On September 19, a detachment of Porter’s V Corps pushed across the river at Boteler’s Ford, attacked the Confederate rearguard commanded by Brig. Gen. William Pendleton, and captured four guns. Early on the 20th, Porter pushed elements of two divisions across the Potomac to establish a bridgehead. Hill’s division counterattacked while many of the Federals were crossing and nearly annihilated the 118th Pennsylvania (the “Corn Exchange” Regiment), inflicting 269 casualties. This rearguard action discouraged Federal pursuit. On November 7, President Lincoln relieved McClellan of command because of his failure to follow up Lee’s retreating army. Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside rose to command the Union army.
References
CWSAC Battle Summaries, National Park Service (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/bycampgn.htm)
After the highway bridge at Shepherdstown was destroyed early in the Civil War, the ford was a convenient crossing point between Confederate Virginia (this area would become West Virginia after June 20, 1863) and the border state of Maryland.
This was the Northerners' first battle, the first opportunity many of them had to discover their issued Enfield rifles were defective and would not fire.
Wounded Southerners were brought to Shepherdstown during the retreat, and those who died in hospitals there were buried in the local cemetery.
The Battle of Shepherdstown, also known as the Battle of Boteler's Ford, took place from September 19 â 20, 1862, in Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia), as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War.
Shortly before dusk on September 19, Union General Charles Griffin led a small force of 500 infantry and sharpshooters from Fitz-John Porter âs V Corps across the Potomac River at Botelerâs Ford.
Hill âs "Light Division" marched 5 miles back towards Shepherdstown and counterattacked under fire from Union artillery across the river on the Maryland hills.
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