The Southern Region of the Battle of Antietam

10:00 AM Two Confederate regiments, the 20th and 2nd Georgia, covered the bluffs over the Lower Bridge. A third regiment, the 50th Georgia, was stretched out along the bluffs where the creek turned westward. Altogether, there was about 500 Confederates.
The first Union troops moved against the Lower Bridge at around 10:00AM. Unsupported, the Union 11th Connecticut crossed over the wooded knoll opposite the Bridge and advanced up to the fences that ran north and south of the bridge. In less than 15 minutes, they were driven away.

10:30 AM After the 11th Connecticut's failure, Sturgis's Division was assigned to take the bridge. At around 10:30 AM, the 1st Brigade (Nagle's) advanced out of Rohrbach's cornfield. Nagle's two lead regiments, the 2nd Maryland and 6th New Hampshire, cut across Rohrbach's plowed field and advanced in columns of four toward the foot of the bridge. Unable to hold up against the Confederate fire, the two regiments soon retreated behind the woods on the hill opposite the bridge.

10:45 AM Undaunted by their first attempt, Nagle's troops charged over the hill toward the bridge. By this time, the 2nd Maryland and 6th New Hampshire had been joined by the 48th Pennsylvania. Nonetheless, Nagle's men could not force the bridge from the Confederate's grip, and were again forced back behind the wooded knoll.
At about this time, the 2nd Brigade (Ferrero's) arrived in the region, coming down through Rohrbach's cornfield.

12:00 AM By noon, Ferrero's men were in position to move against the bridge. The 51st Pennsylvania followed the route of Nagle's men, and swung around the wooded knoll opposite the bridge. The 51st New York formed along Rohrbach's lane and then advanced in line across the stubble field that covered the east bank of the creek. The 21st Massachusetts formed in line in the plowed field to cover the other two advancing regiments. Ferrero's last regiment, the 35th Massachusetts, was left behind; it was green and had a poor reputation, and was even possibly responsible for friendly fire that killed General Reno, their own Corps commander, on South Mountain.

1:00 PM By the time Ferrero's Brigade took up a position along the fences on either side of the bridge, the Confederates were seriously running out of ammunition. Having held up the Union advance nearly four hours, it was time to retreat, and take up a new position to the rear.
Sensing the slackening Confederate fire, the 51 Pennsylvania stormed over the bridge, followed by the 51st New York. At last on the other side of the creek, the two 51st's unfortunately turned to the right down the lower bridge road, instead of to the left where they might have attempted to harass the fleeing Confederates.
Nevertheless, the bridge was in the Federal's hands, and the whole division moved forward to cross.

3:00 PM After having taken the bridge and secured the western side, Sturgis's men discovered that they were out of ammunition. The Federal momentum was broken; the other three IX Corps Divisions (Wilcox, Rodman, and Scammon) had to be brought up. Wilcox crossed at the bridge (or forded nearby), while Rodman crossed at the long-sought Snavely's ford. Scammon's two brigades where divided, Crook's following Wilcox, and Ewing following Rodman.
Meanwhile, the fleeing Confederate 2nd, 20th, and 50th Georgia were replaced by Benning's 15th and 17th regiments, who took up position behind a stone wall that bordered Otto's 40 Acre Cornfield.
This redeployment took two full hours, and the IX Corps assault on Lee's right didn't pick up until 3:00 PM. Wilcox (Welsh's and Christ's Brigades) formed on the Union right, while Rodman (Fairchild and Harland) formed on the left.
Once started, the Federal drive steadily moved forward. Despite excellent defensive position, the odds were too overwhelming for the Confederates.

4:00 PM Under intense pressure, Jenkins, Drayton, and Kemper were forced out of their positions toward the Harper's Ferry road and Sharpsburg. After capturing the position held by the Confederates and success in their grasp, the Federals halted to cheer their victory.
With Lee's right all but rolled up and Sharpsburg captured, two events transpired to undo the Federal success. First, the extreme Federal left flank (Harland's Brigade) failed to advance properly; the 8th Connecticut moved forward, but the 16th Connecticut and 4th Rhode Island got stalled in Otto's 40 Acre Cornfield. Second, A.P. Hill's long-awaited reenforcements arrived from Harper's Ferry. Gregg's men (of Hill's Division) passed unnoticed into the 40 Acre Cornfield. Relieved by Gregg, Benning's troops moved back to the Harper's Ferry Road, looking for an opportunity. They were joined by Archer's Brigade, another of Hill's reenforcements.

4:20 PM Within a short time, the Federal position began to collapse. The 16th Connecticut ran into Gregg's Brigade in Otto's 40 Acre Cornfield. The Confederates fired at point black range, inflicting 300 casualties on the green regiment, and sent them streaming from the corn. The 4th Rhode Island didn't fare much better. After trying to advance, they too unexpectantly encountered Confederates in the tall corn and, under intense well-coordinated fire, were driven back out of the corn with heavy losses.
A little to the north, the hole created by Harland's failure to advance was filled by Branch's Brigade, arriving on the field with A.P. Hill's Division. With Archer and Benning hitting the Federal left in front, Branch struck on the left flank. The combined effect was irresistible: with the Federal left flank rolling up, then entire Federal line had to retreat.

4:30 PM As Harland's Brigade took a beating, Ewing's Brigade (of Scammon's Division) came forward to try to stem the damage to the Union left flank. The 23rd Ohio advanced to the crest of Otto's swale, but was quickly turned back by the oncoming Confederates.
The 30th Ohio went after Confederates in the western region of the cornfield, but quickly succumbed to fire from its front, right flank, and rear.
The 12 OH tried to take the position abandoned by the 16 Connecticut, charged into the low region in the corn and drove Gregg's men uphill to the west and south. When Confederates returned fire, they hit the prone 16th Connecticut; they returned the fire, but largely fired into the back of the Ohioans. Surrounded by hostile fire on all sides, they pulled out of the corn and beat a retreat back toward the Antietam.

5:00 PM As darkness set in, nearly all Federal troops had retreated eastward of the ridge traversed by Otto's Lane. The 35th Massachusetts remained, bent around a fenceline bordering a stubble field on Otto's farm.
General D.R. Jones, commander of the Confederate right wing, had decided that a full counterattack on the Federals would not be prudent. Although they might have pushed the Federals all the way into the Creek, Jones was content to hold the line along the stone wall bordering Otto's plowed field, guarding the approaches to Sharpsburg.
Falling darkness soon put and end to all plans of further hostilities.

10:00 AM	Two Confederate regiments, the 20th and 2nd Georgia, covered the bluffs over the Lower Bridge. A third regiment, the 50th Georgia, was stretched out along the bluffs where the creek turned westward. Altogether, there was about 500 Confederates. The first Union troops moved against the Lower Bridge at around 10:00AM. Unsupported, the Union 11th Connecticut crossed over the wooded knoll opposite the Bridge and advanced up to the fences that ran north and south of the bridge. In less than 15 minutes, they were driven away.
10:30 AM	After the 11th Connecticut's failure, Sturgis's Division was assigned to take the bridge. At around 10:30 AM, the 1st Brigade (Nagle's) advanced out of Rohrbach's cornfield. Nagle's two lead regiments, the 2nd Maryland and 6th New Hampshire, cut across Rohrbach's plowed field and advanced in columns of four toward the foot of the bridge. Unable to hold up against the Confederate fire, the two regiments soon retreated behind the woods on the hill opposite the bridge.
10:45 AM	Undaunted by their first attempt, Nagle's troops charged over the hill toward the bridge. By this time, the 2nd Maryland and 6th New Hampshire had been joined by the 48th Pennsylvania. Nonetheless, Nagle's men could not force the bridge from the Confederate's grip, and were again forced back behind the wooded knoll. At about this time, the 2nd Brigade (Ferrero's) arrived in the region, coming down through Rohrbach's cornfield.
12:00 AM	By noon, Ferrero's men were in position to move against the bridge. The 51st Pennsylvania followed the route of Nagle's men, and swung around the wooded knoll opposite the bridge. The 51st New York formed along Rohrbach's lane and then advanced in line across the stubble field that covered the east bank of the creek. The 21st Massachusetts formed in line in the plowed field to cover the other two advancing regiments. Ferrero's last regiment, the 35th Massachusetts, was left behind; it was green and had a poor reputation, and was even possibly responsible for friendly fire that killed General Reno, their own Corps commander, on South Mountain.
1:00 PM	By the time Ferrero's Brigade took up a position along the fences on either side of the bridge, the Confederates were seriously running out of ammunition. Having held up the Union advance nearly four hours, it was time to retreat, and take up a new position to the rear. Sensing the slackening Confederate fire, the 51 Pennsylvania stormed over the bridge, followed by the 51st New York. At last on the other side of the creek, the two 51st's unfortunately turned to the right down the lower bridge road, instead of to the left where they might have attempted to harass the fleeing Confederates. Nevertheless, the bridge was in the Federal's hands, and the whole division moved forward to cross.
3:00 PM	After having taken the bridge and secured the western side, Sturgis's men discovered that they were out of ammunition. The Federal momentum was broken; the other three IX Corps Divisions (Wilcox, Rodman, and Scammon) had to be brought up. Wilcox crossed at the bridge (or forded nearby), while Rodman crossed at the long-sought Snavely's ford. Scammon's two brigades where divided, Crook's following Wilcox, and Ewing following Rodman. Meanwhile, the fleeing Confederate 2nd, 20th, and 50th Georgia were replaced by Benning's 15th and 17th regiments, who took up position behind a stone wall that bordered Otto's 40 Acre Cornfield. This redeployment took two full hours, and the IX Corps assault on Lee's right didn't pick up until 3:00 PM. Wilcox (Welsh's and Christ's Brigades) formed on the Union right, while Rodman (Fairchild and Harland) formed on the left. Once started, the Federal drive steadily moved forward. Despite excellent defensive position, the odds were too overwhelming for the Confederates.
4:00 PM	Under intense pressure, Jenkins, Drayton, and Kemper were forced out of their positions toward the Harper's Ferry road and Sharpsburg. After capturing the position held by the Confederates and success in their grasp, the Federals halted to cheer their victory. With Lee's right all but rolled up and Sharpsburg captured, two events transpired to undo the Federal success. First, the extreme Federal left flank (Harland's Brigade) failed to advance properly; the 8th Connecticut moved forward, but the 16th Connecticut and 4th Rhode Island got stalled in Otto's 40 Acre Cornfield. Second, A.P. Hill's long-awaited reenforcements arrived from Harper's Ferry. Gregg's men (of Hill's Division) passed unnoticed into the 40 Acre Cornfield. Relieved by Gregg, Benning's troops moved back to the Harper's Ferry Road, looking for an opportunity. They were joined by Archer's Brigade, another of Hill's reenforcements.
4:20 PM	Within a short time, the Federal position began to collapse. The 16th Connecticut ran into Gregg's Brigade in Otto's 40 Acre Cornfield. The Confederates fired at point black range, inflicting 300 casualties on the green regiment, and sent them streaming from the corn. The 4th Rhode Island didn't fare much better. After trying to advance, they too unexpectantly encountered Confederates in the tall corn and, under intense well-coordinated fire, were driven back out of the corn with heavy losses. A little to the north, the hole created by Harland's failure to advance was filled by Branch's Brigade, arriving on the field with A.P. Hill's Division. With Archer and Benning hitting the Federal left in front, Branch struck on the left flank. The combined effect was irresistible: with the Federal left flank rolling up, then entire Federal line had to retreat.
4:30 PM	As Harland's Brigade took a beating, Ewing's Brigade (of Scammon's Division) came forward to try to stem the damage to the Union left flank. The 23rd Ohio advanced to the crest of Otto's swale, but was quickly turned back by the oncoming Confederates. The 30th Ohio went after Confederates in the western region of the cornfield, but quickly succumbed to fire from its front, right flank, and rear. The 12 OH tried to take the position abandoned by the 16 Connecticut, charged into the low region in the corn and drove Gregg's men uphill to the west and south. When Confederates returned fire, they hit the prone 16th Connecticut; they returned the fire, but largely fired into the back of the Ohioans. Surrounded by hostile fire on all sides, they pulled out of the corn and beat a retreat back toward the Antietam.
5:00 PM	As darkness set in, nearly all Federal troops had retreated eastward of the ridge traversed by Otto's Lane. The 35th Massachusetts remained, bent around a fenceline bordering a stubble field on Otto's farm. General D.R. Jones, commander of the Confederate right wing, had decided that a full counterattack on the Federals would not be prudent. Although they might have pushed the Federals all the way into the Creek, Jones was content to hold the line along the stone wall bordering Otto's plowed field, guarding the approaches to Sharpsburg. Falling darkness soon put and end to all plans of further hostilities.