Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-09-28
Extracts from Diary Kept while in the Army
of the P0t0mae-4 review OF Battles. Skirm-
fshes, Marches. sc. of the end Wis. Vols.
CHAPTER VIII.
BATTLE OF ANrIETAM-lSe

BATTLE OF ANTIETAM-1S62.
Sept 16-During the forenoon we lax
in position a little TO the right of the
Sharpsburg road, near Antietam river
and in the afternoon Hookers corps, con
sistlng of Ricketts,, Meades, and Double
day S divisions, cross to the south side oi
the Antietam to attack and If possible
turn the enemy's left flank The enemy
were met and engaged by Gen. Meade 5
| division and driven; darkness coming on
we rest for the night on our arms
Distance marched, 3 miles
Sept l7.-At daybreak we are aroused
by sharp firing of the pickets to our left
we Immediately fall into line and advance
nearly parallel to the road leading toward
Sharpsburg. In cornfeld just before
reaching the white church, we become
holly engaged with the enemy's infantry,
and after nearly an hours contest, becom-
ing fatigued, getting short of ammunition
and suffering a heavy loss, we are relieved
by a second line of infantry, and fall to
the rear, forming reserve line in the
forenoon and later IN the day supporting
battery near where W. bivouacked during
the previous night, subjected to a very
heavy artillery fire till late in the after
noon.
In this engagement the regiment suffer
ed loss of % killed and y wounded
from 165 engaged.
BY sunset the firing is discontinued
along the whole length of the lines of the
right wing, with but little advantage in
oar favor; and on the extreme left an oc-
casional gun is heard several miles beloy
Night closes the scene, and we again BIZ
vouac on bloody field.
Sept, 1S-Remain on the battle field
and under arms all day. Everything is
very quiet, still the enemy are in strong
force in our front Details are sent to
bury our dead, where it can be done with =
out exposing them to the enemy's pick
cts.
Sept. I9-We march across the battle
field and camp near the Potomac, about a
mile west of Sharpsburg Distance,
miles
For several days details are made to
bury the enemy's dead, left on the field.
This work was very unpleasant as the
weather was warm and decomposition had
set in.
Sept. 29-Move camp southwark about
two miles, where we remain resting, re-
cruiting and drilling for several weeks -
The men were much fatigued in the cam
paigns since Aug, 10.
Oct 1O.-The oath Michigan, new
regiment, Col. Henry a. Morrow, joins
the brigade
Oct 20.-Break camp and march to Ba-
kersville, Nd, and camp. Dis tance, 7
miles
Oct 26.-Break camp about l o'clock
p m, ard march through Keedysville to-
wards Champions Gap Hard rain
Distance, 12 miles.
Oct 27-Through Pleasant Valley,
cross South Mountains at Champions $
Gap, through Burketsyille and Pctersville
Middle Valley, towards the Potomac-S
miles.
Oct. 30.-Cross the Potomac at Berlin
aed march to LoyettsviIle, Virginia.
miles
November 1-March to Perccllville-7
miles
Nov. 3.-Maros to snickorsyille-5
miles.
Nov. 4.-Bein2 the day for elections,
we open polls by companies in the regi-
ment, and vote according to law
Gen. Gibbon is today assigned to the
command Of Ricketts, division, and the
command of our brigade devolyes upon
Col Morrow, 9th Michigan
In the afternoon we march to Bloom
field-4 miles.
Nov. 5.-Narch to Rcctortown Dis
tance, 20 miles.
Nov 6.-March to Warrenton. Dis
tance, IS miles
Nov. I've lay in bivouac- Snow
storm
Nov 9.-Col Cutler, 9Th Wis, who has
been absent on account Of wounds, re
turns, and by virtue of his rank assumes
command of our brigade.
Nov. l0.-The army is reviewed by
Generals Mcclellan and Burnside, the
/ former issuing his farewell order on re-
iinquishing command, and the latter his
on assuming command of the army of the
Potamac Upon this occasion we see
soldiers with downcast looks, openly ex-
press dissatisfaction, who never did the
like before Whether Mcclellan had been
as successful as he should have been or
not. he had the confidence of some of the
best soldiers in the army to a remarkable
degree. His name is referred to with en-.
thusiasm, and brave men shed tears on
+ the occasion of his leaving.
/ Nov ll.-March to Fayette, 6 miles.
Nov 17-March to Morrisville, lC
Villas