Some More About the Battle of Shepherdstown

From the American Battlefield Trust  "Book:  A History and Guide to Civil War Shepherdstown."  An interview with Nicholas Redding who wrote the book.

What happened at the Battle of Shepherdstown --  why couldn't the Union finish the job?

One truism of war is that a river is a terrible obstacle to overcome, regardless  of your strength.  Napoleon knew it.  Washington knew it. Lee knew it.

Fitz John Porter learned it the hard way at Shepherdstown.

Following Antietam, with most of the Confederate Army safely back across the Potomac River and in Virginia, General McClellan slowly began his pursuit.  On September  19, he first sent Gen. Alfred  Pleasanton's cavalry, and later Gen Fitz John Porter's Fifth Corps to harass the retreat. 

Arriving that afternoon, Porter found a small  Confederate force across the river, in the incapable hands of  Confederate General William Nelson Pendleton.  Union troops sent across the river shook Pendleton's resolve and sent him running  for support.  Nightfall stopped all action.

--Old Secesh