The National tribune., 1891-07-16
Battle OF ANTIETAM.
What Became Of Lieut.. Perrikln'. waieai

EDITOR NATIOSAL TRIBUNE: Those who
were in the battle Of huiictam remember that
there was some lively diminishing Tuesday
evening Sept. lG, between the Federal right
and the Confederate left AS tie lines we're being
arranged for the great conflict Of the nextday.
but as darkness came on 10 ceased aud general
quiet rCiEncd IN all parts OF the field during
the night. There was, however, one brief Tut
sharp interruption Of the prevailing quiet
about 10 o'clock that night resulting In the
death Of a few men and gallant 0 Ulcer on the
Federal side. ] will relate the occurrence and
ask its publication In your columns. in the hone
that il may lead 10 information on a certain
special matter which have ever since wished
20 know.
Some time after nightflll our och AIaA repi.
meut Of infantry, belonging 10 Hoods Divis-
ion, was thrown forward into an advanced no.
stion about 400 yards northeasterly from lilo
little bunker Church, ia the open field. not.
very far from MumCs house and strawstacks
that were burned next morning. There we
lay with rail fence along our front. aud for
some rcasou-pcrhaps because we were so far
out-thcrc were no pickcts out in advance Of
as. 10 was extremely dark. ] was lyingdswn
on the ground just behind the left flank Of the
regiment and had nearly fallen into a doza
when about 10 o'cl0rlz / was suddenly reused
aud startled by vollcy fired By the two or
three left companies of our regiment yyithout
.
son Of this ! WAS informed that they had heard
party Of what must be the enemy, who were
just ia front Of u.s. and had theranron fred.
/ Immediately aitCrwaFG heard out ia the dark
/ ness before as soldier calling TO us for helm
and saving no was desperately wounded. and
! by his addressing ms first rs rebel bows aud
! then as Southern boys" 10 was clear that he
! was q Federal soldier. / at once answered bi,n
| IN an elevated voice that we would send helm
/ IL be pledged that our succOring squad should
not be fired on by his friends, which pledge he
| gave and they respected, II any were near
enough 10 FIRE.
Our party went ont and found two or three
! slain, as / remember il, and brought in two
wounded men, one private and the other
! Lieut.. llardman i. Petriken Of II think the
! 9th Pa Reserves
The private died almost Immediately. Lieut..
] rctrikin was mortaiy wounded by shot IN
! the breast. While / was making ARRANGEMENTS
! 10 have him sent back 10 our field hospital. hc
spoke 20 me aud said that he felt that his
wound was mortal told mo his name as have
! given H. and then pulling out his waich-quite
a 1ue 0ue-he handed il 30 nae, saying:
/ make the request Of you that il you possibly
/ can you viii have my watch sent 10 my mother
! who lives 40 F" Tor perhaps be said near Cham
bersburF, Pa" Aud, also "rcl my comrades OF
the Union army for me that died like a sol
! der should, doing my duty" lie also cx.
planned that he had been Ia charge Of a recon-
noitcring party, and had expected 20 come
| upon our piclct-line, but not upon a full bat
| feline ms lie had.
As be was borne away TO the hospital babe
/ him gOod-by ia the darkness, and promised 10
obey his requests IL / lived aud ever had the
opportunity. lie died, as ! afterward learned,
about sunrise the next morning, lust rs the
| great battle was beginning.
On the 18th Of September, the day after tho