Longstreet's Command

On September 17, 1862, Wofford's Brigade of Hood's Division in Longstreet's Confederate command, led by Col. W.T. Wofford of the 18th Georgia, advanced from the woods behind the Dunkard Church, crossed the Hagerstown Pike near the church, and moved north with its left, the Hampton Legion, resting on the pike. South of this point it was relieved and then engaged the Union line in the cornfield about 75 yards north of the road. The 5th Texas was sent to assist Law's Brigade on the right, while the other four regiments maintained a contest rarely equalled in warfare. They penetrated the cornfield, and the 1st Texas reached its northern edge, but the advance was checked. After losing more than one half its strength, the brigade fell back to the fields southwest of the Dunkard Church and was not engaged again. The brigade entered action with 854 men and lost 560 killed, wounded, and missing; the 1st Texas took 226 officers and men into action, of whom 186 were killed or wounded.

Keedysville, Maryland · United States