The same view today. Note how tree at near end of bridge has grown.
Zouaves of Burnside’s IX Corps charge toward Sharpsburg. From wartime sketch by Forbes. Courtesy, Library of Congress.
Charge of Burnsides 9th Corps, on the right flank of the rebel army, Antietam, 3.30 p.m. Sept 17 1 The Town of Sharpsburg. 2 The Old Lutheran Church. 3 9th N.Y. Vols. Hawkins Zouaves. 4 Rebels retreating into the town. 5 Rebel line of battle.
At 1 p.m., the defending Confederates saw a sudden stir across Antietam Creek. Two regiments, the 51st New York and the 51st Pennsylvania, marched swiftly out from the cover of the wooded hill and charged for the bridge. Supported now by converging artillery fire, they quickly formed into columns and were over the bridge before Confederate artillery could halt them. Soon a wide gap split the Confederate defense. Masses of Federal troops poured across the bridge while Rodman and Crook hammered the Confederate flanks. Burnside’s men had gained the west bank of the creek.
But again there was fateful delay as Burnside paused to reorganize. By the time he was ready to drive the Southern defenders from the ridge in his front, 2 critical hours had passed.
Close to 3 p.m., the mighty Federal line moved slowly up the hill toward Sharpsburg, then gained momentum. “The movement of the dark column,” related an observer, “with arms and banners glittering in the sun, following the double line of skirmishers, dashing forward at a trot, loading and firing alternately as they moved, was one of the most brilliant and exciting exhibitions of the day.”
First brushing aside the depleted ranks in the rifle pits above the bridge, the Federals struck D. R. Jones’ four lonely brigades on the hills southeast of Sharpsburg—whence every other Confederate infantry unit had been withdrawn to reinforce the line to the north. Unable to stem the massive Federal attack, Jones’ men were driven back toward the town.
To halt the Federal tide, Lee shifted all available artillery southward. By 4 p.m., however, the Federals were approaching the village itself; only a half mile lay between them and Lee’s line of retreat to the Potomac. Disaster seemed at hand for Lee’s decimated force.
