Near Shepherdstown in Jefferson County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Boteler’s Ford Tablet B. F. 2
(September 19, 1862)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 11, 2020
1. Boteler’s Ford Tablet B. F. 2 Marker
Inscription.
Boteler’s Ford Tablet B. F. 2. (September 19, 1862). The Army of Northern Virginia, Gen. R. E. Lee Commanding, crossed Blackford’s Ford during the night of September 18, 1862, and on the morning of the 19th took up its line of march in the direction of Williamsport. Lawton’s and Armistead’s Brigades were left to guard the Ford and 44 guns were placed on the bluffs, north and south of this point, to check the Union pursuit. Heavy Artillery firing and Infantry sharpshooting continued during the day, by which some of the Confederate Artillery was silenced. At dark while the Confederate Artillery was being withdrawn, detachments from the 4th Michigan, 18th and 22nd Mass., and 118th Pennsylvania Infantry, under command of Brigadier General Charles Griffin, crossed the Ford, forced back General Lawton’s and Armistead’s Brigades and captured 2 guns which were taken across the river. Griffin remained on this side between 2 and 3 hours and recrossed to Maryland. Early on the morning of the 20th, the 4th Michigan and 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry crossed to this side of the river and secured 3 guns and several caissons, returning to the Maryland side at 8 A. M.
The Army of Northern Virginia, Gen. R. E. Lee Commanding, crossed Blackford’s Ford during the night of September 18, 1862, and on the morning of the 19th took up its line of march in the direction of Williamsport. Lawton’s and Armistead’s Brigades were left to guard the Ford and 44 guns were placed on the bluffs, north and south of this point, to check the Union pursuit. Heavy Artillery firing and Infantry sharpshooting continued during the day, by which some of the Confederate Artillery was silenced. At dark while the Confederate Artillery was being withdrawn, detachments from the 4th Michigan, 18th and 22nd Mass., and 118th Pennsylvania Infantry, under command of Brigadier General Charles Griffin, crossed the Ford, forced back General Lawton’s and Armistead’s Brigades and captured 2 guns which were taken across the river. Griffin remained on this side between 2 and 3 hours and recrossed to Maryland. Early on the morning of the 20th, the 4th Michigan and 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry crossed to this side of the river and secured 3 guns and several caissons, returning to the Maryland side at 8 A. M. (Marker Number B.F. 2.)
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 month for this entry is September 1755.
Location.
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39° 25.673′ N, 77° 46.725′ W. Marker is near Shepherdstown, West Virginia, in Jefferson County. Marker is at the intersection of River Road (County Route 17/1) and Trough Road (Route 31/1), on the left when traveling west on River Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3125 Trough Rd, Shepherdstown WV 25443, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Virtual Antietam. Text for this marker was determined from the Monument Database on the Virtual Antietam web site. (Submitted on August 1, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 11, 2020
2. Boteler’s Ford Tablet B. F. 2 Marker
Library of Congress
3. Boteler’s Ford
Photo taken between 1861 and 1865.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,485 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on November 6, 2020, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
