July 7 — A great many Yankee prisoners passed us to-day, marching for Dixieland. About the middle of the day we were ordered to Williamsport, to have our horses shod. Camped to-night near Williamsport, on the Conicageague, a small stream that empties into the Potomac at Williamsport.
July 8 — Rain fell in torrents all last night. Early this morning found us on the march again. We went near Hagerstown, then moved across the fields to the National Road, then marched down toward Boonesboro. We passed through Funkstown, a small village on the National Road, two miles below Hagerstown; it is situated on the Antietam, and contains about six hundred inhabitants. At about eleven o’clock we encountered the Yanks near Boonesboro, and opened fire on them immediately and at first sight, and they promptly opened a battery on us and returned our fire with a business-like energy. For a while the cannonading was spirited and lively, which proved to be an introduction and preliminary remarks to a fight that lasted till nearly night. Soon after we opened fire the cavalry on both sides commenced sharpshooting and fighting and kept up a desultory fire all afternoon. We drove the enemy back slowly, from the time the fight commenced until nearly night, but they fought stubbornly all afternoon and contested every inch of ground we gained. Late this evening the Yankee cavalry was reinforced by infantry, and then they in turn drove us back about a mile, and to the same position we had when the fight commenced. Sometimes during the day the artillery fire was heavy for a small fight, for the enemy had ten pieces of artillery engaged and our side had about a like number in the fight.
Nightfall ended the fray, and we moved back near Funkstown and camped for the night. Boonesboro is eight miles from Hagerstown.
