On Sunday, the 14th, McClellan’s advanced divisions attacked D.H.  Hill’s division in a gap of South Mountain, near Boonsboro, and Franklin carried Crampton’s Gap, farther to the south.  Though both of these attacks were successful, the resistance of the Confederates had in each case been sufficient to gain time for Jackson.  On the 15th Harper’s Ferry surrendered, and McClellan continued to advance; Longstreet prepared for battle.

The next day, at nightfall, the Federals were facing Lee’s army, the Antietam creek flowing between the hostile ranks.

At 3 P.M. of the 17th, A.P.  Hill’s division, after a forced march of seventeen miles, and after fording the Potomac, found itself in front of the left wing of the Federal army,—­consisting of Burnside’s corps,—­which had already brushed away the opposition in its front, and was now advancing to seize the ford at Shepherdstown and cut off Lee from the Potomac.

A.P.  Hill rode into battle at the head of his division.  The few brigades which, had been opposed to Burnside had offered a stout resistance, but, too weak to resist long, had fallen back to our right.  Into the gap we were ordered.  In the edge of the corn a rabbit jumped up and ran along in front of the line; a few shots were fired at it by some excited men on our left.  These shots seemed the signal for the Federals to show themselves; they were in the corn, advancing upon us while we were moving upon them.  There were three lines of them.  Our charge broke their first line; it fell back on the second and both ran; the third line stood.  We advanced through the corn, firing and shouting.  The third line fired, then broke; now we stood where it had stood, on the top of the hill.  A descending slope was before us, then a hollow—–­ also in thick corn—­and an open ascent beyond.  Behind the brow of this next hill a Federal battery made its presence felt by its fire only, as the guns and men were almost entirely covered.  This battery was perhaps four hundred yards from us, and almost directly in front of the left wing of the First.  The corn on our slope and in the hollow was full of Federals running in disorder.  We loaded and fired, and loaded and fired.  Soon the naked slope opposite was dotted with fleeing men.  We loaded and fired, and loaded and fired.

In a thick row of corn at the bottom of the hill I saw a bayonet glitter.  The bayonet was erect, at the height of the large blades of corn.  The owner of the bayonet had squatted in the corn; he was afraid to run out upon the naked hillside behind him, and he had not thought too well.  He had kept his gun in his hand, with the butt on the ground, and the sun’s rays betrayed him.  Nothing could be seen but the bayonet.  I fired at the ground below the bayonet.  The bayonet fell.