THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862

THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES

Walker’s Division had been listening to the fire from the north with the knowledge that the battle would ultimately get to them. At about 9:00 AM
a staff officer galloped up to Walker’s Command Post and ordered the division to go north at the double quick.

D. R Jones’ Division was now left to guard the right of the Confederate Line.

Ransom’s Brigade led the way with Manning’s Brigade close behind. The division trotted through the town and about a mile north past the Reel Farm and headed toward the southern part of the West Woods. Now the sounds of the battle were deafening. A little ways before the West Woods a halt was called. The 27th NC and 3rd Arkansas under the command of Col. Cook of the 27th were detached and marched eastward at the double quick.

The 46th and 48th NC along with the 30th VA under Col. Manning and the 24th, 25th , 35th and 49th NC under Col. Ransom were formed into line of battle with Ransom on the left and Manning on the right. The division was ordered forward. They hit the West Woods and with McLaw’s Division and Early’s cobbled together force caught Sedgwick’s Division of Sumner’s II Corps in the flank and rear and pushed them through the southern part of the West Woods through the Dunker Church yard and over the Hagerstown Pike fences. S. D. Lee’s batteries continued the mayhem on the Union forces that retreated to the open fields east of the Hagerstown Pike. The Union Forces found support behind Union Artillery that was in the process of taking positions in the fields west of the East Woods. Deadly musketry fire from the Confederates ensued for a few moments until the Union Artillery unlimbered.

Manning’s three regiments relieved Kershaw’s Brigade and charged Tyndale’s and Stainbrook’s Brigade of XII Corps, but were stopped in their tracks and began to retreat. Col. Manning was pleading and cajoling his men to go back in when he was shot in the left arm and breast. His men picked him up and carried him rearward.