The National tribune., 1892-10-13
BATTLEFIELDS REVISITED.
A 45th Pa. Comrade Goes Over the Places
His Regiment Fought at South Mountain
and Antetam.

TTAVING few days of vacation to
| 81 spare, / made up my mind to take a
trip to South Mountain and Antie-
tam, and thinking perhaps some OF
| the boys of the old Ninth Corps, and especially
| those of my own dear regiment, tho 45th Pa,
would like to hear how those battlefelds look
| after the lapse of nearly 80 years leads me to
give short description of them, for consider
| it quite privilege once again to be able to
visit and view those grounds, where so many
of our boys laid down their lives.
Leaving the goodly city of Philadelphia early
on Friday morning Aug. 49, arrived safely
| in old Frederick City in time for dinner. BY
| the way, / should have stated that at Wrights-
Vile, Pa, met our old friend and Adjutant,
| Budding, on the train, and we travelled some
distance together. After dinner we took stroll
| around the town. Frederick is the same sleepy
| place it was when we marched through on Sept.
Is, 1862
| | soon took the stage for Middletown, eight
miles away and assure you appreciated the
drive much better than / did our march over
the same road. There arc some very fine views,
especially the one when you reach the top of
the summit that divides Frederick from Mid
detown and look over Middetown Valley.
Arriving at Middlctown, put up at the City
Hotel Middletown, if you remember, is town
of one street, all down hill one way and up hill
| the other. The landlord of the hotel gives you
plenty to eat and good bed you are not tor
mentcd for shine or tips; he does everything
| for you; the balance you can do yourself. An
other thing he does not appear to be one bit
more afraid to kill chickens than we used to be.
Middletown is just four miles from where we
fought and where Reno monument is located.
Early OIL Saturday morning We-that 49, my
friend Gayer and myself, a resident here, and
a GAR member. belonging to the Post at
Frederick-started for old South Mountain. Do
YOU remember at the edge Of the town the
I;t&1o Il hS,I, dad n SbnG ha oh
having burned the bridge on the right of the
road On the left was the still-smoking ruins
of barn and a smithshop. How after march
ing short distance out the National Pike the
rebs got the range on US and commenced shell
ing us? We then filed of to our left, under the
brow of the hills their shells then flying high
over our heads. Soon after we climbed the
mountain road. Well do remember that Sun
day morning.
The old stone wall which we lay behind
before we were ordered forward remains the
same as of old, and when l stood on top of it,
and looked down the road over which we had
marched, l can assure you did some think
ing. The two little houses near by remain the
same, and the tree under which our band
sought shelter when solid shot struck top
branch, scattering the band in all directions
some of them am told never stopped short
Of Harrisburg-well, the tree is still standing
in all its glory. Aud the section of the battery
that ran down the road, the rebs yelling Bull
Run!
Jumping down off the wall 1 proceeded to
aud through the woods where so many of our
boys lay down their lives,-and none has more
reason to be thankful to the Lord than l.,
coming to the edge Of the woods and the fence
through which we fired into the little
lane, in which we found so many dead rebs.
The lane has been changed and is now down
by the little mountain house where the well
was in which we buried SO many rebs. They
have all been cxhumed and taken South and
the well filed in.
/ suppose you all know that the Reno mon
umsnt stands on the road about half way be-
tween the little house and the edge of the woods
through which we fought; is of granite sur
rounded by stone wall, and covers lao feet
of ground. I think it is about time that we
were erecting stone to mark the ground over
which we fought; for almost invariably the
accounts l read speak of the 4Jth n. Y, in
stead of the 45th Pa, doing the fighting and
max ing the charge that drove the rebs from
tho field.
After taking view of the surrounding coun-
try-for it is grand beyond description-and
once again going over our battle-ground and
recalling different events, | reluctantly bid
farewell to old South Mountain. | think for
the last time feeling more than sad for the
many dear boys who fell. We started for the
old Stone Bridge. Afterwards we changed
our minds and thought we would take the
National Cemetery in first. Will only state
that the cemetery is very fine, and is kept in
very good condition. Some 80 of the 45th
Pa. boys sleep their last sleep here.
Remaining here only a short time, we drove
to Sharpsburg and took dinner after which
we started for the moro than historical Burn
side Bridge. Arriving there we drove under
the shade Of tree, tied our horse, and started
to take good view of everything.
Do you recall the little lane down which VIC
marched that connects with the main road
that runs along the creek and over the bridge?
How we came down the lane, filed to our right
up along the main road, then to our left over
the bridge, then again to our right along the
creek for short distnnce, and then by regi-
mental front up the steep hill to the fence on
top? How grapeshot struck top rail- sent
it flying through the air, striking, / think,
Bierbower, of Co. 3? The fence has been re-
moved, but the houses and barns down to which
we got look the same, and what thought at
the time was the outskirts OF Sbarpsburg
but it is nearly mile away. This reads very
simple at this late day, but how different
nearly 80 years ago. Do you know, can see
Gen. Burnside yet running down the said
| hill with his hat in his hand. Going down to
the creek to wash my hands l drank little of
| the water and thought of the night before the
| battle; how | had filled my canteen, and
| how on my way back to the regiment poor
fellow kept calling Water, water" and when l
| lifted his head and gave him drink, "Oh!
how good Oh how good!" / can hear his
voice and words to this day. 1t makes me feel
sad. How thankful we who have been spared
should be. Taking one look more we returned
| to Sharpsburg, and from thence to Keedysville
and TO Boonsboro, where we struck the Ma
tional Pike passing the house of Mrs. Dahl
gren. To my right can see old South Mount
ain looming up. There is sort of fascination
about it for me, and sit and gaze at it as long
| as it is in sight
Arriving safely in Middletown in time for
supper, / spent Sunday resting. Sitting on
the front porch / imagined / could see our
selves marching along with that mighty host.
Little did dream then that nearly 80 years
after that would be sitting here.
On Monday l started for Gettysburg, via
Frederick, and from there l returned home.
Aud / can assure you / thoroughly enjoyed
my trip and wish you all could take the same.
| Hoping some of you may be interested in this
short and imperfect description, especially the
| 18th Mich, for they were our right on the
14th of September-PosT 9, GAR, Phila-
delphia, Pa.
AT YSBURG.