Ricketts' Division, First Army Corps

On September 17, 1862, Brig. Gen. Jas. B. Ricketts' Division of the First Army Corps moved early from its bivouac in the Poffenberger Woods. Duryea's Brigade advanced south through the North Woods and across the open ground between the Hagerstown Pike and the East Woods, passed through Miller's cornfield to its southern edge, and engaged the Confederate line 220 to 230 yards ahead. After an obstinate contest of 30 to 40 minutes, the brigade was compelled to retire. Hartsuff's Brigade, supported by Christian's, went into action on a line running northwest and southeast through this point, and after a sanguinary contest was compelled to retire with a loss of half its numbers. Christian moved in Hartsuff's left rear, with his right supporting and relieving Hartsuff at this point and his left forming on the west edge of the East Woods, south of the Smoketown Road. The division was relieved by the advance of the Twelfth Corps and joined the rest of the First Corps on the right near the Hagerstown Pike, north of J. Poffenberger's.

Keedysville, Maryland · United States