Here, at "Bloody Lane" in the sunken road, was delivered the most telling
blow of which the Federals could boast in the day's fighting at Antietam,
September 17, 1862. In the lower picture we see the officers whose work
first began to turn the tide of battle into a decisive advantage which the
Army of the Potomac had every reason to expect would be gained by its
superior numbers. On the Federal right Jackson, with a bare four thousand
men, had taken the fight out of Hooker's eighteen thousand in the morning,
giving ground at last to Sumner's fresh troops. On the Federal left,
Burnside (at the lower bridge) failed to advance against Longstreet's
Corps, two-thirds of which had been detached for service elsewhere. It was
at the center that the forces of French and Richardson, skilfully fought
by their leaders, broke through the Confederate lines and, sweeping beyond
the sunken road, seized the very citadel of the center. Meagher's Irish
Brigade had fought its way to a crest from which a plunging fire could be
poured upon the Confederates in the sunken road. Meagher's ammunition was
exhausted, and Caldwell threw his force into the position and continued
the terrible combat. When the Confederates executed their flanking
movement to the left, Colonel D. R. Cross, of the Fifth New Hampshire,
seized a position which exposed Hill's men to an enfilading fire. (In the
picture General Caldwell is seen standing to the left of the tree, and
Colonel Cross leans on his sword at the extreme right. Between them stands
Lieut.-Colonel George W. Scott, of the Sixty-first New York Infantry,
while at the left before the tent stands Captain George W. Bulloch, A. C.
S. General Caldwell's hand rests on the shoulder of Captain George H.
Caldwell; to his left is seated Lieutenant C. A. Alvord.)
[Illustration: BRIGADIER-GENERAL CALDWELL AND STAFF]
[Illustration: SHERRICK'S HOUSE