antietam.
Arriving nearly opposite the Dunker church, it swept out over the cornfields.
On it went, by
Greene's right, through the West Woods; here it met the awful counter-stroke of
Early's reinforced division and, stubbornly resisting, was hurled back with frightful loss.
Early in the morning of September 17, 1862,
Knap's battery (shown below) got into the thick of the action of
Antietam.
General Mansfield had posted it opposite the north end of the West Woods, close to the
Confederate line.
The guns opened fire at seven o'clock. Practically unsupported, the battery was twice charged upon during the morning; but quickly substituting canister for shot and shell, the men held their ground and stemmed the
Confederate advance.
Near this spot
General Mansfield was mortally wounded while deploying his troops.
About noon a section of
Knap's battery was detached to the assistance of
General Greene, in the East Woods.
