Captain McMullin reports..

1st Ohio Light Artillery Monument,
Antietam N.B.

The following is the official report of the commander of the First Battery, Ohio Light Artillery, Captain James R. McMullin. McMullin's battery would go into position along the Old Sharpsburg Road conducting counter-battery fire against Confederate artillery at Turner's and Fox's Gap. McMullin would successfully silence one battery and force another to abandon its position. It was from McMullin's battery, that the section under the command of Lieutenant George Crome would be dispatched from. Crome recieved special attention in McMullin's report.






First Battery, Ohio Artillery
In the Field September 16, 1862

Sir: I have the honor to transmit an outline report of the part taken by my battery in the engagement of the 14th instant.

In obedience to orders from you, my battery took position about half way up South Mountain and to the left of the National road, when I immediately engaged a six-gun battery, for some thirty or forty minutes, when he opened another battery to the left of the first, the range being nearly or quite 1,700 yards. In about an hour, the enemy's first battery was silenced. My guns then continued to play upon the enemy's second battery until late in the afternoon, when it was moved out of range.

About 11 o'clock, in obedience to an order from yourself, I sent one section, under command of First Lieut. George L. Crome, to take position on the top of  South Mountain, which Lieutenant Crome reached with difficulty, being compelled to move his pieces by manuel force, and opened on the enemy, in position behind a stone wall, with canister at a distance of 40 yards. After expending four double rounds, Lieutenant Crome was struck in the breast with a musket-ball while engaged in loading one of his pieces, three of his cannoneers being wounded. The enemy was driven from his position and the section remained on the field. Lieutenant Crome lived about two hours, when he expired. His loss is to be deeply regretted, for he was a brave and noble man, who at the first call of his country left the endearments of home for its defense. Yet it is a consolation to his friends and companions in arms to know that he died at his post in the discharge of more than his duty.

Lieutenants McClung, Fair, amd Channell (the latter on detached duty from the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and the men of my battery, all did their duty. Not a single exception come under my observation or to my hearing.

I am, colonel, with respect, your obedient servant
J.R. McMullin
Captain First Battery, Ohio Artillery

Source:
The War of the Rebellion: a Compliation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies: Volume 19, Part 1. 463-464