The National tribune., 1886-06-10
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
ANTIETAM.



To THE EDITOR: have been reader Of
your most valuable paper, The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, for more than two years and would
not do without il for three times the price OF
its subscription. i read the articles written by
Comrade Potter and the response by Comrade
Walton, relating 10 the taking OF Antietam
Bridge and beg leave 10 file exceptions 10 both.
Comrade Potter. a member OF The 2lst Mass.
saws he writes from history written by an OIL
cor of his regiment. j Will write from memory,
and say the history be writes from is incorrect.
On the 18th Of September, 1862, the 5lst Pa.
was taken 10 the front 10 support q battery.
After remaining in support for about an hour
we were taken 10 the banks OF Antletam Creek,
some distance below the bridge where we lay
In cornfield listening TO the fighting OF
Crook Brigade i'm their vain attempts TO cap
ture the bridge. But we were not long 10 remain
silent listeners An Aid from Gen. Burnsides
staff came dashing up and said TO Col. terrer0,
fafterward Gen. Ferrero), then in command OF
the brigade, in plain hearing Of the whole regi-
ment: Gen Burnside sent me TO say he wants
the 5lst Pa to take that bridge, and he knows
they will do il, and the 5lst N. Y. shall support
them" More than dozen voices in the regi-
ment sang out: " Lead Us on, and we viii take
it, After a hurried consultation between Col.
Ferrero and our Colonel II. r. HartTanft, after
ward Gen. HartranfC) we were given the COM
mamd, Fail in, 5lst-light iace-Double-
quick-Marchl" Away we went on run,
marching by the flank We had just started
when Fcrrero called after US and said, - Men, if
you take that bridge you shall all have your
whisky tonight" Some one in the ranks an
swered him, saying. Colonel, we are not fight
ing for whisky Keeping behind a little knoll
that ran q short distance on eursideand almost
parallel with the stream until we came 10 or
opposite the bridge, while still on run, our
Colonel gave the command, tr0nt-Charge! J"
and Tor the bridge we went, but did not cross
over until after fighting the Johnnies 10 or is
minutes Some of the men took refuge behind
the masonwoTk built across the bridge TO pro-
tect the roadway, widening and forming curve
at the mouth of the bridge, while Others took
shelter TO the right aud left Of IL, behind
stone fence running parallel with the stream.
There was fence to the right where the
writer was
We made Il 50 hot for the rebels that they
began leaving By ones and twOs for their rear,
while others stuck to il with the tenacity Of
bulldogs. When their lines became somewhat
thinned, our bravo and gallant Colonel com
manded us 10 cross the bridge, which part Of
the regiment did in "huddle." the colors tax
ing the lead, while Others waded through the
stream, which was about four feet deep at that
place. The valley In which the stream runs is
quite narrow, the steep slope on the right bank
approaching to the waters edge. In this slope
the roadway is scarped, running both ways
from the bridge and passing 10 the higher land
above by ascending through raylnes above and
below, the upper ravine being some 900 yards
above the bridge. On the hillside immediately
above the bridge were stone quarries, running
parallel TO the stream, where the enemy had
CONSTRUCTED rude works, made Of stone and
rails Behind these defenses, as well as the
woods which covered the slope, the enemy was
posted After the regiment had crossed over
those Of the enemy that were in the works ran,
while good number down at the bank Of the
stream behind trees were taken prisoners,
asing unable to get away. Some were up IN
trees. One Of the boys OF Co. f. after having
waded and crossed the stream below the bridge
shot and brought down Johnny from tree.
he also got the gold watch and pair of silver
mounted pistols from the dead body Of Lieut..
Col Cole or Coleman lCOnfederate). The
writer saw the name on neck-band Of his shirt
Our regiment was then filed along the bank Of
Che stream, where q high bank protected nj
from the rebel artillery, as they commenced
Smelling the bridge and It's approaches mos
furiously. The balance or greater part Of the
Ninth Corps then crossed over, and the writer
remembers distinctly the 5lst N. Y. being in
Che advance coming over the knoll we had just
charged over, marching by the flank, they not
being In the charge az al, but had been held
In supporting distance TO be used In case Oul
regiment could not carry the bridge, and We
vel knew IL the aid Of the 5Ist N. ". or 2ls
Mass. had been needed they would have re
spopded promptly and well. The officer in
sommand Of the first battery that crossed rode
awhite horse. Just as the horse stepped of
che bridge q shell exploded, cutting a gasE
under me belly. letting out part Of his bowels
Me reared and plunged, causing halt in the
battery. The officer sprang from the horse
drew hR sword, shouting Forward" and rar
M che hill ahead Of his guns. The horse KEEP
rsaring and plunging until be fell into Ante
I'm Greek and drowned j would like TO know
what battery IL was and the brave officer
nams.-K. @. REED, 90. K 6lst Pa, Mifain
burg, Pa.