USA > New York > History of the Ninth Regiment N.Y.S.M. -- N.G.S.N.Y. (Eighty-third N. Y. Volunteers.) 1845-1888 > Part 18
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Squads of prisoners soon began passing to the rear, show- ing that the Union cavalry were following up closely the retreating enemy, and picking up the stragglers. After con- siderable delay, owing to the narrow road and the large number of troops, the march was continued. Boonsboro was reached, where a loyal welcome was received, and then the column pressed . on to Keedysville, near Antietam Creek, beyond which stream Lee's army was drawn up in a strong position for defence. During the afternoon General McClellan passed along the road, his appearance being hailed with such hearty cheers that the sound of the cannonading in front was completely drowned. No General in the Union Army was ever so popular with the rank and file as " Little Mac."
Volleys and scattering musketry firing were heard late in the afternoon, and which continued till near sundown. At a late hour the NINTH went into bivouac near Antietam Creek, the men a little tired after the march of twelve miles over the rough mountain road, but ready for the expected battle.
The morning of the 16th was hot and sultry, and so continued all day. A full supply of rations made the men feel good-nothing like a full stomach on the eve of battle to put an army in good fighting trim. Artillery and musketry could be head all the forenoon ; the latter, however, was merely that of the skirmish or picket line. Hooker's corps did not move till about two o'clock in the afternoon, when Doubleday, with the First division, took the lead, followed by Meade with the Third, while Ricketts brought up the rear. Hartsuff's brigade moved between three and four o'clock,
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
September
making a detour of about a mile to escape the enemy's artillery fire, and crossing the creek by a bridge, the second above the "Burnside" bridge, while other portions of the corps crossed at Kelty's Ford still further up the stream. After crossing, the column headed first to the left, then to the right, and, after marching over a number of fields and jumping several ditches, line of battle was formed a little southwest of Dunbar's mill, and near the road leading to the Dunker Church. Artillery was planted in the field, in front of the line of battle, and from which the enemy had just been driven. But little fighting had occurred at close quarters during the day, and that little was by Meade's division, for the purpose of obtaining a position. During the night Ricketts' division was moved into the woods to the right of its first position, and, owing to the darkness, much difficulty was experienced by the men in keeping the ranks properly closed. What little sleep the men managed to snatch was frequently interrupted by alarms on the picket line, Hood's division of the enemy, which had been driven back, keeping up an intermittent fire, which was replied to by the Union soldiers. Less than five hundred yards separated the opposing lines. That a decisive battle was about to be fought, possessed the minds of all, and General Hooker's remark, that "To-morrow we fight a battle that will decide the fate of the Republic," found an echo in the minds of many of his men who lay and shivered in the cool night air.
Early morning of the eventful 17th was foggy, but after- wards the day was clear and pleasant, so far as Nature was con- cerned, the minds of men alone being torn by conflicting emo- tions. A brief review of the situation will enable the reader the better to understand what follows: The Antietam, from which the Union troops named the battle, is a crooked stream, its general direction being a little west of south ; its nearest point to the town of Sharpsburg-the battle name adopted by the Confederates -- is about two-thirds of a mile. Within the limits of the field the stream is crossed by three stone bridges, between and near which are several fords. At only
1862
193
THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE LINES.
-
one of the bridges, however, was there any serious fighting, that on the left, now known as the " Burnside" bridge. The Hagerstown Pike runs north from the town ; and about a mile beyond, on the left of the road, is situated the Dunker Church, surrounded, except on the east, by woods, which also extend three-quarters of a mile north of the church, broken only by a small cleared field, about half a mile north of the building. Directly opposite this small cleared field, and on the east of the Pike, is a still larger field (Dr. Miller's farm) broken somewhat by the buildings and fences. A part of this field was filled with standing corn. Beyond the corn field, to the east, was a strip of woods, now known as the East Woods. It was in these woods and fields, north and east of the Dunker Church, that the most desperate fighting occurred, and which involved the right of the Union line of battle.
On the extreme right of the Union line, and resting on the Hagerstown Pike, was Doubleday's division of Hooker's corps ; Meade's division of Pennsylvania Reserves was next on the left, and then Ricketts' division. Mansfield's Twelfth corps had followed Hooker's, and was posted about a mile in the rear. It consisted of two divisions commanded by Generals Crawford and Greene. The Second corps was still further in the rear. A portion of Porter's Fifth corps was also across the creek, posted on the left and rear of Hooker's line.
The Union left was held by the Ninth corps and General Cox's Kanawha division, under General Burnside, and the troops were posted on high ground east of the creek, com- manding the bridge still held by the enemy. The Kanawha division was on the extreme left, opposite a ford below the bridge : Rodman's division of the Ninth corps was opposite the bridge. Sturges' division was next on the right, while Willcox's division was in reserve in rear of Rodman. The · bridge was a narrow structure, and the approaches on the Union side were through open fields without any cover, except a few rail fences.
Longstreet held the ground in front of Burnside. It was a most favorable one for defence, consisting of a series of undu-
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
September
lating hills or crests, rising towards the rear of the enemy's position, and, beyond the strip of woods which lined the west bank of the stream, with but little cover for an assaulting col- umn. Stonewall Jackson held the left of the Confederate line.
McClellan's plan was that Hooker should attack the Con- federate left, and, when the battle there was well under way, Burnside should carry the bridge in his front and assail the right.
At five o'clock the " Bucktails" of Meade's division were on the skirmish line in the East Woods, and, upon advancing against the, enemy, the battle was opened. Meade pushed on through the woods and across the open fields, driving the enemy across the Hagerstown Pike and into the wood beyond, where, reenforced by fresh troops, they made a determined stand, and Meade's shattered line was obliged to halt. As the enemy was reenforced the Pennsylvania men fell rapidly under the withering fire, and Meade was compelled to order a retreat back to the cover of the East Woods. This was accomplished with but little confusion, although the enemy poured out of the woods, across the Pike, and into the corn field. Other troops from the Union line went to the assistance of their hard-pressed comrades, but all were gradually driven back to cover. Meanwhile, on the right, Doubleday's division had also advanced and gained some important advantages. When Meade was driven back, Hooker, who was anxiously watching the movements, despatched Captain Somers, of his staff, to order up Ricketts' division. The command advanced through the woods, Hartsuff's brigade in the center, "the other two in echelon to the rear, to the right and left respectively." As the men were pressing through the woods another aide gal- loped up to Ricketts with an order from Hooker for "your best brigade, instantly !" Hartsuff was ordered to hurry forward, and, followed by Thompson's battery, double-quicked to the front, and soon emerged into the field where the battle was raging. Shot, shell and bullets were flying thick as the men pushed through the woods and entered the open field. A lit- tle ridge in front, parallel with the turnpike, had been held by
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195
1862
BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.
Meade for a while, but the men were falling fast. Hooker now ordered Hartsuff to advance and hold the ridge, and, as the brigade passed, Hooker was heard to say : "I think they will hold it." As the brigade pushed on to the position indi- cated, General Hartsuff was struck by a bullet, and fell from his horse. severely wounded. "Don't tell the boys I'm wounded," he said, as he was being carried from the field. Hartsuff's fall did not leave the brigade without a competent commander, for Coulter, of the Eleventh Pennsylvania, the senior colonel present with the command, at once assumed the leadership-" Forward, Third brigade !" and up the hill it went.
A barn on the Rullet farm, some little distance to the left of the corn-field in which the brigade now found itself, was no- ticed burning. On the men went, the other two brigades close- ly following, and at last the ridge was gained when the enemy fell back to the Pike, sheltering themselves behind the stone wall which lined its eastern side. While the brigade held its position upon the ridge the Twelfth corps was engaged on the left. The gallant commander, Manshield, while on the front line directing operations, was fatally wounded. General Hooker, too, had received a severe wound in the foot, and was compelled to leave the field. Hartsuff's brigade-as well as the balance of Ricketts' division-were now nearly out of ammunition ; many brave men had fallen, and the enemy was crowding in fresh men to regain the lost ground. Jackson's old veterans of the Valley and of the Peninsula, fought bravely and well, but they met their match in Hooker's troops. So rapid was the musketry fire that the men of Hartsuff's brigade soon ex- hausted their cartridges, when they were relieved by the Second brigade, the Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania, taking the place of the NINTH. Supports from the Twelfth and Second corps now arriving, Ricketts' division was withdrawn in order that the men might replenish their cartridge boxes. Hartsuff's brigade, having suffered the most, was not again sent into the front line, but was ordered to the extreme right, where, under Doubleday, it supported a battery during the afternoon. While
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
September
in this position Stuart's cavalry attempted to charge on the guns, but were met with such a storm of shell and shapnel that they were compelled to fall back. Darkness closed the fighting on this part of the line, with the field mainly in posses- sion of the Union troops.
In describing the part taken by the NINTH a member of Company E wrote :
" The Twelfth Massachusetts was on the right, the Eleventh Pennsylvania next, then the Thirteenth Massachusetts, and our regiment on the left. As we were the ex- treme left we had to march through the woods, and as we moved forward the rebels got behind the trees and kept up a lively fire ; they fell back from one tree to another until we drove them out of the woods. The rebel brigade we were fighting as we ad- vanced skedaddled when they got out of the woods, but there was a fresh brigade opened fire on us when we got on the crest of the hill. Then commenced as desper- ate a fight as could occur. The brigade in front of us was one of Stonewall Jackson's best, old veterans who had been all through the battles in the Valley and on the Peninsula. They fought bravely and well but at last were compelled to fall back. * I cannot give a description of the battle, as a man who is at his post can see nothing but what occurs immediately about him."
The subordinate commanders under Jackson were Ewell, Hood and Starke.
It was Wofford's brigade of Hood's division, consisting of the First, Fourth and Fifth Texas, Eighteenth Georgia and Hampton's Legion, that confronted Hartsuff's brigade during the forenoon. The First Texas lost a color, and, according to Colonel Wofford's report, his command was almost annihilated, losing in killed, wounded and missing, over one-half. General Starke, a division commander, and Colonel Douglass command- ing a brigade, were killed, while General A. R. Lawton and Colonel Joseph Walker were among the wounded.
On the left General Burnside had met with strong oppo- sition in his endeavors to carry the bridge. First General Crook's brigade, of the Kanawha division, preceded by skirm- ishers from the Eleventh Connecticut, and supported by Sturgis' division, made the attempt, but failed. Then the Sixth New Hampshire and Second Maryland of Nagle's brigade of Sturgis' division tried, but they, too, were com- pelled to fall back under the shower of bullets which swept
1852
197
NUMBER OF TROOPS ENGAGED .-- THE LOSSES.
across the narrow bridge-hardly wide enough for a dozen men to pass abreast. At noon Mcclellan had become impa- tient at the delay, and sent repeated orders for Burnside to push his men across. General Ferrero's brigade of Sturgis' division was then ordered to the work, and at one o'clock the bridge was gallantly carried, but over five hundred had fallen dead and wounded, before the task was accomplished.
The Ninth corps then crossed the creek, the enemy retir- ing to the heights near Sharpsburg. Willcox's division was on the right, astride of the road leading to the village, while the other divisions were ranged on the left. Rodman's division had crossed at the ford below the bridge, and when it advanced against the enemy, captured a battery and partly turned their right flank. Just at this moment, however, A. P. Hill's division reached the field from the Harper's Ferry ex- pedition, and stemmed the tide of the Union advance. Sup- ported by some of the regulars from Porter's corps, the right of Burnside's line held the advance position-on the outskirts of the town-till near five o'clock, when the men were ordered to withdraw to cover, nearer the creek. It was then dark.
The number of Union troops engaged in the battle was about sixty thousand, while the Confederates had some forty thousand. This disproportion was more than neutralized by the Union Army being the attacking party. The Union loss, as compiled from nominal lists of casualties and returns, was 2,108 killed, 9,549 wounded and 753 missing ; total, 12,410. The total loss of the enemy, according to General Longstreet, was 11,433.
Ricketts' division carried into action 3,158 officers and men, and its loss, according to official figures, was 172 killed, 946 wounded and 86 missing ; total, 1,204. Hartsuff's brigade lost 82 killed, 497 wounded and 20 missing ; total, 599. Ac- cording to regimental statistics, the NINTH lost 23 killed and died of wounds, SS wounded and 3 missing ; total, 114. The officers wounded were : Captains Ralph A. Lanning and Eugene Pickett. and Lieutenants William H. Terwilliger and Henry P. Clare. The enlisted men killed were : Company A.
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
September
Corporal William C. Robinson and Private Joseph H. Sweezy ; Company B, Corporal Henry Rheinlander and Privates Henry Bormann, Frederick Bunk and Henry Rodgers; Company D, Privates Francis Lambert and Thomas W. Mykens ; Company F, Corporal William H. Cossman ; Company G, Corporal Charles W. Beecher and Privates William Foy, Thomas R. Grogan and Charles W. B. Hurd ; Company H, Privates Jeremiah Bresnan, Alexander Deacon and Matthew Murphy ; Company I, Privates Daniel Curtin, Peter B. Kinney and Joseph McAvoy ; Company L, Sergeants John H. Scott and Charles J. Cross, Corporal John A. Willers and Private James Martin.
Among the officers especially commended for their bravery on the field were Captains Hendrickson and Moesch, men- tioned by Colonel Coulter in his report of the battle.
A hospital had been established at Hoffman's farm, about a mile in the rear of Hooker's line of battle, and after first aid had been rendered on the field, the wounded were removed to that place. During the battle a specially organized Ambu- lance corps was tried for the first time, which proved of great service in the speedy removal of the wounded. A green band about each attendant's arm designated the corps, and served as a safeguard on the field, but stray shots would sometimes find a lodgment, even among the non-combatants. Assistant Surgeon Albert A. Kendell, of the Twelfth Massachussetts, was killed while at the amputating table on the field, a little in rear of the line of battle.
From a letter, written a few days after the battle, we quote the following :
On Wednesday we fought the hardest and bloodiest battle of the war, so far. Our brigade suffered badly ; were under a galling fire two hours and ten minutes. * * * Our company lost thirteen wounded out of twenty-three. Two of our company were shot in front of me and two who were behind me, and I have not a scratch. Just in front of us a house was burning, and the fire and smoke, flashing of muskets and whizzing of bullets, yells of the men, etc., were perfectly horrible.
* * * The ground for two miles is strewn with dead. * * When men lie from Wednesday to Sunday with wounds undressed I feel as if Glory did not count for much. * * * The Color corporal was shot dead. I was second man from him and jumped for the colors, but Wm J. Barnes of our company got there first. A ball passed through my hat and
:862
HARTSUFF'S BRIGADE AT ANTIETAM. 199
struck the man behind me in the breast. I went into the fight with a strong heart. When I saw so many fall I expected my turn would soon come, but I loaded and fired as fast as I could. I tore my shirt up to bind up some wounds and did not get another until to-day, so I have a fearful cold,
The remains of four members of the NINTH still lie in marked graves in the National Cemetery on the field of Antietam ; others
" Sleep where their friends cannot find them to-day ; They, who in mountain and hillside and dell, Rest where they wearied, and lie where they fell."
The service performed by Hartsuff's brigade has been the theme for both song and story by many writers. Smalley's New York Tribune account is the best found in any of the papers, and, although an eye-witness of much that he described, he fell into the error of placing the brigade in Doubleday's division, and could identify but two of the four regiments.
The following lines, written by F. Oliver Flood, of Com- pany C, of the NINTH, were suggested by the occasion :
HARTSUFF'S BRIGADE AT ANTIETAM.
The morn broke fair o'er wood and field That bank Antietam's stream ; The booming cannon early broke The soldier's fitful dream. To Arms! To Arms! Fall in! Fall in! To ranks they quickly run ; The columns move ; the troops advance ; The battle has begun.
The rebel columns crossed the pike And turned Joe Hooker's right ;
They took possession of the ground That he had held o'er night ; Thrice had our men, through wood and corn, Charged boldly and in vain,
To turn the tide of Lee's advance, The vantage ground regain.
Hooker had watched,-his soldier eye Had seen his purpose fail,- For three brigades had broke Before the lead and iron hail.
-
200
THE NINTHI NEW YORK.
September
. " Send me at once an old brigade !" -- To Ricketts Hooker said, And when they came up o'er the hill, Hartsuff rode at their head.
Hartsuff's Brigade of the First Corps Came down in double time, And passed into the field of corn, A firm, unwavering line. Fearless out of the woods they came,- Those men were tried and true, No better men upon that day Had worn the Nation's blue.
They saw their pathway strewn with dead Of those who went before ; The broken corn, the cumb'rous fence, Besmeared with other's gore ; Each soldier's heart was nerved then To deeds of valor high, And felt their country needed them To win the field or die !
Into the field mid deadly grape, The fences clamb'ring o'er, They close the gaps made in their ranks And leave a train of gore. The last fence reached-they halt !- Must they, too, backward fall? Shall lives and limbs already gone Be no avail at all ?
They cheer from end of line to end, They pour a with'ring fire, They onward press and force their way- The rebel ranks retire. " They'll hold it," said . old fighting Joe,'- As on the like they rushed- The rebels to the woods beyond The Dunker Church were pushed.
But oh ! the deadly fire they met, -- That rain of shot and shell, From massed ranks of bravest men No pen can ever tell. They held the ground so nobly won, And yet how great the cost ! This old Brigade had won the field. But half its men were lost !
1862
SEARCHING FOR THE ENEMY.
201
CHAPTER XI.
AFTER ANTIETAM.
McClellan's Reasons for Not Renewing the Battle .- In Camp at Sharpsburg .-- The Emancipation Proclamation .- Visit of President Lincoln .- Yorktown Hard-tack .- Stuart's Raid .- The President's Letter to General Mcclellan .- The Army Moves. -Rappahannock Station .- Burnside Relieves McClellan .- The Situation of the Army .- Dr. Nordquist and the Sixteenth Maine .- Changes in the Brigade .- Song of the NINTH N. Y. S. M.
TT was comparatively quiet during the night. When day- light of the 18th appeared, the men expected that the bat- tle would be renewed. The enemy wasstill in force, and a brisk skirmish fire was soon opened. At several points on the line, burial parties were sent out from each side, who also cared for the wounded. This day passed in comparative quiet. At dark, the opposing pickets still faced each other. During the night of the 18th, McClellan ordered the corps commanders to attack at daylight ; when that hour arrived the skirmish line advanced, but found no enemy to oppose them-they had retreated during the night ! This was a great relief to the rank and file. It seemed incredible, however, that Lee's army should have been allowed to gain the south side of the river unmolested, and as the lines moved forward the men expected, every moment, to overtake the enemy ; but no, they had all crossed the Potomac, most of them by the ford at Shepherdstown, and when the Union troops reached the bank of the stream, the enemy was discovered strongly posted on the opposite side, and guarding well the various crossings.
The great campaign then, resulted simply in driving the enemy back into Virginia, but, little demoralized by their fail- ure to arouse Maryland, and as events soon proved, as fully able as ever to cope with the Army of the Potomac.
It is not the province of a regimental history to criticise
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
September
campaigns. Enough has been written respecting this one to fill many volumes. The general verdict is that Mcclellan failed to accomplish that which he had the means to perform- a total rout of the Confederate army. The General has been heard in his own defence :
The night, however (of the 17th), brought with it grave responsibilities. Whether to renew the attack on the 18th, or to defer it, even with the risk of the enemy's re- tirement, was the question before me. After a night of anxious deliberation, and a full and careful survey of the situation and condition of our army, and the strength and position of the enemy, I concluded that the success of an attack on the 18th was not certain. I am aware of the fact that, under ordinary circumstances, a general is expected to risk a battle if he has a reasonable prospect of success ; but at this critical juncture, I should have had a narrow view of the condition of the country, had I been willing to hazard another battle with less than an absolute assurance of success. At that moment-Virginia lost, Washington menaced, Maryland invaded-the national cause could afford no risks of defeat. One battle lost and almost all would have been lost. Lee's army might then have marched as it pleased on Washington, Baltimore, Phila- delphia, or New York.
The General then goes on, and in detail shows the losses in the various corps. He also says, that the supply trains were not up, and that the men needed provisions, and the artillery ammunition. Reinforcements were also expected to arrive during the day. We quote again from the same source :
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