Existing comment:
Irish Brigade at Antietam
Second Brigade, First Division
Second Corps, Army of the Potomac
On 17 September 1862, the Brigade crossed Antietam Creek (9:30 a.m.) at Pry's Ford. As it formed at the edge of a cornfield, Father William Corby, Chaplain, rode along the line giving absolution to the soldiers. The 69th New York occupied the right, then the 29th Massachusetts, the 63rd and 88th New York. Crossing the cornfield, the command encountered a rail fence which was torn down under severe fire. An opposing Confederate column advanced within 300 paces of the Brigade. After several volleys, the Irish Brigade charged with fixed bayonets. At 30 paces it poured buck and ball into General George B. Anderson's Brigade (2nd, 4th, 14th, and 30th North Carolina Infantry Regiments) which fell back to "Bloody Lane." After fierce combat, its ammunition exhausted, the Irish Brigade was relieved.
The Irish Brigade's losses were.
69th New York - Officers [Killed] 4, [Wounded] 6, [Missing] 0, [Total] 10
Enlisted [Killed] 40, [Wounded] 146, [Missing] 0, [Total] 186
88th New York - officers [Killed] 2, [Wounded] 2, [Missing] 0, [Total] 4
Enlisted [Killed] 25, [Wounded] 73, [Missing] 0, [Total] 98
63rd New York - Officers [Killed] 4, [Wounded] 5, [Missing] 0, [Total] 9
Enlisted [Killed] 31, [Wounded] 160, [Missing] 2, [Total] 193
29th Mass - Officers [Killed] 0, [Wounded] 0, [Missing] 0, [Total] 0
Enlisted [Killed] 7, [Wounded] 29, [Missing] 3, [Total] 39
Staff Officers [Wounded] 1
Totals [Killed] 113, [Wounded] 422, [Missing] 5, [Total] 540 |