6th Alabama Unit History At Antietam/Sharpsburg

Army of Northern Virginia

~~ 6^th Alabama Infantry ~~
Antietam - Sharpsburg

1861 - 1865

It was in the advance movement across the Potomac and lost slightly at Boonsboro, Maryland.

At Sharpsburg, Rodes' Brigade, under the command of Brigadier General Robert E. Rodes consisted of the 3rd Alabama commanded by Colonel Cullum A. Battle, 5th Alabama Infrantry commanded by Major E. L. Hobson, 6th Alabama Infantry commanded by Colonel John B. Gordon and Lieutenant Colonel J. N. Lightfoot, 12th Alabama commanded by Colonel B. B. Gayle, and Lieutenant Colonel S. B. Pickens, other officers are Captain Tucker, Captain Maroney, Capt. A. Proskauer, and the 26th Alabama commanded by Colonel E. A. O'Neal.

On September 16, Major General George B. McClellan confronted Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Sharpsburg, Maryland. At dawn September 17, Hooker's corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee's left flank that began the single bloodiest day in American military history. More men were killed on this day than any other day in the war, Attacks and counterattacks swept across Miller's cornfield and fighting swirled around the Dunker Church. Union assaults against the Sunken Road eventually pierced the Confederate center, but the Federal advantage was not followed up. The 6th Alabama was at the center of the Confederate line, at the Sunken Road, also known as "Bloody Lane". Colonel Gordon was shot five times, the last one in the face, but was spared from drowning in his own blood only because his hat, into which he had fallen face down, had a bullet hole through it, allowing the blood to drain out.

There was a picture taken of the dead in "Bloody Lane" after the battle. It can be found in many books and other publications. Many of these men would have been from the 6th Alabama.

Late in the day, Burnside's corps finally got into action, crossing the stone bridge over Antietam Creek and rolling up the Confederate right. At a crucial moment, A. P. Hill's division arrived from Harper's Ferry and counterattacked, driving back Burnside and saving the day. Although outnumbered two-to-one, Lee committed his entire force, while McClellan sent in less than three-quarters of his army, enabling Lee to fight the Federals to a standstill. During the night, both armies consolidated their lines. In spite of crippling casualties, Lee continued to skirmish with McClellan throughout the 18th, while removing his wounded south of the river. McClellan did not renew the assaults. After dark, Lee ordered the battered Army of Northern Virginia to withdraw across the Potomac into the Shenandoah Valley.

Importance: Antietam was one of the turning points of the war. It ended Lee's invasion of the North. After this battle, Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This was now a war against slavery.