September 1st, marched to Fairfax.

On the 2d marched to Falls Church, and encamped on the old spot which had been so often revisted at Upton's Hill.

On the 6th crossed the Potomac by the way of Aqueduct Bridge, passed through Washington, and halted near Leesboro. Left Leesboro on the 9th and marched to Rockville. Resumed the march on the following day, and continued on to Lisbon.

On the 12th marched to New Market.

On the 13th marched to within a mile of Frederick. City.

Left camp on the 14th, passed through the town of Middletown, and formed line at the base of South Mountain, near Wagon Road Gap. The enemy occupied the crest of the Mountain, a spot having so many natural points of defense that it was apparently impregnable, and it seemed impossible that he could be dislodged. The toilsome ascent on the right of the road was commenced, halting at intervals to gain breath for a further advance. At length we arrived to within a few hundred yards of the enemy's line, which rested on the edge of a cornfield, the ground between the two lines covered by a dense growth of woods. The enemy was evidently awaiting the falling back of their skirmish line, before opening fire upon us. Our line of battle so closely followed our own skirmish line, that the instant we struck their skirmish line we opened a battalion fire, and the first intimation, the enemy had of our contiguity, was the murderous fusilade poured into the line, as it stood waiting for the initial opening of a battle, the preliminary skirmishing, etc., which in this instance did not occur. Owing to the manner of our approach, described above, and the advantage gained in this stunning blow dealt the enemy, we were enabled to gain a foothold upon the plateau on which the enemy's line was formed. The fight raged with bitter fierceness. The enemy, evidently chagrined at the result of our attack, strove vainly but persistently to drive us down the mountain sides, charging upon us with fearful yells, to be driven back with frightful loss, and in turn charged upon and driven still farther back.

Night crept on, and our ammunition was nearly exhausted, but we still held the ground, and the enemy only sullenly returned our fire at intervals. Supports coming up at this time, our line fell back and bivouacked under the crest.

During the night the enemy retreated towards Antietam creek. Owing to our severe losses in previous battles, our regiment was reduced to about 100 men. In this engagement our loss was thirty per cent of the men engaged. General Hatch was wounded, and the command of the brigade was assigned to Colonel Phelps, senior officer.

Killed…………………………………………………9

On the 15th marched over the battlefield, still strewn with the unburied dead, and halted on the east bank of Antietam creek ; eleven miles.

On the afternoon of the 16th forded the creek and moved to the extreme right of our lines, skirmishing with the enemy on our passage thither ; finally got into position about 8 P.M. ; rested on arms. During the night our rest was frequently broken by a skirmish fire, which continued at intervals throughout the night.

On the morning of the 17th, we were aroused from our slumbers by the roar of artillery, and a few moments after engaged the enemy, against heavy odds, and, under a terrific fire, held the field. Our loss was the heaviest in proportion to our reduced numbers the regiment have ever sustained. Eight men killed and twenty-three wounded. As, at the battle of South Mountain, most of those wounded were severely so, and death ensued in the majority of such cases. Among the number was Capt. Myers, C. company.

It would be well to note here, that previous to the battle of the 14th, a number of recruits joined the regiment, but being neither armed nor drilled were not put into our ranks. In some few instances they got possession of arms and entered our ranks, and their record at both battles was full as commendable as the record of the older members of the regiment.

On the 18th lay on arms all day, the work of burying the dead on our immediate front hurriedly prosecuted, as the stench was sickening in the extreme. The bodies having been exposed nearly two days in the hot sun, were already in an advanced state of decomposition.

On the 19th, the enemy having fallen back across the river Potomac, we advanced to within a half mile of Sharpsburg, and went into camp. On our passage thither, crossed the field. Here lay unburied friend and foe, and so thickly huddled together that the column was obliged to separate, and each man pick his way over, not around, the bodies, as that was impossible. The woods bore unmistakable evidence of the fierceness of the conflict. Huge limbs, eighteen inches in diameter, had been lopped off close to the trunk by shot, and shell, and from their base to high above the lower branches, every inch of bark had been peeled, and the ground was covered by the debris, giving the appearance of a thick undergrowth.

While near Sharpsburg, changed camp a number of times for sanitary reasons, and from this time until October, no change of particular importance occurred. Our new men were daily drilled and prepared for a future campaign, upon which we daily expected to be called.

On the 20th left camp and marched to Fairplay, about six miles distant ; remained there until the 26th, when we marched ten miles upon horrible roads, and during a heavy rain storm, and bivouacked near Buena Vista.

On the 27th marched to near Crampton Gap, in Pleasant valley. Continued the march on the 28th through the Gap and Burkettsville, to a point near Berlin, on the Potomac ; distance marched two days, fifteen miles.

On the 29th crossed the Potomac at Berlin, on the pontoon bridge, and marched ten miles ; camped within a short distance of Lorettsville.