Shepherdstown | Sep 20, 1862
On September 19, elements of Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter鈥檚 V Corps pushed across the Potomac River at Boteler鈥檚 Ford and attacked the Confederate rearguard commanded by Brig. Gen. William Pendleton, capturing four guns (Sept. 19 action not shown on this map).
Early on the 20th, Porter pushed the V Corps brigades of Gens. James Barnes, Charles Lovell and Gouverneur Warren across the Potomac to establish a bridgehead. Hill鈥檚 division counterattacked while many of the Federals were crossing and nearly annihilated the 118th Pennsylvania (the 鈥淐orn Exchange鈥 Regiment), inflicting 269 casualties of 737 men. Porter withdrew back across the river. The two-day fight at Shepherdstown discouraged McClellan from pursuing Lee鈥檚 retreating army.
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