Report of Maj. F. H. Little, Eleventh Georgia Infantry, of the
battle of Sharpsburg.
CAMP NEAR WINCHESTER, VA.,
October 7, 1862.
SIR: In relation to the part taken by my regiment in the battle of Sharpsburg,
September 17, I have the honor to report as follows, to wit:
On the night of September 16, I received at Shepherdstown an order from
Maj.-Gen. Longstreet, requiring me to join immediately my brigade with
my regiment, the left wing of my regiment being at that time at Martinsburg,
having been detailed as a guard for Gen. D. H. Hill's commissary train,
under command of Capt. John W. Stokes, senior captain of said wing.
Having received a note from Capt. Stokes to the effect that he had seen
Gen. Longstreet's order, I remained at Shepherdstown, on the bank of the
Potomac, hourly expecting him to arrive. At 8 o'clock, Capt. Stokes
failing to arrive, and, as I have since learned, having been detained by order
of provost marshal at Martinsburg, I crossed the river with the right wing,
and proceeded with all possible expedition to Sharpsburg, in quest of the
brigade to which my regiment belonged. On arriving at Sharpsburg, I was
met by Capt. Latrobe, aide to Gen. Jones, commander of the division
to which my brigade, belonged, and received orders from him to move out
to the right, stating that he would soon meet me and guide me to the position
it was desired for me to occupy. Shortly after this, Maj. Coward, also one
of Gen. Jones' aides, conducted me to a strong position behind a tone
fence, immediately on the right of the position occupied by a portion of
Gen. Toombs' brigade. Here I was placed under the command
of Gen. Toombs. Skirmishers were sent out, and brisk firing soon
commenced on our right. Our skirmishers were run in; the enemy's
skirmishers advanced to within about 125 yards of us; a full line of battle
was drawn up in their rear. We quietly awaited their advance, but the efforts
of their officers to move them forward were unavailing. We did not fire
upon them until they began to fall back, and them a portion of the men fired
with great coolness and precision, evidently doing execution. About 4
o'clock we were relieved by troops from Gen. A. P. Hill's division, and
moved, under command of Gen. Toombs, back in the direction of
Sharpsburg, my regiment being in front. Heavy firing was heard just ahead
of us, and very soon we were met by one of Gen. Toombs' aides, urging
us forward. We moved up in double-quick, fronted the enemy, who were
moving forward in handsome style without opposition, our opposing troops
having retired. Our arrival was just in time to save on e of our batteries,
name not known. We immediately opened upon them a well-directed fire,
which the enemy stoutly resisted for awhile, but soon broke and fled.
Gen. Toombs immediately gave the order to charge, which the men, with
loud and long-continued cheers, as promptly obeyed, continuing the chase
until ordered by Gen. Toombs to halt.
I carried into this action about 140 men; had 10 wounded, none killed. The
action closed a little after nightfall, when, by order of Gen. Toombs, we
were removed from the field for the night. The next morning there was brisk
picket firing, but the enemy refused to renew the contest.
In this action both officers and men under my command acted with the most
commendable courage and coolness, inflicting severe injury upon the enemy.
Respectfully submitted.
F. H. LITTLE,
Maj., Commanding Eleventh Regiment Georgia Volunteers.
Col. GEORGE T. ANDERSON,
Commanding Third Brigade.
Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 19. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 27
[American Civil War Research Database, Historical Data Systems, Inc.]