his tireless activity and efficiency in his depart
ment.

The conduct of both officers and men was every
thing that could be desired, and every one seemed
stimulated by the determination not to be excelled
in any soldierly qualit} 7 ".

I cannot close this report without speaking of
the meritorious conduct of First Lieut. H. Belcher,
of the Eighth Michigan, a regiment belonging to
another division. His regiment having suffered
severely on the right, and being partly thrown
into, confusion, he rallied about one hundred men
and led them up to the front. Being separated
from the brigade to which he belonged, he re
ported to me for duty, and asked a position where
he might be of use till his proper place could be
ascertained. He was assigned a post on the left
and subsequently in support of the advanced sec
tion of Simmons s battery, in both of which places
he and his men performed their duty admirably,
and after the repulse of the enemy in the even
ing, he carried his command to their proper bri
gade.

About six hundred prisoners were taken by
the Kanawha division, and sent to Middletown,
under guard. The losses of the enemy in our im-



436



REBELLION RECORD, 1S62. .



mediate front were not definitely ascertained, but
it is known they very greatly exceeded our own.
Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

J. D. Cox,
Brig. -General, Commanding Kauawha Division.

REPORT OF COLONEL MEREDITH.

GIBBON S BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS, )
CAMP NEAR SHARPSBURGH, MD., September 20, 1802. j

Hon. 0. P. Morton, Governor of Indiana :

DEAK SIR : I most respectfully submit to you
the following report of the part taken by the
Nineteenth Indiana volunteers in the battle of
the fourteenth instant, at South-Mountain. On
the evening of the thirteenth we encamped two
miles south-east from Frederick, Md. We left
camp soon after sun up, marched through Frede
rick, took tke road toward Hagerstown and
marched twelve miles. On arriving near South-
Mountain it was ascertained that the enemy was
in force on the mountain and in the pass. I was
ordered to form a line of battle about three
o clock P.M., which was done on the hill facing
the mountain, and remained there until about
five o clock, when we were ordered to go forward.
We went forward in line of battle on the left
of the pike leading through the pass, supported
by the Second Wisconsin, two companies of
which, commanded by Capt. Caldwell, had been
deployed as skirmishers. I also employed com
pany B, Capt. Dudley, as Hankers, to protect our
left flank.

We moved slowly and cautiously, but steadily
forward. The skirmishers were soon fired on,
but pressed forward with caution. On arriving
near a house on our extreme left, surrounded on
the south-west and north by timber, I discovered
a, large number of the enemy in and around the
house. They had been annoying us as well as
the skirmishers, by firing from the house and out
houses, also from the woods near the house. I
ordered Lieut. Stewart, who commanded a sec
tion of battery B, Fourth artillery, to come for
ward and open fire upon the house. He moved
forward his section of two pieces and threw seve
ral splendid shots, the first of which took effect
in the upper story, causing a general stampede of
their forces from that point, enabling us to go
forward more rapidly and with less loss from
their sharp-shooters. Their skirmishers opened
u sharp fire upon ours, which made it necessary
fox us to push forward. We then opened fire on
tlie enemy at short-range, who were concealed in

}>art under a fence. The fire became general on
x>tli sides. The Nineteenth gave a shout and
pressed forward, continued a steady step forward,
cheering all the time. It was a most magnificent
sight to see the boys of the Nineteenth going for
ward, crowding the enemy, cheering as they
pressed on. After driving the enemy about three
quarters of a mile, I discovered a stone fence in
front, which the enemy had fallen back to ; at that
yoint they were annoying us very much. I then
ordered Capt. Clark, company G, to wheel his
company to the left and move by the right flank



until he could command the line of battle lying

j directly behind the stone fence. They then

| opened a flank fire upon the enemy, causing

i them to retreat precipitately, which gave us an

I opportunity of pouring upon them a raking fire

as they retreated. Capt. Clark here took eleven

prisoners, one major, one captain, and one lieu

tenant amongst them. The firing then ceased in

front of us. The Second Wisconsin came to our

support promptly as soon as the firing became

genera], and stood by the Nineteenth until the

enemy fled over the mountains.

After the firing ceased in front we discovered
that the enemy, who was concealed behind a stone
fence on the right of the pike in front of the
Seventh Wisconsin, annoyed them by a deadly
fire behind their breastworks. Col. Fairchilds,
commanding the Second Wisconsin, wheeled the
left wing of his regiment and opened an enfilad
ing fire upon the enemy. After exhausting their
ammunition he withdrew them and ordered up
his right wing to take their place, in which posi
tion they remained until they exhausted their
ammunition, when they were withdrawn. I then
took forward my regiment and occupied the same
positipn, and continued an enfilading lire upon
the enemy, who soon fell back from their strong
position. The Wisconsin and Indiana boys gave
three hearty cheers as the fate of the day was
thus decided. It was then after nine o clock at
night, and pursuit being considered dangerous,
we lay down on our arms, holding the battle
field. Small detachments of my command were
now engaged in bringing in wounded prisoners.
We held the field until about twelve o clock,
when we were relieved by fresh troops.

The losses in the Nineteenth regiment were
nine killed, thirty-seven wounded, and seven
missing, making an aggregate of fifty-three.

It was a glorious victory on the part of Gen.
Gibbon s brigade, driving the enemy from their
strong position in the mountain gorge. The boys
of the Nineteenth Indiana behaved most glori
ously. Too much praise cannot be bestowed
upon them for their courage and gallantry. The
officers all were active in the discharge of their
duties. Lieut. -Col. Bachman was very efficient
on the occasion, rendering me important service.

Capt. Hart, of company H, and Lieut, llariden,
of company F, were wounded in the leg.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. MEREDITH,

Colonel Nineteenth Indiana Volunteers.
. COLONEL TORBERT S ORDER.

Soldiers of the First New -Jersey Brigade:
The fourteenth day of September, 1862, is long
to be remembered, for on that day you daringly
met and drove the enemy from every point. Your
advance in line of battle under a galling fire of
artillery, and final bayonet-charge, was a feat sel
dom if ever surpassed. The heights you took
show plainly what determined and well-disci
plined soldiers can do. You have sustained tho
reputation of your State, and done great credit to
your officers and yourselves. While we lament



DOCUMENTS.



437



the death of our brave comrades, who have fallen
so gloriously, we can only commend their souls
to God, and their sorrowing friends to his sure
protection. May you go on from victory to vic
tory, is the hope of the Colonel commanding the
brigade. A. T. A. TORHERT,

Colonel First New-Jersey Volunteers, Commanding First Brigade.

GENERAL BURNSIDE S ORDER ON THE DEATH OF
GENERAL RENO.

HEADQUARTERS OF NIXTH ARMY CORPS, )
MOUTH OF ANTIETAM, MD., September 20. f

GENERAL ORDER No. 17.

The Commanding General announces to the
corps the loss of their late leader, Major-General
Jesse L. Reno. By the death of this distinguished
officer the country loses one of its most devoted
patriots, the army one of its most thorough sol
diers. In the long list of battles in which Gen.
Reno has fought in his country s service his name
always appears with the brightest lustre, and he
has now bravely met a soldier s death while gal
lantly leading his men at the battle of South-
Mountain.

For his high character and the kindly qualities
of his heart in private life, as well as for the mili
tary genius and personal daring which marked
him as a soldier, his loss will be deplored by all
who knew him, and the Commanding General
desires to add the tribute of a friend to the pub
lic mourning for the death of ane of the country s
best defenders.

By command of Major-General BURNSIDE.
LEWIS RICHMOND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.
NEW-YORK "TIMES" ACCOUNT.
ON THE BATTLE-FIELD, Sunday Night, Sept. 14, 1862.

Although the battle of to-day was of long du
ration, still it was not so sanguinary, considering
the forces engaged, as a spectator would at first
be inclined to suppose. Our loss in killed and
wounded will not probably exceed two thousand,
and that I judge to be a high estimate. Since
Gen. Pleasanton s brigade of cavalry advanced
from Rockville, we have had skirmishes daily
along the route. .During those skirmishes the
enemy s force consisted of about two regiments
of cavalry and two or three pieces of artillery.
On Saturday, however, more regiments of cavalry
were added, making a force equal, if not supe
rior, to our own.

The force that opposed our advance until to
day was the rear-guard of the enemy, and the
battle-ground of yesterday was evidently select
ed with a view of staying our further progress.

The rebel position was on the sides and sum
mit of the Blue Ridge Mountains on each side of
the Gap, known as Frog Gap, through which the
main road on the turnpike from Middletown to
Hagerstown passes. The Gap is distant from
Middletown about three miles, and from Frede
rick twelve miles. Boonsborough, the next im
portant town to Middletown on the turnpike, is
two miles from the Gap, on the other side of the
mountains. The mountains in the vicinity of
the Gap are steep and rugged, and rendered diffi



cult to ascend unless by the ordinary thorough
fares, on account of numerous ledges and loose
rocks which afford no permanent foothold. From
base to top they are covered with a thick wood,
thereby giving protection to the party in posses
sion, and making the progress of the attacking
force doubly hazardous. Bolivar, a village boast-
ing of six or eight dwellings, is situated on the
mam road, between Middletown and the Gap,
and about one and a half miles from the latter
place. At Bolivar, a road branches off from each
side of the main road, the two roads taking a cir
cuitous course to the mountains, and gradually
ascending them, join the main road again at the
Gap.

The early position of the Union arn^, or where
the line of battle was first formed, was on a piece
of rising ground on the right and left of the main
road between Bolivar and the mountains. As
the day advanced and our forces moved forward,
the position was changed, but never for the bet
ter. The nearer we approached the mountains,
the more successfully could the enemy bring his
artillery to bear on our columns. *No matter
what position we held, the Blue Ridge Mountains
commanded that position. It will be observed at
once, that the enemy had a formidable ground of
defence, and nothing but undaunted courage
wrested it from him.

The first division to enter the field on our side
was Cox s, of Reno s corps. Next came the
Pennsylvania reserve corps, Ricketts s and King s
divisions, under command of the gallant and
brave Hooker. We had batteries stationed on
both wings, but at no one time were there over
ten or twelve pieces in practice.

The enemy s force is supposed to have amount
ed to about forty thousand men. He probably
used twelve pieces of cannon. The forces of
General Longstreet and D. H. Hill were engaged.

The battle commenced with artillery at seven
A.M., Robertson s United States battery of four
light field-pieces firing the first shot. This bat
tery was stationed about six hundred yards to
the left of the turnpike, the fire being directed
at no particular place, but with a view of shell
ing the woods generally, so as to draw a reply
from the rebels. The firing was continued for
over an hour, but the enemy did not respond un
til Cox s division appeared in the main road,
advancing to take a position. Two pieces sta
tioned in the Gap were then opened upon the
column. The troops, however, turned into a
field at the left of the road, and got out of harm s
way before any injuries were effected. Here
they remained in line of battle for an hour and a
half. In the mean time the enemy s position
having been discovered, Robertson directed the
fire of his pieces to the Gap. Soon after, the
rebels opened another battery at the right of the
Gap, and subsequently still another battery at the
left. It was then evident that the rebels intended
to make a vigorous stand on the mountain. Since
the preceding day they had brought up extra
pieces of cannon, for, as before stated, they had
used but three, at the most, in the skirmishes



438



REBELLION RECORD, 18G2.



during the week. The enemy was now firing
from nine pieces ; consequently, to make a vigor
ous reply, Hayne s U. S. battery of six pieces
moved up to the left to the assistance of Robert
son.

A heavy cannonading then ensued, but, as
usual in artillery duels, little damage was effected
on either side. At ten A.M. the enemy withdrew
his pieces on the left and right of the Gap, and
worked principally with those in the Gap. A
half an hour later all of the enemy s guns were
silent, but upon the moving of Cox s division
soon after to the edge of the woods on the side
of the mountain at the left, the rebels again
produced their pieces at the right of the Gap.
Cook s Massachusetts battery of six pieces was
now brought up to the support of Robertson s,
and a concentrating fire was poured into the
Gap, many of the shells bursting directly over
the rebel guns. At first the enemy threw solid
shot, but after a while changed his projectile to
shell.

Three times during the day the rebels were
forced to change the position of their pieces, and
late in the afternoon their guns were silent alto
gether.

By eleven o clock Cox s division had arrived at
the woods, and a few minutes later had entered
for the purpose of getting round the enemy s
right.

At this juncture Generals McClellan and Burn-
side, with their staffs, rode upon the field, where
they remained during the continuance of the
battle.

Cook s battery took a favorable position for
shelling the woods in advance of the division, but
had hardly got to work when the rebels fired a
tremendous volley of musketry at the cannoneers.
This was repeated several times in quick succes
sion, until at length the cannoneers abandoned
their pieces, and ran to the rear, leaving four or
five of their comrades dead upon the ground.
The drivers of the caissons also partook of the
panic, and dashed headlong through the ranks
of Cox s division, which was drawn up in line of
battle a few yards to the rear. Two companies
of a cavalry regiment, which were supporting
the battery, also galloped through the line of in
fantry, thus leaving four pieces of artillery (the
other two having been detached to another part
of the field) to fall into the hands of the enemy.
The event caused temporar} r , and only temporary
confusion among the troops. They quickly
straightened the line and prepared to resist a
demonstration observable on the part of the ene
my to seize the abandoned pieces. The rebels
march forward to secure their anticipated prize,
and at the same moment the Twenty-third Ohio
and One Hundredth Pennsylvania regiments
advanced in splendid order to repulse them. The
rebels had approached to within about ten feet
of the guns, when the contest commenced. Each
side seemed desperate in its purpose, and the
struggle was most exciting. At length the For
ty-fifth New- York came to" the rescue, and turned
the tide of fortune in our favor. Both parties



suffered severely in the action. The rebels re
treated in great confusion, while our men made
the woods resound with cheers.

For the succeeding two hours the infantry un
der the command of Reno ceased operations, and
the artillery alone continued the duel. The guns
used thus far were six, ten and twelve-pounders.
Simrnons s Ohio battery of four twenty-pounder
pieces was now placed in position on the left, and
commenced throwing shells to the right of the
Gap, at which point the rebels had again sta
tioned a battery. The firing for a while was
exceedingly animated, but the twenty-pounders
proved too much for the rebels, and they were
compelled, in the course of half an hour, to
change the position of their guns. At the expi
ration of the next half-hour their guns were si
lenced. In this battle the enemy did not appear
to have so many guns as usual, for if they did
have them, he did not bring them into practice.
The thirty-two-pounder which he was so fond of
using against us on the Peninsuki, did not make
its appearance here.

At two P.M. the head of General Hooker s
column appeared coming up the turnpike to ree n-
force Reno. The column took the road branch
ing off from the turnpike at the right, near Boli
var, and proceeded to the foot of the mountains.
All along the line the utmost enthusiasm was
manifested for Hooker. Every man in the corps
was evidently impressed with the belief that he
had a general able and willing to lead them for
ward to face the enemy.

At three P.M. the line of battle from right to
left was formed in the following order, near the
base of the mountains on the right, and at the
edge of a piece of woods on the mountain slope
at the left : The first brigade of Ricketts s divi
sion on the extreme right, which was about one
mile north of the turnpike ; the Pennsylvania
reserve corps, the right resting on Ricketts s left ;
the Second regiment U. S. sharp shooters on the
road branching off from the turnpike at the
right ; the second and third brigades of Rick
etts s division between the branch road and the
turnpike ; King s division (commanded by Gen.
Hatch) at the left of the turnpike, the right rest
ing on the turnpike ; Gen. Reno s force on the
extreme left, about a mile and a half from the
turnpike.

The Sixth United States, Eighth Illinois,
Eighth, Third and Twelfth Pennsylvania, Sixth
New-York, Third Indiana and First Massachu
setts cavalry regiments were on different portions
of the field performing picket -duty, acting as
guards to the roads and supporting the batter
ies.

Up .to this time all our batteries had been
stationed to the left of the turnpike, as the posi
tions secured there enabled the gunners to work
their pieces to advantage.

About one hundred yards in the rear of the
Pennsylvania reserve corps was stationed Capt.
Cooper s First Pennsylvania battery of four
pieces ; Captain Ransom s, company C, Fifth
United States battery, of four pieces, took a



DOCUMENTS.



439



position at the extreme right, in the rear of the
first brigade of Ricketts s division.

Immediately after the line of battle was formed,
the right, left and centre commenced moving sim
ultaneously toward the enemy on the slope of the
mountains. The rebels opened on the column
with two pieces of cannon, directing the fire of
one to the right, and of the other to the left of
the line. They were replied to by one of Sim
mons 1 s twenty -pounders on our left, and Coop
er s battery on our right. The enemy continued
the firing for upward of an hour, when, on ac
count of the severe punishment he was receiving
from our guns, and the near approach of our in
fantry to his pieces, he disappeared on the other
side of the mountain.

The enenry s shells for the most part went over
the Union troops, consequently they did not ef
fect much damage.

Steadily onward went our long unbroken line
of infantry, until the right wing had gained a
piece of woods on the mountain, a short distance
from the base, when the Bucktails, who were
skirmishing on the right, discovered the enemy s
pickets. A desultor} rattling of musketry was
next heard, which indicated the commencement
of the battle on the part of the infantry. The
column from right to left still remained unbroken,
and advanced cautiously but firmly up the steep.
In a short time the enemy s main force was en
countered, and then came heavy volleys of mus
ketry on the right. The Pennsylvania reserve
corps and the First brigade of Ricketts s division
were now hotly engaging the enemy. The rebels
stood their ground for a while, but after a con
test of thirty minutes they wavered, and com
menced falling back in disorder toward the sum-
f mit of the mountains. Our forces pushed them
vigorously, and kept up a continuous fire.

The valor displaj ed on this occasion by the
Pennsylvania reserves, and the corps formerly
under the command of McDowell, is deserving of
the highest praise. Not a straggler could be seen
on the field. Every man was at his post in the
line. They all seemed determined to force back
the enemy and take possession of the mountains,
in spite of any opposition that might be placed in
their way. Gen. Hooker, accompanied by his
staff, was where he always is on such occasions
at the front. The line did not give way for an
instant, but kept moving forward and upward,
pouring volley after volley of musketry into the
enemy s ranks, until at last the rebels broke and
ran precipitately to the top of the mountain
thence down on the other side.

Reno s corps on the left did its part nobly.
The men were called upon to do some severe
fighting, and they performed their duty with a
will and heroism seldom before displayed. The
engagement on the left succeeded that on the
right, and lasted about an hour and a half. The
enemy contested every foot of ground, but event
ually yielded it to the conquerors.

The centre column was the last to come into
the action. The same success that marked the
advance of the two wings also attended the cen



tre. At six P.M., after an engagement of three
hours duration, the rebels fled, leaying the top
of the mountain in the possession of the Union
troops. Darkness prevented us from pursuing
the enemy further at the time.

The result of the battle secures to the Union
troops a very important position, inasmuch as it
commands the approaches on each side of the
mountain, also a vast area of the surrounding
country. I estimate, as before stated, that two
thousand will cover the list of our casualties. I
think that the enemy s loss in killed and wound
ed will not exceed our own. Altogether we cap
tured two thousand prisoners.

Gen. Reno was killed on the field of battle.
At the time of the calamity he was observing, by
aid of a glass, the enemy s movements. He was
struck in the spine by a musket-ball the ball
lodging in the breast.



Doc. 120,
THE SURRENDER OF HARPER S FERRY

REPORT OP THE INVESTIGATING COMMISSION.

THE Commission, consisting of Major-Gen. D.
Hunter, United States army of volunteers, Presi
dent; Major-Gen. G. Cadwalader, United States
army of volunteers; Brig.-Gen. C. C. Augur,
United States army of volunteers ; Major Donn
Piatt, Assistant- Adjutant-General of volunteers ;
Capt. F. Ball, Aid-de-Camp of volunteers ; Colo
nel Holt, Judge-Advocate General, called by the
Government to investigate the conduct of certain
officers connected with and the circumstances at
tending the abandonment of Maryland Heights
and. the surrender of Harper s Ferry, have the
honor to report the following:

On the third of September Gen. "White entered
Harper s Ferry with his force from Winchester.
The next clay he was ordered to Martinsburgh,
to take command of the forces there. On the
twelfth of September he again returned to Har
per s Fcny, where he remained until the surren
der, without assuming the command.

On the seventh of September Gen. McClellan,
the most of his forces having preceded him, left
Washington under orders issued some days pre
viously, to drive the enemy from Maryland.
That night he established his headquarters at
Rockville, from which, on the eleventh of Sep
tember, he telegraphed to Gen. Halleck to have
Col. Miles ordered to join him at once.

On the fifth of September Col. Thomas II.
Ford, thirty-second Ohio, took command of the
forces on Maryland Heights. Forces were placed
at Solomon s Gap and at Sandy Hook. Those at
Sandy Hook, under Col. Maulsby, retired by Col.
Miles s order to the eastern slope of Maryland
Heights, two or three days previous to their evac
uation by Col. Ford.

On the eleventh of September the force at Sol