The National tribune., 1886-07-22
ANTIETAM.
The sOth Ohio In the Battle.

To THE EDITOR: notice that Comrade
Reed, of the 5lst Pa, in late article in THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE begs leave to file excep-
tions to my answer to Comrade Potter, as we'll
as to the communication Of Comrade Potter,
and he then proceeds with an elaborate argu-
ment in proof of the fact that Comrade p. is
mistaken in regard to what regiment made the
last charge over the Burnside Bridge, but he
fails to file single item in refutatOn of my
statement, to wit: That Scammon's Brigade
of Cox's Division, Ninth Corps. waded the An
tietam a couple of miles below the bridge.
marched up the stream under cover of the tim
Der on the bank of the creek, threatened the
right flank Of the rebel brigade defending the
bridge, thus making their position untena-
bic, and that, although the Union troops fight
ing at the bridge could not see us coming or
know that we were there on the rebel flank,
yet the Confederates could see US, and that they
did see us, and fell back because We were
there. i appeal TO the statements of the Con-
federates themselves Gen. J. G. Walker says
that he was sent in the morning of the 18th of
September to guard that very ford that we
crossed afterward, but that about o'clock he
was ordered to the left TO assist some troops
who were hard pressed and left the ford I'M
guarded, and that we afterward crossed it and
came near turning their right flank, and would
have done so if it had not been for the timely
arrival of A. p. Hill from Harper's Ferry.
Another Southern writer whose name can
not now recall, says that they could have held
that bridge against any number of troops if the
Federals had not waded the creek and threat
ened their flank.
For the position of the brigade to which we
embellishments page 290 of the
Century Magazine for June, 1886. You will no
tice said brigade in its first position on the ex
treme left east Of the creek. The ford spoken
of is just below the bend where the creek turns
| TO the west, and after crossing the creek there
we marched up the creek TO near the bridge,
and then "by the left fank over the ridges
to the front, where you will notice the brigade
again near the enemy's line and considerably
| in advance Of all other Union troops. If Conn
rades Reed and Potter will procure this number
of the Century June, 1866 and study that map
thoroughly, they will not only understand my
statements much better, but they will also
probably understand the statement / tried to
make plain in my former article in reply to
Comrade Potter, viz, that the truth of my
statement does not take a single leaf from the
/ laurels of whatever regiment it was who made
| the gallant charge on the bridge. And, by the
way, that seems to be the only point of differ
ence between the two comrades, 1. e., as to what
/ regiment ii was, and which is a point that
/ cannot do them any good in helping to settle,
because the very reason that kept them from
| knowing the facts that l speak of keeps me
| from knowing what regiment made the last
i cnarge, Simply DcCAusc VIC NcEe on the otn6I
| side of the creek and behind the timber skirt
| ing the stream and conld not see the bridge,
although we could hear the firing and the
| cheering when the final charge was made very
| plainly, as we were not more than four or five
hundred yards down the stream at the time.
| would just add that when A. p. Hills rebel
| troops struck our left flank the Both Ohio lost
both color bearers and three line officers killed,
Lieutenant Colonel and one Captain captured,
| and II enlisted men killed and wounded and
several captured.
There were four companies surrounded at
one time and called upon to surrender, but we
couldn't see it that way, and, using bayOnet
and dubbed muskets, we broke through their
| lines and got back 10 our lines with only the
| losses above enumerated, although we had to
climb tolerably steep hill, which had been
! plowcd for wheat, and with no protection from
the cneHy's musketry; and how so many of US
escaped death amid that leaden hail has always
been profound mystery 10 me.
For further evidence from rebel sources as 70
the way the Both Ohio fought in that campaign
] would refer to ID. Ii. HilPs article on the
Battle of South Mountain or Boonsboro" in
the Century for May, 1886, pages I4l and l42,
where he says: "The Goth Ohio advanced d.
rectly upon the stone wall in their 'front.' while
a regiment moved upon the 23d n. G. on each
flank. Some Of the 30th Ohio forced through
I break In the wall, and bayonets and dubbed
muskets were used freely for few moments
Garland's Brigade, demoralized by his death
! and BIZ the furious assault on its center, broke
now in confusion and retreated behind the
mountain, leaving some 200 prisoners in the
hands of the enemy. The brigade was toe
roughly handled 70 be Of any further use that
day" 81. E. WALTON, Go. ], Both Ohio
Koleen, Ind