Hey everyone, thanks for downloading episode number 191 of our

Civil War Podcast. I'm Rich. And I'm Tracy. Hello y'all. Welcome to the podcast.

When we left off last time, it was late on Tuesday, September 16, 1862, the night before the

Battle of Antietam. As y'all recall, on Tuesday afternoon, George McClellan had ordered Joseph

Hooker's first corps to cross Antietam Creek. Once across the creek, Hooker was to turn south and

search for the Confederate Army's left flank. It was already late in the day and the sun was going

down as Federals of George Meets Division, a Pennsylvania reserve, advancing down the Smoked

Town Road, clashed with John B. Hood's Confederates in and around the East Woods. The Yankees of Truman

Seymour's Brigade gained a lodgement in the woods, but then darkness brought a halt to the fighting

their north of Sharpsburg. Earlier, after crossing the Antietam, Hooker had expressed concern

over the vulnerability of his lone corps there on the west side of the creek. And in response,

McClellan had given orders for Joseph Mann's fields 12th corps to cross over and support Hooker.

It was understood that during the upcoming battle, Hooker would be, in effect, a wing commander,

an overall command of all Union troops on that part of the battlefield.

In any case, it was well after nightfall and raining before the troops of the 12th corps had

crossed the creek, moving in the first corps's wake. And then, after stumbling around in the dark

for a while, they finally stopped and took up a supporting position about a Mylerso to Hooker's

left and rear. Meanwhile, on the Confederate side, Hood persuaded Stonewall Jackson to let him

pull back his two brigades from their advanced positions so that in the morning they could cook

something hot to eat for the first time in days. Stonewall allowed Hood's men to go into reserve,

moving up to other brigades in their place to face the Yankees. But Jackson told Hood that he

must bring his men forward on the double if he called for them in the morning.

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