Near Sharpsburg in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Twelfth Army Corps

Gordon's Brigade, Williams' Division

Gordon's Brigade Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, February 9, 2008

1. Gordon's Brigade Marker

Inscription. U.S.A.
Twelfth Army Corps.
Gordon's Brigade. Williams' Division
Brig. Gen. George H. Gordon, Commanding.
Organization.
2d Massachusetts Infantry,
3d Wisconsin Infantry,
27th Indiana Infantry,
13th New Jersey Infantry,
107th New York Infantry,
Zouaves D' Afrique, Pennsylvania.
September 17, 1862, No. 1
Gordon's Brigade formed line at daybreak on the Hoffman Farm and advanced in a southernly direction in support of Hooker's Corps.

The 107th New York was detached to support Cochran's Battery and the 13th New Jersey was held in reserve. The Brigade formed on either side of Ransom's Battery on the high ground due east of D.R. Miller's, where it repulsed an assault of Hood's Division and its supports and, moving south through the Cornfield, changed front to the right and took position behind the ridge parallel to the Hagerstown Pike, where it remained until it was relieved by the advance of Sedgwick's Division and withdrawn to the East Woods.

Erected by Antietam Battlefield Board. (Marker Number 54.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Antietam Campaign War Department Markers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 1862.

Location.

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39° 28.875′ N, 77° 44.907′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of Dunker Church Road / Old Hagerstown Pike and Cornfield Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Dunker Church Road / Old Hagerstown Pike. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sharpsburg MD 21782, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Doubleday's Division, First Army Corps (here, next to this marker); 13th New Jersey Infantry (a few steps from this marker); Indiana State Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); New Jersey State Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); 124th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); First Army Corps (within shouting distance of this marker); Second Regiment (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery B, 4th United States Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); Massachusetts State Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Twelfth Army Corps (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Gordon's Brigade on the Battlefield

Also see . . .
1. Antietam Battlefield. National

Two Tablets at the Southwest Corner of the Cornfield image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain

2. Two Tablets at the Southwest Corner of the Cornfield

Tablet number 2 (left) and number 54 (right) stand at the southwest corner of the Cornfield. The right flank of Gibbon's Brigade passed through this location on their advance south past the Cornfield.

Park Service site. (Submitted on March 11, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, XII Corps. Among the officers of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry was Captain Robert G. Shaw. Shaw later led the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. Some of the 2nd Massachusetts's fighting at Antietam was depicted in the opening scenes of the movie Glory! (Submitted on March 11, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

3. George Henry Gordon. George Henry Gordon (July 19, 1823 – August 30, 1886) was an American lawyer and a Union general in the American Civil War. (Submitted on October 18, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

Twelfth Army Corps Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015

3. Twelfth Army Corps Marker

Twelfth Army Corps Marker (Right) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015

4. Twelfth Army Corps Marker (Right)

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015

5. Twelfth Army Corps Marker (Right)

Brig. General George Henry Gordon (1823-1886) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott

6. Brig. General George Henry Gordon (1823-1886)

Gordon commanded a brigade in XII Corps, Army of the Potomac, at the Battle of Antietam, becoming acting division commander when Brig. Gen. Alpheus S. Williams became acting corps commander.

Gordon's Brigade in the Cornfield image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 17, 2007

7. Gordon's Brigade in the Cornfield

Looking north from a point along the south fence of the Cornfield. Gordon's Brigade fronted the north fence line (running from left to right in the distance) to the right of the green colored patch of field. To the left of that point (the Brigade's right flank) was Ransom's Battery (Battery C, 5th U.S. Artillery). The Confederates repulsed at around 8:30 a.m. were from Colquitt's Brigade, D.H. Hill's Division.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 781 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 11, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 18, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 7. submitted on March 11, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.