Union General Fitz John Porter, seeing these new Confederates arriving on the field and in sufficient numbers to be a cause of concern, then ordered a withdrawal.
The regular Federal troops got out with no difficulty. But, Private Daniel Webster Burke of the 2nd U.S. Infantry that one abandoned Confederate cannon in the Virginia side had not been spiked. He got permission to spike and crossed the river under increasing Confederate lead the whole time and he finally had to halt his effort.
In 1892, Burke, who had stayed in the Army and attained the rank of colonel was awarded a Medal of Honor for is feat.
Also, along with the 118th Pennsylvania, another Union regiment, the 20th Maine was seeing the elephant as well. Ten months later they would win immortal fame for their stand on the crucial Little Round Top at another bloody battle. Today, their second in command, Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain had borrowed a horse and was in the middle of the Potomac directing withdrawal when a Rebel bullet struck his horse and down he went into the water.
He managed to get to the Maryland bank of the river, wet, but still in control. The 20th Maine did well in their first engagement despite some initial fear and confusion, Three men were wounded; one man accidentally shot himself with his musket.
--Old Secesh
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