Battle of Shepherdstown

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Ford near Shepherdstown, on the Potomac. Pickets firing across the river.
Alfred R. Waud, artist, Sept. 1862.

Date	September 19-September 20, 1862
Location	Jefferson County, West Virginia
Result	Confederate victory

Combatants

United States of America

Confederate States of America

Commanders

Fitz John Porter

William N. Pendleton
Ambrose P. Hill

Strength

Brigades

Casualties

361

261

Maryland Campaign
South Mountain – Harpers Ferry – Antietam – Shepherdstown

The Battle of Shepherdstown, also known as the Battle of Boteler's Ford, took place from September 19–20, 1862, in Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia), as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War.

Shortly before dusk on September 19, Union General Charles Griffin led a small force of 500 infantry and sharpshooters from Fitz-John Porter’s V Corps across the Potomac River at Boteler’s Ford. They attacked the Confederate rearguard (commanded by Brig. Gen. William N. Pendleton), capturing four artillery pieces before being recalled. Pendleton reported to Robert E. Lee that Federals were now on the Virginia side of the river, and that he had lost part of his artillery.

Early on September 20, Porter pushed elements of two divisions across the Potomac to establish a bridgehead. A. P. Hill’s "Light Division" marched 5 miles back towards Shepherdstown and counterattacked under fire from Union artillery across the river on the Maryland hills. Porter, receiving reports that his infantry on the Virginia side was badly outnumbered, ordered a withdrawal. However, the colonel of the inexperienced 118th Pennsylvania (the “Corn Exchange” Regiment) refused to retire until orders were received through the proper chain of command, and his regiment became isolated. As the Confederates approached, the Union regiment panicked, with men scrambling down the steep cliffs and crossing the ford and a nearby dam. Several men drowned in their attempt to reach safety, and the regiment reported 269 casualties out of 737 men.

This rearguard action at Shepherdstown discouraged any further significant Federal pursuit of Lee's retiring army.