Terry,
I can't put my finger on it in my notes but I recall Carmen or Hood mentioning being next to Hays's men after the morning attack. Hays does not clarify where they went but we know about 10 am Hood took his command about a mile from the action to near the S. D. Piper farm NW of Sharpsburg to replenish ammunition and rest. About 12:00 Hood took his command to the West Woods. Hays went to the West Woods at 12:30 and Hays says they were about 300 yards behind the Dunker Church, next to Hood. They moved again in those woods later that afternoon. I recall exactly what you are talking about and I assumed at the time that must have been some kind of "hollow" near the Piper farm. This hollow would probably have been the first time the remnants of the command stopped after leaving Miller's cornfield. It makes perfect sense. Now how Strong got from there to the cemetery in Hagerstown is anyone's guess.