| ~ Antietam ~ |
| The Real Story? |
| Five years ago Company B and members of the reactivated U.S. Sharpshooters participated in the 135th reenactment of the Battle of Antietam.� The nearly 90 man USSS battalion was the largest assembled since the Civil War. What made the event even more rewarding was the fortunitous discovery by respected researcher Art Ruitburg (Co. C. 2nd USS) of a pair of letter written by New Hampshire men: James S. Kent (Co. G.) and Edwin Chadwick (Co. F.) a few days after the original battle.� Their information was crucial for it helped us better understand the events that transpired in Miller's Cornfield and West Woods area, information that is significantly different from what had been recorded in the Regimental history-written 25 years after the event. ~ Bill ~ |
| ����������������������������������������������� Camp near Sharpsburg, Md. |
| ����������������������������������������������� Sept. 25th 1862 |
| Dear Friends, |
| ��������������� I intended to have written an account of what I saw at the battle of Bull Run but we were obliged so soon thereafter and have been so busy marching and fighting ever since that I have not found time to do it.� Meantime we have fought two battles, one of them thebattle of the war.� Perhaps if I should give you an account of that fight it would interest you as much as anything I could write of the present time. |
| ��������������� Monday-the day after we drove the rebels from South Mountain-we marched through Boonesboro and took a position on Antietam Creek.� The enemy was drawn up in line of battle on the other side of the stream about two miles distant.� That afternoon there was some artillery firing our guns silencing their batteries every time they opened on us.� Tuesday we laid on our arms until four o'clock when we crossed the creek and our Regt. was advanced to the front as skirmishers.� We advanced through the open field about half a mile and discovered the position of the rebel pickets when we were called back. Had some sharp firing one of our men being mortally wounded.� After being recalled our brigade was moved forward and took position near the right of our line of battle.� That night we laid on our arms within a hundred rods of the rebel lines.� At sunrise the next morning the rebel batteries opened on us just as we were getting into line.� Soon the firing became brisk on both sides and the shot and shell flew around us in a way that is not very agreeable when you can not tell but that the next one may burst at your feet and send you into eternity.� We then advanced through a piece of woods and took a position in support of Gibbon's battery placed in an open field beyond.� Meanwhile the infantry in front of us (the Wisconsin regiments) had become engaged and the musket balls began to fly about quite briskly.� We remained beside the battery some time and then went on to the front stopping and lying down in the edge of a cornfield; the enemy being on the other side of it.� Soon after taking our place, a regiment of rebels advanced from the woods on our right (West Woods) through the open field until they came to a fence a hundred yards away where they laid down and opened fire on us.� The smoke was so dense that we could hardly tell friend from foe, but when the bullets began to whistle about our ears we were satisfied that they were grey backs and returned the compliment in the shape of a few well-directed Sharps Rifle balls.� I had a box of ammunition in my hand ready for them and placing it on the ground I dropped on one knee and began to load and fire.� I always stood up when I fired so that I could take better aim.� Sometimes I would have to wait a minute before the smoke would roll away or a rebel would expose himself so that I could get a good chance at him. I always intended to have my rifle cover a man before I fired except once or twice when I was ordered to fire at the colors.� While I was thus engaged poor Twombly, a New Hampshire boys, fell close beside me shot through the head.� I had no time to observe others who were killed or wounded but he was so near that I could not help seeing him as I stooped to load.� Col. (Henry A. V.) Post was wounded at the beginning of the fight and had left the field.� The color bearer was badly wounded and the Adjutant (Lewis Parmalee) took our flag and advanced to the front cheering us on.� Our fire soon became to hot for the rebels and they --- what there was left of them---began to run leaving guns, knapsacks, and everything that impeded their progress on the ground beside their dead and wounded comrades.� We started after them with a cheer and had got as far as the fence when we observed through the smoke another regiment drawn up on our left and firing into us from that direction.� Nothing was left for us now but to remain and be taken prisoners or retreat.� Here the Adjutant fell pierced by five rebel bullets.� The right of our regiment had got into the road and one of the Minnesota boys ran up to the fence, shot the bearer of the rebel's battle flag, took it away from him and brought it off the field.� Lt. John W. Thompson of Nashua was shot through the head while advancing with or near the Adjutant.� The order was given to retreat and we fell slowly back through the cornfield.� I stopped and fired several times while going back, the enemy not being more than a dozen rods off.� A bullet struck me, cutting through the strap of my haversack and stopping when it reached my belt.� I then went to the right where Gibbon had three guns planted so as to rake the cornfield.� I got a few splendid shots at them resting my rifle on the fence and shooting when they came over the ridge to fire on us.� Gen. Gibbon was off his horse helping to work the guns himself.� At each discharge of grape we could see pieces of rails, cornstalks, guns, clothing, and fragments of rebels blown into the air.� They did not come on any further but our men drove them back in splendid style.� Our brigade was now ordered to the rear, other troops coming up to take our place.� We were not engaged again during the day.� I went back to the battlefield in the afternoon to see about our dead and wounded but was not allowed to go out to the place where we fought.� |
| ��������������� Thursday there was no fighting except by the pickets.� The rebels asked for a time to bury their dead and remove their wounded.� It was granted them and they abused it by not burying the dead and plundering our dead of all valuables they could find. |
| ��������������� Friday finding that the rebels had left, our army advanced and took a position near the Potomac.� Many of our men were engaged in burying the dead.� At my own request I was detailed from our Company.� I wished to find the bodies of the Adjutant and of a member of our Co. who was killed.� The sight on the battlefield was awful.� The bodies were swollen and disfigured so that we could hardly recognize them except by their clothes.� Their pockets were rifled and in many cases the shoes taken from their feet.� We buried nine bodies belonging to our regiment including the two officers. |
| ��������������� I examined the ground occupied by the regiment which was opposed to us.� We had to shoot through two rail fences before we could hit them.� The rails were fairly riddled with balls.� I counted fifty-three dead rebels lying close to the fence within sixteen lengths of rails and there were twenty five or thirty more in the field beyond that we shot while they were running.� As there were no other shooting at them I can safely say that the Sharp Shooters as responsible for that part of the work.� But we paid fearful price for what we did.� Out of one hundred and thirty men of the regiment who went into this fight, nine were killed and one Lieut. Has since died of his wounds.� The Col. Sergeant-Major, two Lieut., one Capt. And over fifty men were wounded.� Eight men of my Co. were engaged; one was killed and four wounded, while only one escaped without being hit. |
| ��������������� I think from what I saw myself on the field and what I can learn from the others that the rebels lost in killed three to our one.� We had more wounded than they did.� It was the testing of those who have been in nearly all the battles of the war that they never saw such desperate and bloody fighting.� I have been in ten fights-battles and skirmishes and it was certainly the hardest one I ever saw or wish to be engaged in.� If it is only the beginning of the end, the country may be satisfied with the dearly bought victory, but if the advantage is not followed up as it should be, as I am a little fearful it was not, it may well complain that so much blood is spilled for nothing. |
| ��������������� I am well now.� Give my regards to all inquiring friends.� I shall expect a letter from you soon. |
| Your aff. Son, |
| Edwin H. Chadwick |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| Camp near Sharpsburg, MD. |
| Sept 22, 1862 |
| Dear Mother: |
| ��������������� As this is our third day of rest, I must try to write you a letter after so long a silence.� I haven't had time to write before since I left the hospital, only just enough to let the folks know that I was alive.� Have marched every day ---been in three or four battles and skirmishes, etc., which I call rather rough on a sick man, but my health and strength are steadily improving, I think, so I shall be able to go through the campaign if I escape the bullets.� I was in the battle on the (South) Mountain Sunday evening, was out skirmishing the next morning before breakfast; after breakfast I heard where there was a squad of rebs, and taking a couple boys with me wen and got them, nine in all.� Some of them were inclined to show fight, but when they found Sharpe's rifles bearing on them they concluded to surrender.� We followed the retreating rebels that day till we got into an artillery fight; next day we had a skirmish just before night.� Wed. morning they got us up at daylight, and marched us to the battlefield, and didn't we get a hot breakfast that morning!� We were engaged about four hours, tho' it did not seem fifteen minutes to me.� We had been fighting in line some time when the Adjutant caught the colors and rushed ahead, saying , "They are running, come on boys!"� Quickly as I could gather up a box of cartridges I had lying on the ground loose, I followed and was so busy loading and firing I saw nothing of a brigade of rebels coming down on our left till I heard a Lieut. Sing out, "retreat, boys, we are surrounded!"� Upon that I started to go back to the cornfield through which we had advanced, but I found I was so lame and tired I could hardly walk.� I tell you, the excitement of the battlefield will tire a man beyond anything I ever experienced.� I could see nothing of the Adjt., but on looking around again I saw the rebs coming down on us in the form of a V.� Just then our colors dropped, the bearer being wounded; I turned back into the storm and picked up the colors and gun and brought them off safely.� Then we rallied a few men round the old flag and took our stand behind Battery B.� The Battery boys were afraid they would lose their guns, and wanted to limber up and be off, but we told them their guns should not be taken, and General Gibbon put in a double charge of grape and sighted the gun himself.� When that charge went into the ranks of the rebels it lifted a whole windrow of them twelve feet into the air.� I saw whole bodies, arms, legs and all sorts of fragments above the corn for a moment, but they, the rebs, stopped coming towards us about that time.� That discharge carried whole rails from the fence clear into their ranks.� As I was coming off the field a solid shot came bounding over the fence into the road.� I stopped just in time to save myself; the next step would have been in its track.� I was out on the battlefield yesterday and counted about eighty dead where we fired on them.� One of the prisoners said the Sharpes rifles were too sure for them.� I fired thirty-six rounds as coolly as if shooting at a target.� Should have fired more but the officers told us to save our ammunition as the rebs were saving theirs.� We piled a perfect windrow under the fence where they lay, but it cost us dear.� Our Col. And Sergt-Major were wounded; our Adjt., 2nd Lieut of our Co. (John J. Whitman), and 1st Lieut. of Co. B. (------) killed.� Capt. of Co. A. (Dudley P. Chase) and Lieut commanding Co. C. (Dewey) and Lieut of Co. B. wounded.� Two men killed and ten wounded out of seventeen in our Co. who went into battle.� But the Iron Brigade stood its ground till reinforcements came up, and now hardly numbers 300 guns.� An officer told the Col. (Phelps) commanding our brigade he never saw men stand against such odds and in such a fire, and it was a shame if they put us in again but we are good for twice our number yet.� My sheet is full, so once more good by. |
| From your aff. Son, |
| James S. Kent |
| P.S.� Have just signed a certificate for a sick man, J.S. Kent, Corp, Com'd'g Co. G., U.S.S.S. |
| Regrettably neither Sharp Shooter would live to see final victory.� Kent died of wounds on July 4th 1863 at Gettysburg and Chadwick was discharged for disability in the Spring of 1864.� His health broken, Chadwick continued to decline until he died at home in New Hampshire on August 2, 1864. |
| "Three Cheers for the Old Iron Brigade" |
| If you immediately thought I was referring to Gen. Gibbon's regiments of Wisconsin and Indiana men (2nd, 6th, 7th Wisconsin and 19th Indiana -and later the 24th Michigan) you are not alone.� The "Black Hats" earned an enviable combat record beginning at Brawners Farm (2nd Bull Run) to the end of the War; but they are best known for their epic defense during the first day's fighting at Gettysburg.� But it would be a mistake to believe that they were the original "Iron Brigade".� Yes sir, the quickest way to bring low any swaggering Wolverine Black Hat is to inform them that it was the 22nd, 24th & 30th New York Infantry, the 14th Brooklyn "Red Legs" and the "Greencoats" of the 2nd USSS who comprised the original "Iron Brigade".� The 24th Michigan is nothing but a Johnny-come-lately usurper to the title.� |
| Tom Clemens wrote a fascinating and illuminating article for the Columbiad magazine a few years back entitled: "Black Hats off to the Original 'Iron Brigade'".�� Mr. Clemens first examined the origins of the nom de guerre as it applied to the men of Gibbon's brigade. Because the western men preferred the Regulation hat (Hardee hat, aka: "That Damn Pilgrim hat") instead of the forage cap they were known as the "Black Hat Brigade".� Their fighting ability was not lost on one of A.P. Hill's men outside Gettysburg.� When informed that they were to brush aside a few companies of local malitia he was supposed to have claimed: "Malitia-Hell! Look at them black hats, that's the Army of the Potomac up there!" |
| Legend has it that the name "Iron Brigade" originated during a conversation between Generals McClellan and Hooker as they observed the fighting of Gibbons men at the Battle of South Mountain (Turners Gap) on September 14th.� A Wisconsin veteran remembered their conversation (just how he supposedly overheard it is a mystery) went like this: |
| ��������������� McClellan: "What men are those fighting on the pike?" |
| ��������������� Hooker: "General Gibbon's Brigade of Western men." |
| ��������������� McClellan: "They must be made of iron." |
| Hooker: "By the Eternal, they are iron!� If you had seen them at Bull Run as I did, you would know them to be iron." |
| McClellan: "Why Gen. Hooker, they fight equal to the best troops in the world." |
| Great story, but Mr. Clemens demolishes this whole scenario by pointing out that Hooker commanded 3rd Corps (Gibbons men were the 4th brigade, of Doubleday's 1st Division, of Hooker's 1st Army Corps), at Bull Run--so he not only did not command Gibbon's men but he was nowhere near the fighting of the Wisconsin Brigade that day.� Gen. McClellan arrived at South Mountain in the early to mid-afternoon of the day's fighting after Hooker was already engaged in his Corps assault on Turners Gap, and he was so far behind the lines for this conversation to have occurred. |
| The first Iron Brigade was under the command of Brig. Gen. John Hatch (1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps).� Wyman White noted in his memoirs that the brigade was made up of the 22nd, 24th, 30th and 84 (14th Brooklyn "red legs") New York regiments, which for a time included the 2nd USSS.� White noted that the "Green coats" were the: "first regiment of the first brigade of the first division of the First Army Corps, our regiment having the distinction of occupying the far right of the line".� At Antietam Col. Phelps of the 22nd NYVI commanded the brigade.� Capt. Wm. N. Humphries of Co. E. 2nd USSS reported; "Our brigade was then called the 'Iron Brigade', 3 regiments of New York troops which were two-year men.� After they were mustered out Gen. Meredith's (4th) brigade took the name".� |
| With the muster out of the two year men and reduced ranks of the 14th Brooklyn and 2nd USSS eroded from the fighting at Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam, the Wisconsin-Indiana (and come December 1862 the Michigan) men were assigned to 1st brigade of 1st Division of the First Army Corps.� So they inherited the name of the former brigade as well.� You will recall in James S. Kent's letter he made the following reference: "The Iron Brigade stood its ground till reinforcements came up, and now hardly numbers 300 guns".� Kent is referring to his own comrades of the 2nd USSS/brigade of New York troops, and according to Clemens there is plenty of evidence that they are entitled to bear the distinction as the original Iron Brigade in the Army of Potomac.� Later on no less than 4 other units would lay claim to the name.� Iron was considered the hardest substance known to man at the time so there are a number of contemporary military organizations who incorporated it to reflect their unit's determination and fighting grit. |
| Clemens acknowledged that the Wisconsin men were entitled to the Iron Brigade moniker as they did more fighting over their term of service, compared to New York &; 2nd USSS troops.� But I would beg to differ.� Granted, during much of their early service the original "Iron Brigade" made it's reputation by it's marching ability, I would still challenge Mr. Clemens assertion regarding the combatability of the combined New York and USSS troops.� Phelp's brigade mustered in after the fighting at Millers cornfield with only 300 men still fit for duty.� Considering the 2nd USSS started the Bull Run campaign with nearly 700 men and arrived at Antietam before the fighting at the Cornfield with only 130 men present for duty; if the New York regiments had suffered a similar loss in their ranks, in my opinion the "Iron Brigade" is more than entitled it's laurels as a hard marching and fighting organization. |
| As a side note, Company B's original commander and founder; Curtis Poole purchased an unusual medal at the Ohio Civil War collectors exhibition in Mansfield, Ohio about 8 years ago.� It was a post-War medal in the shape of a Maltese cross struck with the names 22nd NY, 23rd NY, 30th NY, 84th NY and 2nd USSS on the wings and in the center was inscribed with "Iron Brigade". He sent a photocopy of the medal for Mr. Clemens to feature in another published version of his article. |
| WES |
| Recommended Impression Guidelines |
| ��������������� Our research shows that the sharpshooters at this time were looking rather ragged, as the reissues of clothing had been few and far between in the time they had been active from early July to just after Antietam.� Furthermore, evidence supports a severely ill-equipped unit following Fredericksburg, suggesting a long bought of not receiving adequate clothing. |
| ��������������� First and foremost, what we should aim for as far as our impression for the event are green frocks on EVERYONE.� We have little to no evidence showing that the sharpshooters were wearing blouses at this time, and we should try our best to emulate their "look."� Secondly, blue trousers should be worn if possible, and green trousers should be avoided.� Finally, NO hats should be worn.� What few hats that were worn by the USSS came into use in 1864, and at this time the sharpshooters wore their standard green forage caps.� |
| ��������������� We must bear in mind that the battle of Antietam came at the end of one of the most active campaigning seasons in which the sharpshooters ever participated.� Starting with the long overland marches and countermarches as part of McDowell's division, while they were shuffled between supporting McClellan on the peninsula and Banks in the valley, the 2nd USSS logged hundreds of miles.� Soon, McDowell's division was amalgamated into Pope's Army of Virginia and was in some of the thickest fighting of the Second Bull Run campaign in late August.� After the disorganized retreat to Washington, the 2nd was added along with the rest of Phelp's brigade to the 1st corps, Army of the Potomac, and two days before Antietam stormed the summit of South Mountain.� After pursuing the routed rebels down from the mountain, the 2nd participated heavily in the cornfield, where they lost a great number of their men.� |
| ��������������� The 2nd started this campaigning season with approximately 500 men, but at the end of September 17th barely 100 answered the roll call in the morning.� Most companies were mere skeletons of their former selves, and some companies, such as our Company B, were being led by NCOs.� We should do our best to look the part of worn veterans for this event.� Mud and dust encrusted, with torn pant legs and very little equipment beyond the standard accouterments every infantryman had to carry. �And just to sweeten the deal, a bounty of a FREE crab dinner will be provided to the most ragged member in the unit, by our beloved 1st sergeant.� This contest will be judged by him alone, and members must be within these guidelines to be eligible.� In a perfect world, all of us would have dusty blue trousers covered by dusty green coats, half of us would be barefoot, and the other half would have shoes that were falling apart, (many sharpshooters were issued shoes with compressed PAPER soles, that would wear out in a few hours!)� Now I realize that we cannot expect to look like this, and none of us wants to ruin our expensive wool trousers, but this is a unique opportunity to have fun with our impressions.� So go to it gentlemen, do what you can to look your worst, and I'll see you all there! |
| Faithfully Submitted, |
| Dan |
| ~ By Bill ~ |
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