Bloody Lane or Sunken Road
The second of three major engagements at Antietam

Union forces under General French and General Richardson approached the Confederate center through the fields and pastures of the Mumma and Roulette farms.     Copyright RA Keene 1997

In a sunken farm lane, south of Mumma and Roulette, from right to left, the 26th, 12th, 3rd, 5th, and 6th Alabama under General Rodes and the 2nd, 14th, 4th, and 30th North Carolina under General Anderson awaited the Union onslaught.

The 1st Delaware, the 5th Maryland, and the 4th New York led the first advance.  The Rebels opened a scathing fire on the Federals at close range.  Decimated by this volley, Union forces fell back in disarray. A second assault by the 14th Indiana, the 8th Ohio, and the 7th West Virginia met with the same fate as the first .  As Union forces cleared the ridge line, well directed Confederate fire drove them back with heavy loses.      Copyright RA Keene 1997

The North Carolinians, holding the Confederate right flank were reinforced by troops led by Colonel Posey.  The Mississippians flowed into and through the lane in a counter attack only to be badly mauled by the newly arrived Irish Brigade.  The Irish Brigade filled the void left by the 7th West Virginia and stabilized the union left flank. At this point it became a contest of attrition and  the Confederate position began to earn it’s dreadful name - “Bloody Lane.”  The Irish slugged it out at close quarters until their ammunition ran out and they were compelled to fall back.        Copyright RA Keene 1997

The 61st and the 64th New York, under General Richardson moved to within 50 yards of the Confederate line and opened a deadly fire.  This soon rendered the lane untenable and Confederate losses quickly mounted.  Confused orders on the left flank and over-crowding on the right flank combined with a final Union push by the 130th Pennsylvania, the 61st and 64th New York supported by the 132nd  Pennsylvania forced the Confederates from the lane, into the Piper corn field.
     Copyright RA Keene 1997