The Words of War

by Donagh Bracken

  Sept. 1862: From the Charleston Mercury From Our Army in Maryland

  The Battle of Sharpsburg and Fall of Harper’s Ferry

  The Richmond papers bring us some further and interesting accounts of the recent brilliant operations of our army on the Upper Potomac and in Maryland. The following is a brief resume of the various accounts of these important movements, concerning which the telegraphic news hitherto received has been so vague and unsatisfactory. Our army in Maryland is divided into three corps, commanded by Generals JACKSON, LONGSTREET and D.H. HILL. Of these corps JACKSON’S was engaged in the siege of HarperFerry, and the other two covered his operations. Conceiving it to be of great importance to raise the siege and to relieve the beleaguered forces, which amounted in numbers almost to a corps d, McCLELLAN resolved to make a powerful effort. He left Washington, it is said, with a force of 80,000 men. From the correspondents of the Yankee papers we heard of him at Rockville and other places on the National road, some time last week, from which we conclude that his army marched upon that road in the direction of Frederick. Whether he passed through Frederick we know not; but the first we hear of him is at Sharpsburg, some twenty miles west of Frederick, and about ten miles northwest of HarperFerry. At this place, on Sunday, he fell with his whole enormous force (80,000 men) upon the corps of Gen. D.H. HILL, which was the rear guard of the army. The battle was long, furious and bloody; but Gen. HILL, although attacked by vastly superior forces, stood his ground without yielding an inch. In the night Gen. LONGSTREET’S corps arrived, and on Monday the two combined attacked McCLELLAN and defeated him, driving his forces before them for five miles. But for the intervention of night, it is said the route would have been complete. At ten o, while the battle was still raging at Boonesborough, General MILES, with his whole army, variously estimated at eight, ten, and twelve thousand men, surrendered to Gen. JACKSON. Vast quantities of stores, 12,000 small arms, fifty pieces of artillery, and at least 1,000 negros (some say 2,500) were captured. Having disposed of MILES and his army, Gen. JACKSON was marching rapidly down the Potomac, with the intention of crossing below and getting in the rear of McCLELLAN, thus cutting him off effectually from Washington.

  THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM: THE BLOODIEST SINGLE DAY OF THE WAR BEGAN JUST OUTSIDE SHARPSBURG EARLY ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 17, 1862, WHEN UNION TROOPS UNDER GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER ATTACKED THE CONFEDERATES NEAR THE DUNKER CHAPEL. LATER, THE FIGHTING WOULD MOVE TO THE SUNKEN ROAD, AND THEN TO A BRIDGE OVER ANTIETAM CREEK, ACROSS WHICH TROOPS UNDER GENERAL AMBROSE BURNSIDE MANAGED TO FIGHT THEIR WAY ONLY TO BE WITHDRAWN AGAIN WHEN REBEL REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVED AT THE END OF THE DAY. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

  It should be mentioned that several days previous to the battle at Sharpsburg, a despatch from McCLELLAN to Col. MILES, commanding at HarperFerry, urging him to hold the position, promising reinforcements, was intercepted by Gen. LEE, who, accordingly, posted Gen. D.H. HILL’S Division near Boonesboro to check the reinforcing column, and made such disposition of the remaining forces as would ensure the discomfiture of the Yankee hosts.

  The Charleston Mercury

  Tuesday, September 23, 1862

  News by Telegraph

  Latest from the Potomac

  The Great Battle of Sharpsburg

  Movements of Lee

  Richmond, September 21–The Enquirer has received a despatch dated Warrenton, September 20, announcing that a terrific battle took place at Sharpsburg, Md., on Wednesday last, in which we had decidedly the advantage. The loss was very heavy on both sides. Generals STARK, MANNING and BRANCH were killed, and Gens. RIPLEY, D.R. JONES, R.R. JONES and LAWTON were wounded. The whole strength of both armies was engaged. Report says that the battle was renewed on Thursday, and that the enemy was routed and driven back nine miles.

  (The Latest)

  Monday, September 22. The accounts that reach us of the battle at Sharpsburg, are meagre and somewhat contradictory, but all agree in representing it to have been the most bloody and desperately contested engagement of the war. The Confederate army, though opposed by largely superior numbers, again illustrated its valor and invincibility by successfully repelling the repeated onsets of the enemy.

  Officers have arrived here, who state that they went over the battlefield on Thursday, and they assert that the advantage remained on our side, the enemy having fallen back.

  The city papers this morning report, on the authority of passengers who arrived last night, that Gen. LEE has recrossed the Potomac on Friday, at Shepardstown, which is near Sharpstown, and several miles above HarperFerry.

  The New York Herald, of the 18th, has been received. It claims that the fight at Sharpsburg on Sunday was a Yankee victory. Its despatches in regard to the fight are contradictory, but concur in stating that the Confederates were defeated.

  Letters from Louisville claim that the Yankee forces in Kentucky had gained a victory over DUNCAN’S and SCOTT’S commands at Munfordsville, Kentucky.

  A Bermuda correspondent of the New York Herald says that five steamers are now lying at the port of St. George, awaiting an opportunity to run the blockade.

  The United States Arsenal at Pittsburg was accidentally blown up on Wednesday. Between seventy-five or eighty boys and girls were killed.

  In New York, on Wednesday last, gold opened at 116 7/8, but subsequently advanced to 117 3/4.

  The Charleston Mercury

  September 25, 1862

  The Great Battle of Sharpsburg

  The Enquirer professes to have obtained from the most reliable sources, the following details of the great battle of Wednesday:

  On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 16th, the enemy opened a light artillery fire on our line. Early the next morning it was renewed more vigorously and large masses of the Federals, who had crossed the Antietam above our position, assembled on our left. They advanced in three compact lines. The divisions of Generals McLaws, R.H. Anderson, A.P. Hill and Walker, who were expected to have joined General Lee on the previous night, had not come up. Generals Jackson and Ewel ldivisions were thrown to the left of Generals Hill and Longstreet. The enemy advanced between the Antietam and the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown turnpike, and was met by General D.H. Hilland the left of General Longstreet divisions, where the conflict raged, extending to our entire left. The enemy was repulsed and held in check; but prior to the arrival of the divisions of McLaws, Anderson and Walker, who had been advanced to support the left wing and centre, as soon as they had crossed the Potomac on the morning of the 17th, that portion of our line was forced back by superior numbers. As soon, however, as these forces could be brought into action a severe conflict ensued. The enemy was driven back, our line was restored, and our position maintained during the rest of the day.

  In the afternoon the enemy advanced on our right, where General Jones’ division was posted, and he handsomely maintained his position. The bridge over the Antietam Creek was guarded by General Toombs’ brigade, which gallantly resisted the approach of the enemy; but their superior numbers enabling them to extend their left, they crossed below the bridge and forced our line back in some confusion. Just at this time, between 3 and 4 p.m., General A. P. Hill, with five of his brigades, having reached the scene of action, drove the enemy immediately back from the position they had taken, and continued the contest until dark, restoring our right and maintaining our ground.

  When the battle closed, after having raged furiously during the entire day, we retained possession of the field, and the enemy retired to his former position. The conduct of many of our officers is reported by General Lee to have exhibited the most conspicuous and brilliant courage. Our loss was considerable, and we have to deplore the fall of Generals Branch and Starke, who died as soldiers love to die – in defence of their country.

  PREVIOUS TO THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM, REBELS CROSSING THE POTOMAC RIVER. UNION SCOUTS ARE IN THE FOREGROUND (WAUD). LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

  SKIRMISH BETWEEN THE BROOKLYN 14TH AND 300 REBEL CAVALRY (WAUD). LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

  Gens.
R. H. Anderson, Lawton, Ripley, Armistead, Gregg and Wright, are reported to have been wounded—none of them, however, dangerously. In addition to the above, we learn from persons who have arrived from the field, that on the followin gday Gen. Lee, who remained in possession of the field, took measures to renew the engagement; but the enemy had disappeared from his front; and it is further reported that after the removal of his wounded and the burial of the dead, Gen. Lee determined to cross the Potomac, and had established his headquarters at or near Shepherdstown.

  Another account says:

  On Wednesday (17th) the fight was terrific, with tremendous losses on both sides, though the advantage was decidedly in our favor—we holding the battlefield. Yesterday there was a suspension of hostilities. Our loss in general officers is particularly severe, and is as follows:

  Major General R. H. Anderson, severely wounded in hip.

  Brigadier General Starke, killed, shot in four places.

  Brigadier General Wright, in breast and leg, flesh wounds.

  Brigadier General Branch, killed.

  Brigadier General Lawton, wounded in leg, not dangerously.

  Brigadier General Armistead, wounded in foot.

  Brigadier General Ripley, wounded in neck.

  Brigadier General Ransom, slightly wounded.

  Col. Alfred Cummings (commanding Wilcoxbrigade) woundedslightly.

  It is also reported that Col. Lee (son of the General) is killed, but it is only a rumor, and, I sincerely hope, incorrect.

  It was far the most terrific battle of the war, and it is impossible to approximate to the killed of the Yankees. They lie in vast heaps on the field, and are counted by thousands.

  The Charleston Mercury

  September 27, 1862

  News by Telegraph Late and Highly Important from the North

  Richmond, September 26 – Northern dates of the 23d inst.have been received.

  ABRAHAM LINCOLN has issued a proclamation declaring the slaves of rebel masters free, from and after the 1st of January next.

  Tremendous excitement prevails at Louisville. A despatch from Jeffersonville, Ind., dated September 22d, says that the rebel Generals BRAGG and KIRBY SMITH have divided their forces. SMITH is to hold BUELL (who is marching towards Louisville) in check, while BRAGG advances on the city. BRAGG had summoned General BULL NELSON, who commands the army for the defence of Louisville, to surrender. NELSON refused, and ordered all the women and children to leave the city at one hour notice. Thousands of citizens were crossing the river into Indiana. BRAGG was some distance from the city, but was rapidly advancing.

  The New York Herald acknowledges a heavy loss in the fight at Sheperdstown, Va., on Saturday. It says that the rebels were dressed like Union soldiers, and displayed a flag of truce to induce the Federal forces to cross the river. Gen. SUMNER’S corps d alone lost 5,203 in killed, wounded and missing at the battle of Sharpsburg. A Yankee correspondent, writing from the battlefield on the 22d, says that the Federal troops were still bringing in their dead at the rate of about one thousand per diem, but that they expected to get through the day. General HOOKER was shot through the foot by a rifle ball, and will not for a long time be fit for duty. Gen. CRAWFORD’S wound is more serious than was expected. Lieut. Colonel DWIGHT, of the 2d Massachusetts, was killed; Lieut. Colonel HINKS, of the 19th Massachusetts, was badly wounded; Gen. RICHARDSON was wounded in the shoulder and heart, and will die; Gen. DANA, in the knee. In the 38th Massachusetts, Col. WILD lost an arm at the shoulder joint; the Lieutenant Colonel, the Adjutant and eight Captains are wounded. The correspondent of The New York Times says that the slaughter was awful, particularly among the officers.

  In New York on the 23d Exchange was firm at 129 1/2; gold, 117 3/8. Cotton, 54 cts.

  The Charleston Mercury

  October 1, 1862

  The News from Richmond (Correspondence of the Mercury)

  Richmond, Saturday, September 27 – LINCOLN’S negrofreeing proclamation does not tally well with McCLELLAN’S at Sharpsburg. It is ABE’S last card, which he has been holding in terrorem over us for a longtime, and it being played is a good sign for us. It is good also for the Abolitionists, who now have the upper hand in any event. If the South is conquered, there will be no slaveholding rebel party to coalesce with the Union as-it-was Democrats in ousting them from power. On the other hand, if disunion is accomplished, the party holding the sword and purse will take care to keep them, and Dr. Olds, of Ohio, who blood at the polls next Fall, will prove to be a prophet. There will be no more free suffrage at the North. We shall see now what the Seymour Richardson – Vallandigham party will do to circumvent the Republicans.

  The Yankees confess to a loss of 5,203 in a single corps at Sharpsburg. They have there six corps and one division. It is fair, then, to put down their total loss there and at Boteler Mills at 25,000. Add 11,500 prisoners at HarperFerry, and 500 for killed and wounded; also, 5000 at Boonesboro—a lowestimate—and the weekwork foots up a loss to McClellan of 42,000 men. Pope campaign of two months could not have cost him less than 40,000. During this time Kirby Smith used up 8000 at Richmond, Bragg captured 5000 at Munfordsville, 1800 at Cave City, and 3000 at Green River Bridge—total 17,800; whilst Loring operations will swell to at least 20,000. Thus, in the space of three months, we have placed hors du combat 102,000 Yankees—if those captured observe their parole.

  At last, the conscript extension has passed. Mr. Boteler’s mpassioned appeals, inspired by actual vision of our army sufferings and needs, hastened this desirable consummation. It is to be hoped the country will respond promptly to the bill, but past experience gives us pause.

  Many have wondered that Stuart has done nothing brilliant of late. The fact is, the cavalry was much broken up before it entered Maryland—men and horses being alike exhausted. Hence the impossibility of dashing circuits and forays; but frequentand desperate charges have been made in battle, and scores of troopers have fallen. Charges, not raids, are the business of cavalry.

  McClellan extraordinary mendacity is explained by the fact, that his father before him was a great braggart and fibber. Dr. McClellan held himself up to the admiration and envy of the surgical world by proclaiming that he had extirpated the parotid gland. Drs. Gibson and Physick proved, by repeated dissections on the dead body, that the extirpation of this gland was an utter impossibility; but old Dr. McClellan stuck to his fib until death. General George has long ago announced the morality of lying in war.

  Several hundred of our wounded soldiers, who, after marching 60 miles, had been lying for nearly a week at Culpeper on the bare ground, with little food, without shelter, with undressed wounds, reached here last night at 11 o. The government officials, paid to attend to these suffering patriots, could no where be found. The members of the Citizens’ Relief Committee were roused from their beds, and, on repairing to the depot, found no ambulances, no provisions whatever for the reception of the wounded; the hospitals were all closed, and so they were compelled to bring the poor fellows into the capitol square and place them on the benches, the stone steps, the gravelled walks, the dewy grass. The night was quite cold. The soldiers were literally in a state of starvation. It was pitiable to see them devour dry bread brought from the bakers. All this occurred at the seat of government, with an immense and costly system of hospitals, presided over by a set of men who have just been beautifully white washed by a so called Examining Committee of Congress.

  The new moon, last evening, was what weather prophets call a wet moon—the wettest sort of a moon. Sure enough, the clouds already cover the whole sky and are thickening. HERMES.

  From The New York Times

  September 20, 1862

  BATTLE OF ANTIETAM CREEK

  Full Particulars from Special Correspondent

  The Most Stupendous Struggle of Modern Times

  Battle-Field of Antietam Creek

  Thursday, Sept. 18, 1862

  Another giant battle has been fought, and the cause of the Union has once more b
een vindicated upon one of the most bloody and well-contested fields known to ancient or modern times. Wednesday, Sept 17, 1862, will, we predict, hereafter be looked upon as an epoch in the history of the rebellion, from which will date the inaugeration of its downfall. On that day about one hundred and sixty thousand men met in deadly strife upon the field of Antietam—a name which will occupy a leading position in the history of the war—and there, marshaled by brave and able men, fought with a desperation and courage never before excelled, and rarely, if ever equaled, for twelve hours, leaving the Union army in possession of the contested ground. This victory was not gained, however, without the sacrifice of many valuable lives, and the maiming of thousands of individuals.

  Preceding Events

  Before attempting to present even a glance at this battle, let us first prepare the reader for a correct undersanding of it by relating – in continuation of my last letter – the events immediately preceding the great contest. My last brought Gen. McClellan’s advance into Maryland up to midday on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at which time the army occupied a position in close proximity to the road leading from Boonesville to Sharpsburgh, and upon and near the left bank of the little creek known by the name of Antietam, which rises in Central Pennsylvania, and, after running in a southerly direction, its waters are mingled with the turgid waters of the Potomac, about five miles above Harper’s Ferry.

  The enemy occupied a position on the right bank of the Antietam, favorably located for both offensive and defensive operations, and in this respect had the advantage. To circumvent the enemy, and secure an equally favorable position, was the first object to be obtained. That this required the genius of a great leader needed no military man to elucidate, for the whole position of affairs could be taken in at a glance. How well and successfully this object was accomplished, the success of our arms is abundant evidence. Of some of the details of the movement to this end we shall give in the proper place. Just across the creek, in plain view from the eastern bank, the enemy’s skirmishers could be distinctly seen, and from elevated positions massed forces of infantry and cavalry could be discovered in every little valley and ravine for miles on either hand. Two hundred thousand men was what the. enemy pretended to have within the scope of the eye, and from repeated personal inspection, aided by an excellent glass, while standing in a favorable position, I should judge the figure named not an exaggerated one.