|
 Union Tablet No. 74, Sixth Corps, Irwin's Brigade, Smith's Division- Sharpsburg, MD Posted by:  neoc1
N 39° 28.284 W 077° 44.475
18S E 264196 N 4372677
Tablet No. 74 describing the position and actions of the Sixth Corps, Irwin's Brigade, Smith's Division is located on the north side of the sunken road known as Bloody Lane on the Antietam National Battlefield.
Waymark Code: WMT39X
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 09/18/2016
Views: 5
Antietam National Battlefield consists of 2,743 acres and the Civil War Trust has preserved an additional 240 acres around the battlefield site. Antietam was one of the first five Civil War battlefields to be preserved by the Federal Government on August 30, 1890. Between 1896 and 1898 the U.S. War Department placed over 300 tablets to mark the location of individual regiments during important aspects of the Battle of Antietam which occurred on September 17, 1862. Since 1933 the Department of the Interior has maintained the battlefield.
Bloody Lane was the site of heavy fighting. Tablet No. 74 is in two parts. They describe the position and actions of Sixth Army Corps, Irwin's Brigade, Smith's Division. They are located west of Confederate tablet 338 for Jackson's Command and is inscribed:
U.S.A.
SIXTH ARMY CORPS.
IRWIN'S BRIGADE, SMITH'S DIVISION,
COL. WILLIAM H. IRWIN, 49TH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY, COMMANDING.
ORGANIZATION
7TH MAINE INFANTRY,
20TH, 33D, 49TH, & 77TH NEW YORK INFANTRY
September 17, 1862.
Irwin's Brigade came on the field about noon of the 17th, and formed
across the Smoketown Road in rear of a line of artillery.
After an unsuccessful attempt to penetrate the Confederate
line south of the Dunkard Church, the brigade rallied behind the
ridge east of the Hagerstown Pike and between it and the Mumma's
Lane. The left of the Brigade resting a few yards west of the lane,
where it was exposed to a severe fire of artillery and sharpshooters.
No. 74
No. 74 Continued
About 5 p.m., the 7th Maine, on the left of the Brigade, crossed Mumma's
Lane, moved obliquely across the front of Brook's Brigade, charged
over the Bloody Lane at this point, dispersed the Confederates in its
front and in the orchard on its left and reached the low ground north
of Piper's Barn, when the enemy from behind the stone fences on the
Hagerstown Pike and the hill adjoining poured a severe fire on its
right flank and front.
The regiment then obliqued to the left, passed through an open-
ing in the fence into the orchard and to within 70 yards of Piper's
House, where it was met by a withering fire from a column of the enemy
moving down the hill east of the house and driven back through the
orchard with great loss.
It reformed a short distance east of this point and returned to
the position from which it had advanced.
At noon of the 18th, the Brigade was relieved by Cochrane's Bri-
gade of Couch's Division.
Date Installed or Dedicated: 01/01/1896
Name of Government Entity or Private Organization that built the monument: United States Department of War
Union, Confederate or Other Monument: Union
Rating (1-5): 
Related Website: [Web Link]
Photo or photos will be uploaded.: yes
|
Visit Instructions:To log a visit, a waymarker must visit the monument or memorial in person and post a photo. Personal observations and comments will be appreciated.
|