Sixth Army Corps

On September 17, 1862, Irwin's Brigade of Smith's Division, Sixth Army Corps, commanded by Col. William H. Irwin of the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry and composed of the 7th Maine Infantry and the 20th, 33d, 49th, and 77th New York Infantry, came onto the field about noon and formed across the Smoketown Road behind 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 Mumma's Lane, with its left resting a few yards west of the lane under severe artillery and sharpshooter fire. About 5 p.m., the 7th Maine on the brigade's left crossed Mumma's Lane, moved obliquely across the front of Brook's Brigade, charged over the Bloody Lane, dispersed Confederates in its front and in the orchard on its left, and reached the low ground north of Piper's Barn. There, severe fire from enemies behind the stone fences on the Hagerstown Pike and the adjoining hill struck its right flank and front. The regiment then obliqued left, passed through an opening in the fence into the orchard, and came to within 70 yards of Piper's House, where a withering fire from a column of the enemy moving down the hill east of the house drove it back through the orchard with great loss. It reformed a short distance east of that point and returned to the position from which it had advanced. At noon on September 18, the brigade was relieved by Cochrane's Brigade of Couch's Division.

Keedysville, Maryland · United States