July 10 — The Yankees advanced again this morning on the National Road, and we moved about two miles below Funkstown and opened fire on their advancing cavalry. We did not hold our position very long, as the enemy had too many dismounted sharpshooters crawling up on us, and their long-range rifles rendered our position untenable for artillery, and we retired.
We fell back a mile and took another position. We were then only a mile below Funkstown. The Yankees advanced on us again, and we opened fire on them, and held our ground until we fired the very last round of ammunition we had; then we moved back across the Antietam. Just at that juncture of affairs a brigade of our infantry and several batteries came to our relief, and they kept up a lively skirmishing and sharpshooting with some cannonading until night. When the firing ceased at dusk both sides held the respective positions they had when the firing commenced.
In consequence of being entirely out of ammunition we were ordered to the rear. In moving to the rear we passed through Hagerstown, the county seat of Washington County. The town is situated in a section of beautiful country, on the National Road, sixty-five miles from Baltimore and six miles from the Potomac River; it contains some five or six thousand inhabitants. The buildings are mostly of brick, close together, well built and kept in good condition; the streets straight, run at right angles, and are almost level; the sidewalks are well paved with brick.
Camped between Hagerstown and Williamsport.
