Existing comment:
South.
The mountain in the distance on the left -- South Mountain.
The troops in the left front -- Maj. Hyde's 7th Maine Infantry marched across Bloody Lane, through Piper cornfield and into a deadly crossfire.
The hill in the middle left -- After retreating from Bloody Lane, the Confederate infantry and artillery rallied at Piper farm and fired on Maj. Hyde's advancing infantry.
The farm in the middle -- The Piper Farm was the headquarters of Confederate Gen. James Longstreet.
The line of troops on the hill by the house on the right ridge -- Confederate soldiers.
The town in the right rear -- In 1862, Sharpsburg was a small farming community of about 1,300 people.
The line of troops on the far right -- Confederate infantry along the Hagerstown Turnpike fired on the advancing 7th Maine.
The dead folks in the right front -- Confederate dead lined Bloody Lane.
Wasted Gallantry:
This painting shows a gallant but futile charge by the 7th Maine Infantry. Several hours after the fighting had ended at Bloody Lane, a Union officer ordered Major Thomas Hyde to advance his men through the Pipe cornfield and attack. The men from Maine faced a galling fire from the Confederate infantry and artillery.
Major Hyde, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, said all of the color guard was "shot down by one, who brought off our flag riddled with balls." In 20 minutes, this regiment suffered more than 50 percent casualties, yet the charge did nothing to advance the Union plan of attack. This was not the first or last time in the Civil War that misguided officers squandered the lives of brave men. |