Fifth Army Corps

On September 17, 1862, about noon, the battalion of the Second and Tenth U.S. Infantry under Lieut. John S. Poland crossed the Antietam to support the horse batteries on the left, or south, side of the Boonsboro Pike. After those batteries withdrew, Poland deployed the entire battalion as skirmishers and, under heavy canister and musket fire, advanced to Sherrick's Lane, with his right on the Boonsboro Pike and his line extending left along the lane fence toward Sherrick's House on the road to Burnside Bridge. There the battalion engaged the skirmishers of Garnett's Brigade, and its right advanced beyond the farm lane and drove the enemy's cannoneers from their guns on Cemetery Hill. While this fighting continued, the 17th Michigan and the skirmishers of Willcox's Division came up and relieved the left of Poland's line, and the First Battalion, 14th U.S. Infantry formed about 210 yards behind his right. Poland then assembled his skirmishers on the center, and the battalion of the 14th U.S. Infantry sent skirmishers forward on the right of the line. When his ammunition was exhausted, Poland withdrew to the cover of the hill east of this position and at dusk recrossed the Antietam.

Maryland · United States