Private John W. Waggoner, Co. B (Thomasville Rifles), 14th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. Waggoner was killed in action on 17 September 1862 at the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam). Captain A.J. Griffith, who led the 14th that day after all of its field officers were wounded, wrote in his report that orders to move were received about 8 AM; the unit then passed through a cornfield and into an "old road ... which was well protected by banks. The enemy advanced immediately, and a heavy fire opened on both sides. At this position [we] drove the enemy back three times, disorganizing their lines, with heavy loss." The "old road" referred to by Griffith has forever since been known as the Bloody Lane. Griffith further stated that "about 11 o'clock [we] received orders from the right that a new line of the enemy was advancing in the rear. The regiment fell back to a road, and took position behind a stone fence, losing many men while changing position." The enemy who had broken through the line were the 61st and 64th New York, both commanded by Colonel Francis C. Barlow. After gaining a foothold in the road, Barlow's men turned and delivered a devastating fire to the right and left, causing panic and slaughter among the defenders. The 14th North Carolina lost 27 men killed at or near this spot; it is probable that Waggoner's body is among those shown in this photograph, taken two days after the battle.