1862.
THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.
The next morning dawned beautifully; little did we imagine that that
bright sun would be obscured by the smoke of battle, the field we trod
ploughed with shot, flow with blood, and planted thick with the dead.
Scarcely had the sun risen when a shell from the enemy dropped not far
from our force, which was quietly resting upon their arms near the
crest of a low knoll a short distance from the enemy's position.
Immediately another followed, a twelve pounder crashed diagonally
through the Eighth Connecticut, killing three men instantly, and
wounding four in Company D.
The position was changed for one less exposed, but in getting there
the troops were obliged to pass under a deadly fire from a rebel
battery stationed at short range distance. In this undertaking the
Sixteenth lost three wounded. We lay here perhaps two hours, and had a
good view of the battle on the right, which had by this time assumed a
fearful magnitude. Along the western banks of the Antietam River,
there runs, with a gradual rise of undulating ground, a
crescent-shaped ridge, presenting its concave side to the river. The
top of this ridge spreads out into a broad tableground of forests and
ravines. A series of timbered-covered hills surrounded this ridge;
some of the adjacent hills had been cleared of the forest, and were
covered with orchards and cornfields, enclosed with fences of rails or
stone. Behind this ridge runs the road from Hagerstown to Sharpsburg
and Shepardstown. Sharpsburg is just in the rear of the ridge.
Along these hills the rebel lines were posted, four miles in extent.
Their position was exceedingly strong, protected by ravines and
forests. Every commanding crest bristled with artillery, and the
forests were planted thick with infantry. The extreme right of the
rebel line was within three-fourths of a mile of the Potomac; in
front, and along their left flank, flowed the Antietam, winding
through a wooded ravine, with banks too high and with waters too deep
to permit a crossing, except at two fords, at some distance from each
other. Between these distant fords there were three bridges; on the
right, at the center, and on the left. These bridges were strongly
guarded. The federal troops were on the east side of the Antietam,
behind a low range of hills, lying at the base of the Blue Ridge.
These eminences were generally commanded by the heights held by the
rebels. General Lee had certainly chosen a very strong position.
The Eleventh Connecticut now received orders from General Burnside to
take the bridge, after the batteries had shelled the woods on the
other side, and hold it until General Rodman could march his column
over. At about nine o'clock the Sixteenth again formed and marched
about a mile, first through a corn-field, and finally into a valley
where they halted in an orchard. While passing through the cornfield
the men stripped themselves of blankets, overcoats, and all luggage
that would impede the progress of marching or the use of firearms.
After filling our canteens from a brook near by, we marched up a steep
hill that seemed almost impossible to surmount, then down on the other
side and into Antietam river, which we forded and marched to a side
hill. Soon in plain sight could be seen a rebel battery dashing
intrepidly forward and planting itself directly in range of the
Sixteenth.
By this time the rebel batteries were all roaring. They opened on us
in all their fury. The air was filled with bullets and fiendish
missiles. Hundreds of cannon were now aimed at us; grape and
cannister, marbles and railroad iron were showered down like rain. The
crest of the hill was a great protection to the Sixteenth, and only
about a dozen were disabled. A battery was ordered up to engage the
enemy, but it was whirled back in less than five minutes, losing every
officer, seven men, and five horses. To see those men stand there and
be shot down till they received orders to retire was a fearful sight.
It was half past three o'clock; the Fourth Rhode Island and the
Sixteenth Connecticut were ordered into a cornfield, and they moved
forward quite a distance in advance of the army at their right; we
here laid down letting the shot and shell pass over us.
In the meanwhile the Division of A.P. Hill, which had arrived from
Harper's Ferry, and joined Lee's army, were coming into this cornfield
from the opposite side, unobserved; at the same time Company H,
(Captain Barber,) had been thrown out in advance as a vidette to
prevent being surprised. At four o'clock McClellan sent orders to
Burnside to advance, and carry the batteries in his front at all
hazards and at any cost. Burnside's corps was charging. General Rodman
observed that the rebels were about to flank us and get in our rear,
and ordered the Fourth Rhode Island, and Sixteenth Connecticut to
swing to the left that we might face them, but at that particular
moment the rustling of cornstalks warned us that the rebels were on
us. Colonel Beach gave the order 'Attention!' While this order was
being executed a terrible volley was fired into us. Volley after
volley in quick succession was hurled into our midst. The Sixteenth
sprang up and returned the fire with good effect; some fixed bayonets,
advanced, and were captured. The most helpless confusion ensued. Our
men fell by scores on every side. Still our position was obstinately
maintained, until ordered to fall back. The rebels discovered the
disorder, and came on us in heavy column.
While we were falling back to cover near the bridge we were swept by a
destructive cross-fire, and the rebels becoming entangled in this
cross-fire extricated themselves and fell back to the stone wall. The
Eighth, Eleventh, and Sixteenth Connecticut, and the Fourth Rhode
Island, re-formed and were placed in position for defence. At this
time General Burnside's messenger rode up to McClellan. His message
was, "I want troops and guns. If you do not send them I cannot hold my
position for half an hour." McClellan said slowly: "Tell General
Burnside that this is the battle of the war. He must hold his ground
till dark at any cost. I will send him Miller's Battery; I can do no
more. I have no infantry." Then as the messenger was riding away he
called him back. "Tell him if he cannot hold his ground, then the
bridge, to the last man! always the bridge! If the bridge is lost, all
is lost." The enemy was pressing down hard upon the battery which had
been placed on the crest in front of the Eleventh. Burnside called for
aid and General Rodman having been killed, Colonel Harland took
command of the division, re-formed the disorganized regiments, and by
his bravery the unsupported battery was rescued from capture.
The fighting was ended. It was indeed a fearful day for the Sixteenth.
Without having time allowed to learn even the rudiments of military
science, it was hurried forward and was formed in regimental line
almost for the first time on the battle-field of Antietam, the
bloodiest day America ever saw. After sunset the brigade was relieved,
and retired across the river to reorganize and be ready for the duties
which they might be called upon to do when another day should come.
Arms were stacked, and the tired soldiers laid down to rest. Of all
gloomy nights, this was the saddest we ever experienced. All was quiet
and silent as the grave. The stacks of straw which the rebels had
fired burned slow and dimly. The cries and groans of the wounded that
lay on the battle-field could be heard distinctly, and the occasional
report of artillery sounded solemn and death-like.
The morning of the 18th dawned. The sun rose obscurely and there was a
fair prospect of rain. The Sixteenth had gone into the battle with 940
men. Some not being able to endure the hard marching had been left at
Frederick City. On this morning we could muster but 300 men; but
during the day about 200 joined the regiment who wore unable to find
it the previous evening. It was a sorry sight that morning as General
Burnside rode up to encourage the men, who supposed, of course, that
the battle would be resumed, said, "only hold out this day, boys, and
the war is ended." Colonel Harland's brigade was once more moved
forward, and stationed in line of battle near the bridge, which
General Burnside had been ordered to hold at all hazards. Here they
remained until the next morning, when the bridge was crossed, and the
Sixteenth detached from the brigade to bury their dead, and care for
the wounded who were still lying upon the field. The casualties in the
Sixteenth were as follows: Lieut. Col. F.W. Cheney wounded in the arm,
Maj. Geo. A. Washburn wounded severely in the groin, Captains Manross,
Drake, and Brown instantly killed, Captain Barber mortally wounded,
dying; about fifteen hours after, Captains Babcock and Hayden wounded,
Lieut. William Horton killed, and four lieutenants wounded.
Thirty-eight enlisted men were killed outright. A great many of the
men were mortally wounded and died within twenty-four hours after the
battle, so that on the 19th, two days after the battle, when the
regiment was detailed to bury the dead and pick up the wounded, the
recapitulation stood as follows: Killed, 4 captains, 1 lieutenant, and
51 enlisted men; wounded, 2 field officers, 2 captains, 4 lieutenants,
and 176 enlisted men; captured, 12 enlisted men and 180 missing,
making a total loss of 432 men. For forty-eight hours men were
brought in. Parties scoured the fields hunting for the wounded. Many
had crept out of the storm of battle and hidden under fences, or among
rocks, or in thickets, and their strength failing, they could neither
come forth, or make known their situation. Some of the badly wounded
did not have any attention for several days. All houses and barns were
converted into hospitals, and yards and fields were strewn with straw
and the wounded laid, there without shelter. Surgeons worked hard day
and night, taking rest only when unable to stand up from weariness. At
one of these hospitals about 25 of the Sixteenth were placed. Nothing
was to be heard but cries, groans, and entreaties. Here Captain Barber
lay in about the center of a barn, quiet, happy, and contented with
his lot. The wounded lay around him on every side. He said that he
could not live long, and spoke encouraging words to all. Gilbert B.
Foster, of Co. A, who died November 13th, was also here. In a room
about 12x20 a bloody table stood and around it were five surgeons. A
wounded man was laid on the table and it took but a few seconds for
them to decide what to do, and but a few minutes to do it. The
amputated limbs were thrown out of a window. In forty-eight hours
there were as many as two cart loads of amputated legs, feet, arms,
and hands in the pile. Plenty of men, most of them slightly wounded,
were hard at work carrying the wounded to and fro, making beds of
straw, hauling and cutting wood, cooking, feeding, and assisting in a
thousand ways.
(On the afternoon of the 18th, a heavy shower, lasting an hour, made
it very uncomfortable for those not sheltered.)
"Captain Drake was the most gentlemanly man in the regiment," said
Surgeon Mayer. "He was the very soul of courtesy and unaffected
dignity of deportment. He always had a quiet care for his men, when
they were sick, and was a marked favorite with them, as well as with
comrades in the line."
"Capt. Barber was especially noticeable for his religious character,
earnest convictions, and high regard for duty. His patriotism was of
sterling mould, and he was a brave and intelligent officer."
"Captain N.S. Manross, of Bristol, was a man of learning and varied
accomplishments. He graduated at Yale in the class of 1850. In 1861,
Dr. Manross accepted the position of Professor of Chemistry and Botany
in Amherst College, where he was very popular and successful. Previous
to this he had been to Europe, attended German lectures, and took the
degree of doctor of philosophy. He invented a machine for the cutting
of crystals from calc-spar. During vacation, he returned to Bristol,
Conn., where he made a patriotic speech to his fellow-citizens, and
consented to lead them to the field. Said he to his wife, "You can
better afford to have a country without a husband than a husband
without a country." His men loved him. While the regiment was in the
cornfield and the baffle was raging the fiercest, a cannon-ball struck
Captain Manross in the side and passed under his arm. A friend bending
over him heard him murmuring, "Oh, my poor wife, my poor wife!"
Prof. James D. Dana said of him, "His death is a great loss to the
scientific world." Prof. B. Silliman, Jr., says "As an explorer, Dr.
Manross possessed remarkable qualifications. To a rugged constitution
and great powers of endurance, he united great coolness, quiet but
undaunted demeanor, the courage of a hero, and unyielding
perseverance. Had he lived--but what need is there of conjecture now?
The world will never know its loss, but his friends will never forget
theirs."[1]
On the 19th, the Sixteenth were employed in gathering up the dead and
wounded. This was a very unpleasant duty, making many of the men sick.
Forty of the men were buried that afternoon side by side, under a
large tree, near the stonewall, where the hardest of the battle was
fought.
BELINDA SPRINGS, ANTIETAM IRON WORKS, AND PLEASANT VALLEY.
The following day the regiment rejoined their brigade at Belinda
Springs, a distance of two miles, and moved thence to Antietam Iron
Works on the 26th. Here sickness prevailed to a great extent, and but
few men could be reported for duty. On the afternoon of September 23d,
Messrs. E.N. Kellogg, J.M.B. McNary and W.H.D. Callender, of Hartford,
Conn., came into camp. Crowds gathered around them, anxious to learn
the news from home, and to send letters and messages. It seems that at
10 P.M., Saturday, Sept. 20th, a dispatch was received at Hartford,
that the Sixteenth had suffered severely and that Lieut. Col. Cheney
was killed. It was thought best that these gentlemen should proceed to
the battle-field, and carry out such arrangements for the care of the
dead and wounded as they thought best; they accordingly left Hartford
on the midnight train, reaching the regiment as stated above. By this
time the dead were all buried, and most of the wounded had been taken
to various hospitals. Lieut. Col. Cheney and Major Washburn were at
this time at Boonsboro.
On October 3d, the entire army was reviewed by President Lincoln. The
Vice-President and several Congressmen were present. On October 7th,
the regiment marched over the mountain into Pleasant Valley, a
distance of about six miles. This march, though short, was a very hard
one; the path being very narrow, only admitting one at a time in some
places, and so steep and rocky that it was very hard to surmount with
our heavy loads. At the top of the mountain the troops halted an hour
for rest. Here we had an extended view of the surrounding country. We
could see a great distance, and the scenery was magnificent. At the
camp in Pleasant Valley the regiment suffered severely from sickness,
and when the army again took up its line of march, they could muster
but few effective men. At this place a large number of promotions and
appointments were made to fill vacancies.
MARCH TO FALMOUTH.
On October 28th we struck tents at 8 A.M. and after "falling in" we
were once more "on the march." We passed through Knoxville and Berlin.
At Berlin we crossed the Potomac on a pontoon bridge. Once more we
trod the "sacred soil" of Virginia. Passing through Lovettsville, we
halted at 2 P.M. and encamped about a mile from the village. On
October 30th reveille was sounded at 3 A.M. By the time the men had
struck tents and packed up, the cooks had plenty of hot coffee ready,
which is the soldier's breakfast, and at sunrise we were again _on the
march_. We passed through a village called Burlington and encamped at
11 A.M. near Wheatland. Saturday, November 1st, there was heavy firing
in front during the afternoon. Orders were given to be ready to march
at a moment's notice. The next day we began to march at 9 A.M. with
five days rations. We passed through Princeville and Goose Creek. The
heavy firing in front continued. We halted at 7 P.M. and went into
camp. The next day we marched during the afternoon, passing through
Union. Artillery firing was heard ahead. On November 5th we struck
tents and were on the march at 8 A.M. At 2 P.M. the entire army was
drawn up in line of battle about a mile beyond Rectorsville, the
artillery doing the fighting. After resting on our arms all night we
commenced to march at 8 A.M., making fifteen miles during the day. We
were following the enemy up closely. November 7th was a tedious and
rough day. Snow fell most of the day, and at least one-third of the
regiment were without shoes. We marched to a place called Waterloo,
within five miles of Warrenton. Colonel Beach, being absent sick,
Lieut. Col. Cheney and Maj. Washburn wounded, Capt. Mix was in
command. On the 9th of November some Rebel cavalry broke through our
lines and were making a raid around the army. Coming very near us at 4
P.M. the long roll beat and without packing up and hardly having time
to put on our equipments, we double-quicked up the mountain and took
position in ambush, where we staid till the morning of the 11th, when
we returned to the old camp.
For several days rations had been very scarce, hard crackers selling
as high as twenty-five cents each. Rations of pork, beans, and
potatoes finally came on the 11th, and the next day some hard bread,
which was very wormy. Rations not being plenty, the men went foraging,
and obtained large quantities of honey. One man who was detailed in
the Quartermaster's Department, who always had considerable _lip_, was
successful enough to get two water-pails full. While eating some in
the night he was stung by a bee, and the next morning he had about
four inches of _lip_, which was rather more than we had seen him have
before.
On November 15th, we commenced to march at eight o'clock in the
morning. After marching about three hours, we suddenly halted on the
Warrenton turnpike, near Sulphur Springs. Here the cavalry and light
batteries had a little set-to with the rebels, in which the rebels got
worsted and retreated, leaving two wagons loaded with muskets, which
they set on fire. After filing to the left through the woods, and into
a hollow near the road, we drew up into line of battle for the night.
On Sunday, November 16th, we marched twenty miles, passing through the
town of Liberty. The next day we marched from noon till eight in the
evening, passing through Elk Run. On November 18th, the reveille was
sounded at three A.M. We marched from six A.M. till five P.M., making
a very long and hard march, and many of the men fell out from
exhaustion.
On November 19th, the reveille sounded at five A.M., and at eight
o'clock we were once more on the march. A hard rain-storm which had
set in the night before made the road in this region from three to
eight inches deep with mud. During the march we forded four streams,
knee deep. We passed through Spottsville and Falmouth.
FALMOUTH, CAMP STARVATION.
We encamped opposite the city of Fredericksburg, at half past two in a
drenching rain, having made a hundred and seventy-five miles in twelve
days. The field where the regiment encamped was very even ground, and
the water stood on it from half an inch to two inches deep. The mud
was about four inches deep. The men were completely exhausted from
scanty rations, and foot-sore from long marches. The rain coming down
in torrents, the soldiers were wet through to the skin. Fires could
not be built, and tents could not be raised. Little or no sleep did
the troops get that night. The next day was very cold, and it was
still raining. The batteries opened on the city for about two hours in
the morning.
On November 21st, the sun once more showed itself after a long
absence, and the men were enabled to dry their clothes, build fires,
cook and eat salt junk, pour down hot coffee, and once more felt in
good spirits.
On the 26th, General Sumner reviewed the entire corps.
On December 3d, Arthur D.N. Talcott, of Company "A," died in camp, and
was buried at sundown.
When the regiment left camp near Fairfax Seminary on the 7th of
September, they left their knapsacks with contents under charge of a
guard. A few days after they were sent to Washington, and there
stored. These were returned to us on the 3d of December. They were
very welcome at this time, the weather now being very cold. The snow
was three inches deep, and there was plenty of ice. For nearly three
months a number of the men had been without blankets. About this time
Governor Morgan of New York sent us a taste of home. Each man had
three apples, two onions, and half a pickle, and the smoking men had
half a paper of tobacco each. These went down with a genuine relish.
At this time Capt. Charles L. Upham, of the Eighth Connecticut
Volunteers, was placed in command of the regiment.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Military and Civil History of Connecticut.