Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-18
FIRST EDITION..
THE FIRST DELAWARE REGIMENT.

The second annual reunion of the surviving
members Of the First Delaware Regiment Vol
unteers was held, yesterday, the 18th anniversa
ry OF the battle Of Antietam, in Bradford's build
ing. There was a very fair audience, and Col
John W. Andrews presided. The battle flags oil
the regiment and the sword and belt OF Gen
Thos. A, Smyth were displayed conspicuously in
the room.
The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev
| T. l.. TompkinaOn.
The annual address was then delivered by
Gen Daniel WOodail the main part of which we
publish below
The Executive Committee reported that the
| Historical Society had consented to become the
custodians of the battle flags and other relics in
| the possession of the regiment
| An election for officers resulted as follows
President-Gen. Daniel Woodall.
LIST -President-Leut. Col. Joseph @.
| Nichols.
End vice-President- DAVID r.. Hig-
| mutt.
secy-Capt. e. P. Grubb.
| Assistant-Lieut, Thos. d. G Smyth.
| Corresponding Sec'y-Msjor Richard Hayes
Treasurer-Lieut. ]. Park Postles
| 1t was, on motion, decided to transfer Gen.
| Smyth's name to the roll of honor to be composed
| of the names OF the members Of the regiment
who were killed in battle or died Of wounds there
/ inflicted.
An Executive Committee was appointed, con-
| sisting of W. p. SaVie, ]. W. Mccullough. T.
d. O. Smyth, Benz. Bogia and NJ. W. Macklin.
The next place of meeting was fixed for Will
mingtOn Oh the 18th OF December, 1874, the day
after the 18th anniversary of the battle of Fred
ericsburg.
On motion of ]. Park Postles, a Committee Of
| five ordered to consult with the soldiers
Monument Association in regard to the indebt
edness on the monument, and, il deemed advi-
sable, TO cooperate with the Association in the
| liquidation OF the debt. Mr.. Postles was made
chairman OF the committee, with the authority
to select the remainder.
On motion of W. p. SaVille, Historical So
ciety of five members, of which he was after
wards made chairman with power to fill vacan-
cies, created to collect historical facts con-
nected with the regiment
GEN. wooDALL's SPEECH.
Reviewing briefly the situation of the two ar
mics, the Gen. proceeded as follows:
"In the meantime our Brigade under Gen.
Max Weber, which was then lying at Suffolk,
Va, received orders TO join the Army at the Po-
tomac In Maryland. and on the 8th Of Septem-
ber We broke camp. 1t was day Of rejoicing
in our regiment. We had been drilling for more
than year, and with the exception OF an occa-
siona ecout up the Peninsula during the winter
OF 1862, and the taking of Norfolk and Suf-
folk, we had not actively participated in the
war.
50 y On the morning Of the 10th we
took up our line of march for Antieam, passing
out 1ennsylYdula ave. Ill COlumn OF companies
which extended from sidewalk to sidewalk. Five
years later the First Delaware-now Veterans
passed out that same Avenue on It's triumphal
review; but how changed Scarcely a shadow
Of its former self it's youthful, buOyant spirit
was gone Having passed through untold trials
defeats and triumphs- its work was at last
accomplished, and now the all absorbing thought
and hope was for home and rest -
"Crossing tho Monococy river on the evening
of the 18th, we encamped near it's western bank
Onr pafiO nf aalk hod Biv
and here we received supply OF fresh mutton,
&c. During our march on the 14th we could
hear the cannonading Of the battle of South
Mountain. That night we spent near Frederick,
when we came up with the rear of the army
The afternoon of the 18th we reached Middle-
town, where we went into camp for the night.
Our provisions were almost exhausted, and no
prospect of getting more till the next day, when
we would join the main army.
"On the morning of the 10th, we passed
through Turner's Gap, over the battle field of
the l4th, where the gallant Reno fell. We pass
cd down the western slope of South Mountain,
through Boonsboro and Keedysville into Pleas
ant Valley biV0uacked on the east side of Antie-
tam creek, and we're assigned to the 81 Division,
I'd corps, commanded by Generals French and
sumner. Here ratiOns were issued during which
time there was heavy cannonading in progress.
A shell struck barrel of beans, causing some
CONSERVATION and much amusement at the very
sudden departure of one of our comrades, who
had been quietly enjoying seat upon the bar
rel.
1.-THE morning of the 18th, we crossed Antie-
tam creek, at the ford near the upper bridge,
marched about mile, halted, faced to the left,
fixed bayonets and advanced in line of battle,
each man feeling that the time for which he had
hopefully looked for was at hand. The firing on
our right and front was terrific. Hooker's and
Mansfeld's corps were engaging the enemy. Tho
solid shot and shell that falling about US in
dicated that we were in full Wow and range of
the enemies batteries yet onward we marched
through strip of woods, thence plowed field
then grass field, where we met the eneInys
skirmshers, driving them before us. We press
cd on, driving HILLS advanced line through the
corn field, on emerging from which we were
greeted by terribly effective and incessant fire
from double line of infantry, one Of which was
posted in a sunken road in front of our left and
behind stone wall in front of our right. The
second line was in more exposed position, on
the slope OF hill, in corn field, and could fire
over their front line.
''Our regiment was in an open field on the
side Of a hill sloping towards the enemy more
exposed position is difficult to imagine. Here
we were halted and ordered to lay down. This
was our mistake. With a second line support
ing us we could have driven the enemy from his
works at the point OF the bayonet with much
less loss than we there sustained, and the second
line could have held what we had gained or
better still, could have pressed on, thereby crea-
ting division from Sedgwiok, who was being
hardly pressed by McLsWs and Watkins fresh
troops We returned the fire with great spirit
and precision, an examination, OF the field |
upon the following day testified.
"Our exposed position being recognized by
our commander, we were ordered to charge, |
When we arose for that final charge, it was ev-
ident to the minds of all who stood in that shat
tered line that the time for a successful change
had passed, yet every man who was not disabled |
pressed forward at the word Of command nearly |
to the enemies works. into the very jaws of |
death, then haltng and standing, returned the |
hre which was now terrific. In the meantime, |
We were being fired into from the rear by reg |
iment which had been sent 10 our support.
There being break between our right and |
Sedwick's Division, body of the enemy at |
tempted to flank us. A brigade OF Frankn's |
corps was advanced and relieved us from this |
pressure on our flank, but not until our line |
had been broken and we were falling back in |
disorder. Many Of our men refusing to fall |
back assembled in lane on the right of our |
line, and there renewed the contest 30 vigorous
ly that the enemy was prevented from following |
up his advantage using as breastwork "Old |
Spot" the war-horse of our regiment, who was |
shot while bearing our gallant old colonel on the
field, and being left to take care OF himself
struggled to the right of the regiment and there
gave up his life. No longer able to bear his
master, he, dying, gave his body defense to
those who had followed him 30 long on the
march.
In the open field in the rear OF the cornfeld,
from where We had driven Hills advanced line,
the regiment was reformed and held in readi-
ness to meet the enemy In case he should at
tempt to advance.
by this time the fighting on the right and