Modern day view of Boteler's Ford looking from the West Virginia shore
by
Shepherdstown battlefield preservation Association
Shepherdstown Ford, Va. September 1862 for several days the citizens of Shepherd's Town have listened to the continuous cannonading From across the Potomac. In the evening the sky is a fire with blasts from the Union and Confederate cannons. Two days ago each sides musketry made it impossible for the individuals in Shepherds Town to hear. Then came the wounded, they were everywhere. Every available space was now occupied by wounded and dying Confederate soldiers. The cannons booms have been replaced by the screams of these wounded and dying troopers. Welcome to Shepherds Town.
Lee has withdrawn the Army of Northern Virginia fording Boteler's Ford overnight. The Confederate reserve artillery and rear guard cautiously await the rumored Federal pursuit.
Scenario 1 - ( The capture of two Confederate artillery pieces)
Early on the morning of September 19th McClellan orders the 5th Corp of the Grand Army of the Potomac to advance against Robert E. Lee. The Battle of Shepherds Town begins. Warren orders the 4th Michigan Infantry, the1st USS (Berdan's Sharpshooters), and elements of the 5th Corp Cavalry across the Potomac river. As the Federal Cavalry fords the Potomac they are fired upon by the Confederate sharpshooters hidden along the Virginia river bank. They retreat back to the Maryland Shore. The 1st USS & Company A of the 4th Michigan locate vantage points where they can fire at the Confederate Pickets across the Potomac. The Confederate artillery opens up on the hidden federal soldiers waiting to ford the river. Having previously sited their guns the barrage is extremely effective. Warren seeing this orders all of the 5th Corp's artillery to deploy forward. They set up on a plateau on the Maryland side of the Potomac. This is the highest point along this portion of the Potomac River. The Confederate batteries and their infantry support our unmasked. The devastation is horrific! Confederate gunners limber up their cannons. They await the arrival of their teams of horses to pull off the guns. Looking to rear they see their teams wounded and dying on the ground behind them.
