Sixth Army Corps
Irwin's Brigade, Smith's Division
(First Tablet):
U.S.A.
Sixth Army Corps.
Irwin's Brigade, Smith's Division,
Col. William H. Irwin, 49th Pennsylvania Infantry, Commanding.
Organization
7th Maine Infantry,
20th, 33d, 49th, & 77th New York Infantry
September 17, 1862
Irwin's Brigade came on the field about noon of the 17th, and formed across the Smoketown Road in rear of a line of artillery.
After an unsuccessful attempt to penetrate the Confederate line south of the Dunkard Church, the brigade rallied behind the ridge east of the Hagerstown Pike and between it and the Mumma's Lane. The left of the Brigade resting a few yards west of the lane, where it was exposed to a severe fire of artillery and sharpshooters.
(Second, continuation, tablet):
About 5 p.m., the 7th Maine, on the left of the Brigade, crossed Mumma's Lane, moved obliquely across the front of Brook's Brigade, charged over the Bloody Lane at this point, dispersed the Confederates in its front and in the orchard on its left and reached the low ground north of Piper's Barn, when the enemy from behind the stone fences on the Hagerstown Pike and the hill adjoining poured a severe fire on its right flank and front.
The regiment then obliqued to the left, passed through an opening in the fence into the orchard and to within 70 yards of Piper's House, where it was met by a withering fire from a column of the enemy moving down the hill east of the house and driven back through the orchard with great loss.
It reformed a short distance east of this point and returned to the position from which it had advanced.
At noon of the 18th, the Brigade was relieved by Cochrane's Brigade of Couch's Division.
Marker is on Richardson Avenue, on the left when traveling east.
Courtesy hmdb.org
