In the invasion of Maryland, which followed this signal victory, the battery was placed in the advance, and crossed the river at White’s Ford.
On the 6th of September the battery passed through Frederick city, and encamped on the suburbs. Many were the congratulations the brave fellows received from the citizens, and during the three days they remained, their wants were abundantly supplied.
Leaving Frederick city, the battery passed through Boonsboro, Middletown, and Williamsport, where they recrossed the Potomac, and on the 12th entered Martinsburg. From thence it moved towards Harper’s Ferry, when upon arriving at Loudoun Heights Brockenborough was assigned a position from which, at early dawn of the 15th, he opened, along with other batteries, a terrific fire upon the enemy’s entrenched position on Bolivar Heights. The batteries were worked furiously for an hour, when just as the Confederate infantry were put in motion to storm the works, a white flag fluttered in the breeze, and Harper’s Ferry surrendered with its twelve thousand troops, and artillery and supplies in abundance.
But there was heavy work yet to be done, for General Lee with a portion of his army was confronting the overwhelming masses of McClellan at Sharpsburg, and no time was to be lost in reaching him. The surrender had therefore scarcely been effected when the troops were dispatched to his aid. By a forced night march Jackson’s artillery reached Sharpsburg on the 16th, and was immediately assigned a position on a range of hills rather northwest of the town.
The morning of the 17th of September found the two armies in position, and ready to begin the work of destruction. For the Confederates the prospects of success seemed gloomy enough, for General Lee had barely forty thousand men with which to meet the mighty army of McClellan, numbering over one hundred and twenty thousand troops. But the vast odds were made almost proportionate by the superior genius of the Confederate Generals. With Lee, Jackson and Longstreet in command nothing seemed impossible to their troops, and therefore it was with no feelings of fear for the result that they surveyed the long and glittering lines before them.
Soon after sunrise slight artillery skirmishing commenced along the lines, which increased in volume until the air seemed filled with exploding shells. Upon the position held by the batteries of Brockenborough, Carpenter, Poague, Moody, Rain and Caskie, was opened a terrific fire, which was promptly returned, and the enemy’s batteries several times compelled to change position. This continued for two hours, when it became evident that the infantry was massing for a charge. The position was of the most vital importance, for should the enemy succeed in gaining possession of this point, and turning Lee’s left flank, he would be irretrievably lost. His orders to General Jackson were therefore to “hold the range of hills to the last.”
McClellan’s advance upon this point was gallantly met by Jackson’s veteran infantry, and for some time the fighting was of the most determined character; but at length the immense superiority of numbers prevailed, and Jackson’s troops gradually fell back across the turnpike, past the Dunkard Church and through the woods, and appeared upon the plain beyond. Most beautifully did the heavy columns emerge from the woods and move forward upon the batteries quietly awaiting their nearer approach. “Do not pull a lanyard,” said Brockenborough, who was temporarily in command of the whole, “until you get the command.” Nearer and nearer those solid columns approached, and amid loud huzzas rushed forward at the double-quick. It was a moment of dreadful suspense. On, on, they came. “Will Brockenborough never give the command?” Yes; he now has them at the muzzles of his guns, and the next instant the command “Fire!” was heard above the exultant cheers of the advancing columns, and twenty-four pieces of artillery, double shotted with canister, belched forth their deadly contents into the very faces of the assailants.
The scene that was presented as the smoke lifted beggars description. The ground was literally covered, nay piled, with the slain and maimed of the enemy, and the survivors were in full retreat. They were soon reformed, however, and again moved boldly to the attack, but only to be again mercilessly slaughtered and driven back. A third time they essayed, but with the same result, when, a disordered mass of fugitives, the survivors sought the shelter of the woods from which they had but a few minutes before emerged, confident of success.
How anxiously the great chieftain, Lee—who was close by—must have watched the dreadful struggle which was to decide the fate of his army, and perhaps of the cause for which he was battling; and how great must have been the relief as he saw the enemy in retreat and Jackson’s shattered columns once more reformed.
Night put an end to the dreadful conflict, and Lee still held his ground, despite the herculean efforts of his adversary to drive him from it, but the day’s struggle had cost him thousands of his bravest and best.