The National tribune., 1886-07-15
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
ANTIETAM.
A aoa Ohio Man Tells About the Fight.

3uth OHIO Man Tells About the Fight.
To THE EDITOR: noticed in your issue OF
March III an article from the pen of Comrade
Potter, of the DIST Mass, criticizng Comrade
Walton OF the 30th Ohio. in lis account OF the
crossing of the Antietam, etc. j myself be-
longcd TO the same regiment rs COmrade Wall
ton, and think that he gave very true account
rs far as he went hut did not claim as much
for the division as they were entitled 10. We
belonged TO COx'e kanaWha Division, composed
OF the following regiments: llth, 18TH 23d,
25th 30.h and seth Ohio forming two brigades,
and commanded by Gems. h. Il. Scammon and
Crooks. On Sept Ia, at South Mountain, Gen.
Reno was killed just IN rear of our division,
and the command OF the Ninth Corps deyolved
upon Gen. Cox, the division upon Gen. i. II.
Scammon, and the brgades upon Gen. Crook
and Hugh Ewing, of the Both Ohio As Com
radc Walton says the Both crossed the Antietam
some distance below the lower bridge, the 2Sth
just above, and the 18th at the bridge. 1t
would be well here TO give little description
OF the ground that we had to fight over. On
the rebel side of the creek was a steep bank,
from 20 to 30 feet high, and that still made
stronger by rude breastwork Of logs, rails
and anything they Glanced to get hold of to
protect themselves from the Yankee bullets
ON the Union side OF the creek was a wide bot
tom OF lowland, partly cleared, with here and
there a tree standing. The Buckeye boys took
advantage Of all thisand fought Indian fashion,
all the time advancing until they got 10 the
creek. The rebels being on so much higher
ground than the Union boys, it gave the latter
a chance TO shoot over each others heads until
the place got TOO hot for the Johnnies, so they
pulled out FOR repairs. Ii was In this advance
that Col. Coleman, of the 18th Ohio was killed.
Now, C0mTade Potter, don't get scared for
Comrade Walton does not try to take the credit
from the Ninth Corps as the corps was COM
manGed by our own division commander, j. ID.
Cox AII Il ASH 10 Ola Ipppfff trit 10
due, and that is TO the llth Ohio for taking
what was afterwards called Burnside's Bridge.
Now j VIII give a little incident that hap
pened a little later that day, hoping that may
hear from comade that ] met that day for
the first time, and have never seen or heard
from him since. IL he is living would be glad
10 hear from him. After crossing Antietam
Creek our lines were formed and we got orders
20 forward, lcft-oblique, march," 10 a stone
fence about 300 yards TO the front the left of
the regiment being compelled to ObiQue-march
through a cOrnheld. When we reached the
stone fence We had no support on our left and
the rebs swung around our regiment and if
there ever WAS a hotter place than that corn
FIELD just then j never found il, and j trust /
never shall With rebels in front and rear we
had but little show. We got orders 10 get out
OF that ii we could Instead of going back
obllqne, as went in, took straight up the corn
rows and passed out in rear OF the rebel line
A4ltuA. lAccn uinAs OF our IeEltDHuL was Killed
at the stone fence and as ! turned 10 the rear /
saw him lying cold IN death but still clinging
70 his sword with a death grasp i thought 10
myself Chat no rebel should ever carry the
sword OF such brave man ii ID was in my power
70 prevent IL. j wrenched il out Of his hand
and carried il ont with me to the rear, where
found what was left OF my company. Think
ing lad done nothing but soldiers duty
handed my Captain the sword, with the remark
that x was Lieut. Furby's, who was killed at
the stone fence. The answer got was What
in he'll do want with it2n ] threw il down on
the ground with my feelings considerably hurt
Al that time achievements were crossing
tho bridge, and New York regiment attracted
my attention, being led by a mere boy-a Cap
tain, think. While walkingat the head Of his
regiment and cheering his men forward a rebel
bullet struck his sword just above the hilt
bending II at right angles and knocking ii many
feet away. dc picked il 40 aud went on as
though nothing unusual had happened. /
thought 10 myself that 80 brave an officer as
that WAS worthy Of Lieut.. Furby's sword, and
stepped out Of the ranks and picked il up aud
presented ii TO him with the remark that tie
former owner WIS killed, aud that had carried
ID OF the field 10 keep the rebels from getting
lt &c thanked me kindly and went on. Now,
u that officer Is living and chances TO sec this
item, would be glad 70 hear from him, or from
any comrade o. the regiment to which ] be-
lougca.-DAvE EDWARDS Co. B, Both Ohio
Severance, Kan.