The Cornfield
The first of three major engagements at Antietam

The Union objective was a plateau east of the Dunker Church. Copyright RA Keene 1997

When the first Union forces, under Gen. Duryea, cleared the North Woods, they came under a scything fire from Confederate artillery posted near the Dunker Church and from their right flank by 14 guns planted on Nicodemus Hill by J.E.B. Stuart. Copyright RA Keene 1997

As the Union troops emerged from the southern end of the cornfield, Confederates under the command of
Gen. Lawton laying in a small depression, stood up and fired a deadly volley into their ranks. Decimated they were compelled to fall back. Copyright RA Keene 1997

Troops from Gen. Hartstuff’’s brigade, commanded by Col. Coulter led the second Union push. At the same time, forces under Gen. Doubleday advanced down both sides of the Hagerstown Turnpike. As Gen. Lawton’s Confederates tore into Coulter’s line, Gen. Jones launched a savage attack on Doubleday’s men in the western end of the cornfield.

To counter Jone’s attack, the 7th Wisconsin and the 19th Indiana were sent into the fields west of the turnpike with Gen. Patrick’s brigade in support and took the Confederates in flank and rear. The combined fire from these units forced the line of gray back. Union forces had gained a valuable foot hold in the West Woods.

A third Union brigade advanced through the East Woods and joined Coulter’s line on the left. Union and Confederate casualties mounted quickly. A charge led by Confederate Gen. Starke failed to stem the Union tide.

Only when Gen. Hood’s Texans entered the fray was the Union advance checked and pushed back to the northern side of the cornfield.

Confederate forces under D.H. Hill were rushed up to support Hood, but it was too late. Union fire had depleted the Texan’s ranks and when additional Union forces pressed in from the east, Hood and Hill were driven from the field, beyond the West Woods.

The East Woods, the Cornfield and a portion of the West Woods were firmly in Union hands. Copyright RA Keene 1997