The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-04-02

! Dilu2t al pCtJ GCLO"b W. nCl1NId Jul - ~
ring the small hours of the night through the
national metropolis passing our first camp
near 7th Street we continued a northerly
course camping about nine miles from Wash
ington 4 o'clock next day. During the next
six DAYS we made quiet and easy marches,
passing through the small towns of Mechan-
~icville and Cookville, New Lisbon and New
Market, Cat which last two places the rebels
had paid visits only a short time previous !
we came up to, and camped on the banks Of
the Monocacy on Saturday the 18th. Before
us lay the city of Frederick, with the beauti-
full and rich valley of the Monocacy while
the Blue Ridge occupied the back ground !;
this view as seen by the reflected light of the
setting sun was one of the finest landscape
scenes imaginable.
On the morning of the eventful 18th we
again fell in and took up the line Of march,
crossing the Monocacy and passing through
the city of Frederick, when we met with q
most cordial and hearty welcome; the Stars
and stripes were waving from nearly every
building, while the streets were thronged with
ladies and children all bidding us God speed.
Heavy cannonading was now being heard III
front, proceeding from the mountains as our
forces were gradually dislodging and driving
lllG GtDCIS 1IOll bIlClt oCIOllS pOolbAOLos AA"N
ing at Missletown for a hastily prepared din
ner, we again got under way and very soon
discovered the scene of action by the smoke
from the Union and rebel guns. The Iron
Brigade were halted about half a mile from the
gorge leading over South Mountain, where
it lay dormant and silent spectators of the
severe artillery duel that was being kept up
between the two armies. Late that afternoon
it became apparent that if the pass was taken
at all it would have to be by storm, and while
other forces had been sent to the right and
left for the purpose of hanking the rebel posi-
ton, at 5 o'clock P. NJ. our brigade headed
by the invincible Gibbon filed out and took
the turnpike road lsading to the gorge. Pass
ing within short range, our battery was plac-
ed in position and opened fire, while the bri-
gade were placed to the right and left as
supports. The rapid and accurate firing from
our battery was too much for southern chival-
ry to stand their guns were soon silenced,
when an advance of our whole line was order
ed, and in a few minutes the Iron brigade were
~encountering face TO face the rebel gray backs.
This again like the Gainesville battle, and
about the same hour of the day, was short;
short and decisive; the rebel lines were brok-
en-. and i'll haste and confusion they fled from
the field leaving the ground thickly strewn
with their dead and dying. Darkness now
having set in, the brigade held their position,
watching and awaiting the mex mornings
dawn, expecting with its return a renewal OF
the strife, but the enemy had all fled under
cover of the night, and nothing remained now
to do, but to follow up their retreat, which
was done after hastily buryiDg our dead and
caring for our wounded.
The taking of this mountain pass by our
brigade was witnessed by the General com
handing from a high point of ground near hy,
and a few days after the battle, the brigade re-
ceived the following compliment embodied in
a special order as follows: 1t is with great
qualification that the Brigadier Genera
commanding announces to the Wiscon-
sin troops the following endorsement upon a
letter to his excellency the Governor OF Wis
consin. His greatest pride Will always be to
know that such encomiums from such a source
are ALWAYS merited. Il beg to add to this
endorsement the expression of my great adj
miration of the three Wisconsin regiments in
Gen. Gibbons Brigade. Ihave seen them un-
der fire acting i'll a manner that reflects the
greatest possible credit and honor upon them
selves and their State.
They ore eq,mL to tie best troops IN oay ar
mn IN the vOrj6,
CSirned) GEORGE 3. MCCLELLAN.
Crossing the mountain, we saw many fear
full evidences Of the stubbornly contested pass.
Boonsboro a small town about two miles furth-
er on, was filled with their wounded and dy-
ing. Our column here filed off to the left,
making a straight line for Antietam, passing
through Kingsville. Late in theday We halt
ed on the banks ofthe Antietam water, on the
evening of Sept. 10th while the rear guard OF
the rebel army occupied the opposite side.
Considerable firing was kept upon both sides
during the 10th when late in the afternoon
the brigade forded the Antietam, marching
some three miles bearing to the right Of the
main body of the rebel army, took their po-
sition i'll line Of battle, when laying IN thei1
arms they awaited the coming morrow. The
first sound that greeted the ear, just as the
gray dawn began to appear III the eastern
horizon was the boom OF cannon at different
points along the lines, which was the dread.
full note Of preparation for a general engage.
ment.
The sun had not more than fully risen be
fore the battle was inaugurated, and the vast
number O engineso of war were scattering deatt
and destruction in every direction. 1t was
not long after this that infantry became en-
gagged, when volley answered volley of mus
kerry, and at the sam1 time ~cannonading be
came more and more cree, until one contin
uOus and incessant roar, with the hideou.
scream and whistle of flying shot and shell
was all that could be heard. 1t were utterly
impossible for me to fully describe the scene
if | wished to no pen or pencil has yet beer
able to fully portray the scenes and horrors
OF the battle field. Language seems to lose it,
meaning, while we stand with awe and amaze
ment and see the work of death and destruc
ton going on. Thus the battle ragged from
early morn, until the sun had disappeared il
the western horizon without interruption; th'
two at times seemed to sway to and fro, lik'
the staggering drunken man, while they wer
driving each other, or in turn were being driv
Ell. At times it would seem impossible to pre-
vent our lines from being broken, as brigad
after brigade Of fresh rebel troops would pres
and charge up to some favorite position 0
battery. 1t was at one of these critical time
that Gen. Mcclellan and staff came riding
up; his appearance on the battle field at thi
critical moment inspired our exhausted an
worn out troops with new courage, and witt
one deafening Shout of victory, they stooC
and turned the overwhelming tide. On thi
occasion it was that dying and wounded vet
Grams raised their feeble arms and voices an,
Joined in the shout for their tatorite comman
Ider. Thus ended the memorable and never t
he forgotten 18th day of September, and Will
thousands lay scattered on the field of battl
in the cold embrace of death, and other thous
ands were WI thing with pain and agon
from the the effects of their wounds in ever
!, conceivable state and form, our living heroe
still maintained their position and held tn
field.
Every house, barn, shed OF stable that woul
afford the least comfort or protection for mile
around was filled with our wounded, and Ell
crossed the attention of the surgeons. Th
/, 18th was spent in about the same position
no fighting occurred during the day, and a
/ our wounded were gathered up from the fel
/ and as well cared for as could be. On the l9t
/ the rebel army having fallen back and abaI
4 doned the field, our army advanced, TO nee
= the Potomac. crossing that portion of the tiel