Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-10-02

Passing along the turnpike, we came to the
brick church or school house, often mentioned,
near which JACKsoN's batteries were stationed.
1t was completely riddled with shot. In the
beautiful grove adjacent hundreds of men had
been slain, and the soldiers were then gather
ing their bodies for burial Men with rails
approached dead rebel, rail was placed
under his knees and another under his shoul
ders, when the men at each end of the rails
carried him 10 convenient spot, where they
were placed side by side, to the number of from
twenty to fifty A file of men dug a trench
at their heads, the dead were placed therein
carefully, and covered We saw several trench
es which had been filled and a shiDgle placed
at the head. One read as follows -
|
| 80 DEAD REBS.
Killed in Battle
Sept II, 1922
The places of interment of the dead, ,howev-
er, as far as known, are marked SO they can
be fonnd by friends. The Union dead were
mostly Recognized by their acquaintance, but
of course there was no means of aScertaining
the names of the rebels.
Leav ing the turnpike at the church, we
passed to the front, over the plain where the
heaviest of the conflict took place. Here the
dead had all been gathered one vast trench
had just been filed and beside another partly
dug lay row of dead rebels at least fifty in
number. Dead horses dotted the field, with
occasionally broken artillery wheel. The
muskets had been gathered, and placed in piles
rods in length. Shells, broken and unexploded,
cartridges, canteens, cartridge boxes, were to
be found at every step A rail fence behind
which the rebels had rallied, was riddled with
balls and the ground covered with all the hor
rid testimonials that death had sped his shafts
fast and thick A soldier pointed out where
the 1920 Penna. had stood during the fight.
He said they fought like veterans. (This is a
new regiment of nine months men, in which
Nare the Canton and Troy companies.
Passing along. We came to the ground where
| Meagher'S Irish brigade made their Charge
In front, the plain ends in hill, which is
quite steep, and difficult Of ascent. The whole
rebel line, in fact, was posted upon the brow
of crescent shaped ridge, and in most ad-
rantageous position. To gain the top of the
hill our troops were exposed to a severe and
CALLING fire from the rebels who fired from the
top, and then retired out of sight to load
AS the Union forces gained the top they were
exposed to the fire of batteries ,ted uear the
| turnpike, which fired over the heads of the
rebels snugly eDsconsed in corn field and
road, which answered admrabl as rifle pit.
| They were diSlodged by bayonet charge,
! leaving the road filled with dead and the corn.
! field trodden down, and strewn with slain
| In very small space, over three hundred
dead rebels were counted. ln the road which
skirted the corn field and was washed by the
action of rain to the depth of from two to
four feet were the most abundant evidences of
carnage The road was literally paved with
articles of clothing and equipments, and at
every foot was seen the dark stain where the
soil had drank the life blood of warriors The
bodies had been removed, but we were told
| by those who had assisted in removing them
that the road was covered with dead rebels,
and in places filled up with their bodies
The morbid curiosity which led US to this
dreadful place, was soon satisfied, and we
turned with disgust from the sights which met
US at every step One incident alone, served
to relieve the horrid aspect of the scene, as if
to show that the kntler instincts were not all
obliterated by battle and blood. AS we came
near the road we have described, the soldiers
brought in wounded rebel found in heap
of san who was still breathing, ,notwithstand-
ing he had lain uncared for three days With
the tendcrest care, his wounds were dressed
and every effort made to save him. He had
been shot in the top of the head, the BAH pass.
ing around the skull, and out at the temple
Half an hour afterwards he was still alive, and
those around him were watching him with as
much anxiety as if be was a friend instead of
a rebel
Going back to our wagon, we passed on the
turnpike to Sharpsburg Along the road for
two miles dead rebels lay in their grey uni
forms, sleeping the sleep of death, and putrefy-
ing in the sun. The forest groves showed the
effects of shot and shell and bullets. Large
trees were cut down, their branches torn off,
or marred by the effects of cannon and musket
balls The farm houses showed the marks of
battle. The stone fences on both sides of the
turnpike had been battered by cannon balls.
Several buildings had been burned, which af-
forded protection to the rebel forces. Arrv-
iug at Sharpsburg, the town was filled with
soldiers, and the streets jammed with trains of
wagons and cavalry. We finally found no.
tel, the occupants of which had returned but
two hours before. Opposite stood tall pole,
which had been struck by a ball, about mid
way from the ground, and on the corner oppo-
site, hotel had huge hole in the roof Most
of the houses in Sharpsburg had been injured
1t was nearly dark when we left Sharpsburg
on our return to Hagerstown. We were stop
ped in the street by long train of wagons,
artillery and infantry, the latter guarding $50
rebel prisoners. The rebels were ragged, dir.
ty, and many of them shoeess, as were oil the
rebels We have the opportunity of seeing All
accounts represent the rebel army as heing in
distress for want of clothing shoes, aud pro-
visions, and that their men fight desperately
in hope of relieving their necessities. They are
clad in dirty grey uniform, with hats of all
kinds and colors. They have no tents, but
bivouac wherever night overtakes them, and
subsist mostly by foraging. The haversacks
we saw upon the battle field, contained iu