History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1863 SOUTH MOUNTAI AND ANTIETAM. 1169
posted on the extreme left, with the commands of Couch, Kearny, Hooker,
Sedgwick, Richardson, Smith, and Slocum respectively, on his right. Couch
was first attacked, and as the attacks upon him were repeated, fresh troops
were sent to his aid, among others, the brigade of Caldwell. Here, while leading on his men, with great coolness and bravery, Lieutenant Colonel Conner
was killed. Every fresh assault of the enemy was bloodily repulsed; but the
action was maintained until after dark, when the fire gradually died out, and
he retired from the contest. On the following day the army withdrew to Harrison's Landing.
From the Peninsula the regiment returned, by transports, to Acquia Creek,
and thence marched in the direction of Falmouth, as far as Brook's Station.
It was here halted and counter-marched to Acquia, whence it again proceeded,
by transport, to Alexandria, and marched out to the old camp which it had
vacated on the 10th of March previous. After resting two days, it proproceeded to Arlington Heights, arriving at two o'clock on the morning of the
29th of August. At eleven it was ordered forward to the Second Bull Run
ground, but arrived only in time to witness the retreat from that ill-starred
field.
At South Mountain, on the 14th of September, Richardson's Division was
in reserve, but on the following day, took the advance, and moving through
the pass, the Eighty-first supporting the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, drove the
enemy, through Boonsboro and Keedysville, to Antietam Creek. On the morning of the 17th, Sumner's Corps crossed the stream, and moved up to the support of Hooker, who had been sharply engaged since early dawn. By ten
o'clock, Richardson's Division, composed of the brigades of Meagher, Caldwell and Brooke, had reached the front, and was deployed on the extreme left
of Sumner's line. Meagher first attacked, and after a severe engagement, at
close quarters, he was relieved by Caldwell, supported by Brooke. At this
juncture, the enemy was reinforced and the contest became determined. To
seize the high ground to the Union left, and thus turn that flank, the enemy
made a strong effort, but in this was defeated by Colonel Cross, of the Fifth
New Hampshire. Richardson now ordered a direct attack, and drove the
enemy back, gaining a strong position about Piper's House, and along a sunken
road, extending across to the Hagerstown Pike, which he held. The loss of
the Eighty-first in this advance was very heavy. Captain Philip R. Schuyler
and Lieutenant William H. Vandyke were among the killed.
From Antietam, the regiment proceeded to Harper's Ferry, whence it was
sent on a reconnoissance to Charlestown, but returned without meeting the
enemy. Shortly afterwards, the division crossed the Shenandoah River, and
moved through Rectortown and Salem, to Warrenton. After Burnside took
command of the army, the division made a rapid march to Falmouth. Here
the brigade was ordered to the support of Petit's Battery, engaged with the
enemy acrosstheriver, whose guns were speedily silenced. InNovember, Colonel
Johnson resigned on account of wounds received at Charles City Cross Roads,
and Major M'Keen was promoted to Colonel, and Captain Robert M. Lee, Jr., to
Lieutenant Colonel. Subsequently, upon the resignation of Colonel Lee, on
account of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Captain Amos Stroh was promoted
to Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Thomas C. Harkness to Major. The regiment went into winter quarters, and remained until the 11th of December,
when it moved out to engage in the battle of Fredericksburg. It was held in
147 —VOL. Il.