Early in the morning of September 17, 1862, Knap's battery (shown below)
got into the thick of the action of Antietam. General Mansfield had posted
it opposite the north end of the West Woods, close to the Confederate
line. The guns opened fire at seven o'clock. Practically unsupported, the
battery was twice charged upon during the morning; but quickly
substituting canister for shot and shell, the men held their ground and
stemmed the Confederate advance. Near this spot General Mansfield was
mortally wounded while deploying his troops. About noon a section of
Knap's battery was detached to the assistance of General Greene, in the
East Woods.
[Illustration: KNAP'S BATTERY, JUST AFTER THE BLOODY WORK AT ANTIETAM