The Words of War

by Donagh Bracken

  Between 12 and 2 o’clock P. M. all was silent along the lines. The German Battery of sixteen 20-pound Parrott guns, upon the eminence overlooking the river’s bank, were silent. Major Asndt had fallen, and the infantry battalions were quietly resting upon the ground under the hill, upon the tops of which were planted our artillery. This quietness was like the quietness that precedes the storm. The Commanding General had arrived upon the ground at an early hour the day before, and had made himself familiar with the position, and at the time of which we write was busily engaged in giving the necessary instructions to the Commanders of Corps, so as to render our success in the impending conflict as much a matter of certainty as possible.

  THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. THE BURNING OF MUMMA’S HOUSE AND BARNS (A. WAUD). LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

  Preparations for a Movement

  The Movement

  Soon after 2 o’clock P. M. the Parrott guns, to which allusion has been made before, were opened upon the enemy and worked with great rapidity, and nearly every shell thrown, as I afterward ascertained, did fearful execution in the massed columns of the enemy. In a brief space after this terrible fire had been opened, there was a movement of the troops inexplicable to the uninitiated at the moment, but the object of which was soon revealed to the careful observer. The Antietam was to be crossed! Gen. Hooker’s Corps, by a flank movement, gained a point to the north of between two and three miles, and changing direction to the left reached the river at Kelly’s Ford. A portion of the Pennsylvania Reserve under command of Brig. Gen. Meade were thrown across the river and were deployed as skirmishers, and under their cover and the support of the German New York Battery, Gen. Hooker’s column very speedily gained a foothold upon the opposite bank. Our skirmishers were met with a galling fire, poured in by the skirmishers of the enemy and the fire from a battery of four or six pieces, so located as to give a raking fire to the advancing column. Fortunately this battery was not well managed and most of the missiles were thrown too high, hence our losses at this point were comparatively trifling. The battery was speedily silenced and the mood, and the rapid movements of Gen. Hooker’s column, soon placed it in jeopardy; but the enemy, always on the alert, managed to get their pieces out of the way before a battery could be thrown across to sustain the Infantry column in its local movements. The enemy’s skirmishers were forced back step by step by the Reserves to their main body, by which time the whole of the advancing column was in position, and ready for more decisive offensive operations. The enemy rushed forward seemingly bent upon annihilating the comparatively small force sent against them, and several times there was some wavering under the terrible and impetuous resistance; but the troops quickly rallied, and, under the lead of ther able commander, secured a much coveted and necessary position to secure success. This movement across the river was one for which Gen. Hooker was peculiarly qualified, and he executed in a manner highly creditable to his skill as a General. Here the bottle of Antietam commenced in earnest. Until nightfall set in Gen. Hooker pressed the enemy back, and every step was gained by hard fighting.

  The Battle of Antietam

  On Wednesday morning, Sept. 17, the sun rose in a cloudless sky, and all nature seemed to smile as if the world were filled with the elect of God. But its splendors were soon dimmed with the smoke rising from the battle-field.

  To enable the reader to understand the events of this day, he should look at a map which has laid out the principal roads throughout the State of Maryland. With a pencil, follow the road or “pike” from Boonsboro direct to Sharpsburgh, which is nearly three mlies west of the river, at the point where the road crosses it; the battle-field is on both sides of that road-between the river and Sharpsburgh—the bulk of it being north of the Boonsboro road, and in the triangle formed by the roads connecting Bakersville and Middletown and Bakersville and Sharnsburgh. The surface is interspersed with hill and vale, and covered with cornfields and grass land, and skirting and stretching toward the centre from different points are thin belts of forest trees—all of which gives advantage to the enemy acting on the defensive, he having an opportunity to select his position for defensive operations, and when forced from one position he has only to fall back a short distance to find a position naturallv as strong as the first. The engagement was opened early Wednesday morning with the advance of a strong line of our skirmishers. They were met by a similar movement on the part of the enemy. The latter were forced back until the right of our line (Gen. Hooker’s) came into action with the enemy’s left, commanded by Gen. Hill, who commands a portion of Longstreet’s corps. Bank’s corps was. within a half an hour, at work, and was followed soon after by Gen. Patterson’s command. The first fire was at about 5 o’clock and at 6 o’clock the infantry arm entered upon its work. The line thus formed.

  The Enemy’s left was forced back for nearly three miles from the ford where the bulk of our troops crossed the creek before 9 o’clock, when they were relieved by Gen. Sedgwick’s coming to the front. Just previous to this, Morris’ Brigade, of Hooker’s command, had advanced from a belt of timber across a plowed field into a piece of woods, where the enemy, massed in great force, were repulsed, and the troops fell back to the belt of timber in some disorder, but soon rallied again, and regained the field in front. It was at this time that Gen. Mansfield, in command of Gen. Banks’ corps, was mortally wounded, carried from the field and died soon afterward. Gen. Williams succeeded to the command of the corps, and Gen. Crawford took command of Williams’ Division, until he was wounded and taken from the field. The repulse of Morris’ Brigade was accomplished by an old and contemptible trick of the enemy. As the corps advanced to the woods across the plowed field, the rebels unfurled the Stars and Stripes, and waving them, cried out, “What the h--l are you doing ? Don’t fire upon your friends!” Our troops, deceived by this ruse, ceased firing, when the rebels opened upon them a murderous volley of musketry and cross fire, and creating a temporary panic. They rallied and drove the rebels back, but it was done at a great sacrifice of life.

  These troops were relieved by GEN. SEDGWICK’S COMMAND coming up on their left. The enemy, who had gained a point of timber extending some distance in front of our line, at the left of Gen. Banks’ corps, were driven out. and across a plowed field in front, to the timber beyond, with great slaughter – Ayers battery opening upon them with great effect, strewing the ground with the dead. At one point, just on the brow of a little roll of the ground that the infantry, emerging suddenly upon the open field, supposed that it was a rebel force in waning for them, and the dead rebels got an entire volley. This corps came into action bt brigades between 8 and 9 o’clock—Gorman’s, Dana’s and Howard’s. While preparing for action, the enemy appeared from an unexpected quarter and opened a terrific fire with a view of breaking the line by a sudden attack with musketry and artillery, he believing that it was composed of raw troops. But they soon discovered that mistake, these veterans, notwithstanding the sudden attack, though their lines were broken for a moment, were not disconcerted, but received it with cheers. While under this galling fire, the Fifteenth Regiment Massachusetts made a dash forward and seized the battle-flag of one of Gen. HILL’s regiments, and now have it to show to their friends as a trophy of the day. In this connection it should be mentioned that Capt. Hows and Lieut. Whittier, of Gen. Sedgwick’s Staff, distinguished themselves in the action by rallying the left of Gen. Sedgwick’s division, and on several occasions, by their example, they encouraged the men in discharging their duties faithfully. Gen. Sedgwick’s horse was killed, and he was wounded twice, but remained on the field until he was ordered to the rear with his command.

  French’s Division

  The division under Gen. French occupied a position to the left of Sedgwick’s and was fairly engaged by 10½ o’clock. The fighting on the extreme right at this time was confined mostly to artillery, while the tide of infantry fighting swept along toward the left of our line. The left of this division gave way and fell back from the superior force they h
ad to contend against—the rebel hordes making pell mell after them. The left fell back in pretty good order, and upon a walk, under as galling a fire of musketry as is often experienced. This movement was evidently no fault of the men. The rebels advanced as they ventured a little to the rear of our line. At that point Col. Burke (acting Brigadier-General in Gen. Richardson’s Division,) changed his front, and poured in several volleys upon their flank strewing the ground with dead. The balance, hastened somewhat by a cross fire from Ayer’s battery, fled in utter dismay. The left of French’s Division advanced again, and fought like heroes until ordered to the rear.

  THE CHARGE ACROSS THE BURNSIDE BRIDGE (FORBES). LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

  Richardson’s Division

  Three Brigades of this Division, commanded by Gen. Meagher, Gen. Caldwell, and Col. Burke’s Tenth Pennsylvania, did not cross the creek until Wednesday morning, when Gen. Richardson was ordered to form on the left of French’s Division. The Division crossed the river and moved up with alacrity near the line of battle, ready for action. Having filed through the valleys to avoid letting the enemy know of the movement, the Division laid down under the brow of a hill, just in rear of the line of battle, until wanted. It was now about 9 o’clock.

  The Irish Brigade

  In less than half an hour after taking this position Gen. Meagher was ordered to enter the line with the Irish Brigade. They marched up to the brow of the bill, cheering as they went, led by Gen. Meagher in person, and were welcomed with cheers by French’s Brigade. The musketry fighting at the point was the severest and most deadly ever witnessed before—so acknowledged by veterans in the service. Men on both sides fell in large numbers every moment, and those who were eye-witnesses of the struggle did not suppose it possible for a single man to escape. The enemy here, at first, were concealed behind a knoll, so that only their heads were exposed. The brigade advanced up the slope with a cheer, when a most deadly fire was poured in by a second line of the enemy concealed in the Sharpsburgh road, which at this place is several feet lower than the surrounding surface, forming a complete rifle-pit, and also from a force partially concealed still further to the rear.

  At this time the color-bearer in the right wing advanced several paces to the front, and defiantly waved his flag in the faces of the enemy; as if by a miracle he escaped without serious injury.

  The line of the brigade, in its advance up the hill, was broken in the centre temporarily by an obstruction, the right wing having advanced to keep up with the colors, and fell back a short distance, when Gen. Meagher directed that a rail fence which the enemy a few minutes before had been fighting behind should he torn down. His men, in face of a galling fire, obeyed the order when the whole brigade advanced to the brow of the hill cheering as they went and causing the enemy to fall back to their second line – the Strasburgh road, which is some three feet lower than the surroundings face. In this road were massed a large force of infantry, and here was the most hotly contested point of the day. Each brigade of this Division was in turn brought into action at this point and the struggle was truly terrific for more than four hours – the enemy finally, however, were forced from their position. In this work the New York German Battery, stationed on the hill across the Creek, rendered efficient service by pouring in upon their massed forces a constant stream of 20-pound shells.

  Gen. Cauldwell’s Brigade was next ordered into action by Gen. Richardson in person. They two advanced in good order and were received with cheers by the Irish Brigade. It was at about this time that the left of French’s Division, commanded by Gen. Brooks of the Tenth Pennsylvania, was directed by Gen. Richardson to wheel to the right, and a murderous flanking fire was poured into the flank of an advancing division of the enemy, causing him to recoil, and fall back in disorder.

  This division was actively engaged for nearly five hours, and lost nearly half of the men taken into action.

  THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM – CHARGE OF BURNSIDE’S 9TH CORPS ON THE RIGHT FLANK OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY (FORBES). LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

  What the Historians Say

  The battle at Antietam in Washington County, Maryland, occurred on September 16-18, 1862. Known also as the battle at Sharpsburg, it was the key battle in Robert E. Lee’s Maryland Campaign in which his Army of Northern Virginia confronted the Army of the Potomac. The great battle resulted in 23,100 casualties.

  On September 16, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan confronted Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. At dawn September 17, Hooker’s corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee’s left flank that began the single bloodiest day in American military history. Attacks and counterattacks swept across Miller’s cornfield and fighting swirled around the Dunker Church. Union assaults against the Sunken Road eventually pierced the Confederate center, but the Federal advantage was not followed up. Late in the day, Burnside’s corps finally got into action, crossing the stonebridge over Antietam Creek and rolling up the Confederate right. At a crucial moment, A.P. Hill’s division arrived from Harper’s Ferry and counterattacked, driving back Burnside and saving the day. Although outnumbered two-to-one, Lee committed his entire force, while McClellan sent in less than three-quarters of his army, enabling Lee to fight the Federals to a standstill. During the night, both armies consolidated their lines. In spite of crippling casualties, Lee continued to skirmish with McClellan throughout the 18th, while removing his wounded south of the river. McClellan did not renew the assaults. After dark, Lee ordered the battered Army of Northern Virginia to withdraw across the Potomac into the Shenandoah Valley.

  The battle was decisive in affecting Lee’s campaign because he was forced to return to Virginia. Tactically the battle was inconclusive but proved to be a strategic victory for the Union because it gave President Lincoln cause to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

  9

  Fredericksburg

  A Great Federal Embarrassment

  AUTHOR’S COMMENTARY

  The telegraph service played an important role during the War both for correspondents relaying their stories to their papers and for military dispatches to Washington and official areas. Strict censorship was a constant practice as were frequent misinterpretations. Sometimes one would follow another. News of the Union disaster at Fredericksburg was censored by General Burnside and again at Washington. News of the disaster did not get out for forty eight hours. Two weeks later, the Times pontifically chided Washington officials for preventing the news from getting out. Two weeks following that in mid-January, Times Editor Henry J. Raymond received a telegram from the Times Washington office advising him that a telegram from a Col. Swain had arrived advising him that the corpse of his brother, a Union soldier who had been ill, was at Belle Plain and he should come immediately. A boat was leaving shortly. Upon arrival at Belle Plain, Raymond, searching for his brother’s corpse, found him to be quite alive. The telegraph operator inadvertently used the word “corpse” when conveying that Raymond’s brothers Army Corps was in Belle Plain.

  Dec. 20, 1862: From the Charleston Merury BURNSIDE doubtless has under command an immense and admirably equipped army. Say he has lost ten, fifteen or twenty thousand men in the battle of Fredericksburg. This would be but a small proportion of the forces in hand, and, barring the demoralization produced by so signal a failure as this attempted advance, and the extraordinary disproportion of the slain, there is no reason why BURNSIDE should not try it again forthwith, at some other point along the Rappahannock. This repulse, however bloody, would hardly deter a great General, bent upon striking at Richmond. There is a strong pressure on the Yankee commander to proceed. His reputation, his opportunity, his future, are staked upon the success or non-success of the move. He has a howl at his back to drive him on. But, notwithstanding all this, his course is by no means clear. If he delays, and hesitates, it will take probably more time than the Northern mob will allow him, and the military baton will be transferred by the LINCOLN dynasty to a new chief, HOOKER or some other. If, therefore, BURNSIDE withdraws from the Rappahann
ock, the transfer will occupy some time; and meanwhile active military operations will cease in Eastern Virginia.

  In Tennessee we have little idea that ROSECRANS will come out of his works around Nashville to fight Gen. JOHNSTON. He is more likely either to evacuate the place, as the despatch today would indicate, or he will attempt to garrison and hold it against a siege, trusting to relief so soon as the Cumberland River rises.

  Indications now point to the State of Mississippi, and particularly the works at Vicksburg, as the next scene of large and earnest operations. Gen. McCLERNAND’S expedition, soon to descend from Cairo, is of formidable proportions of itself. GRANT is already there advancing with numerous forces. And if, as has been stated, reinforcements are further concentrated upon Mississippi, from Missouri, Arkansas and West Tennessee, it will require excellent generalship and the utmost promptitude and exertion on our part to foil the enemy, and drive him back from the accomplishment of his object.

  THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG: ALMOST THREE MONTHS AFTER ROBERT E. LEE BEGAN HIS WITHDRAWAL FROM SHARPSBURG, MARYLAND, MCCLELLAN’S SUCCESSOR, AMBROSE BURNSIDE, MANAGED TO BRING HIM TO BATTLE AGAIN IN VIRGINIA. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

  We, therefore, look with anxiety to Mississippi, and trust that every effort will be made to save Vicksburg, and redeem that State. Officers, men and arms should be supplied on the spot to the extent of the capacity of the Government, for the indications are of danger.