The National tribune., 1894-11-01
ANTIETAM.
Comrade n. Crawford Tells How the 4th
Pa. Cav. Lost a Colonel There.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: wish to
prominent incidents and escapades while in
the service from 1861 to 1865, besides the
ones have heretofore narrated.
At the battle of Antietam, Md, Sept. II,
1862, the 4th Pa. Cav. did not take as active
part as in many Of the other engagements
in which we participated; nevertheless, it
was dangerous place for all.
We crossed the bridge early in the day,
left the road to the right, and formed by
companies facing east on the side-hill, where
we took position and supported battery.
At one time l remember seeing a spent
cannon-bal roll down the hill in front of us,
obliquing to the right, crossing line of Co. s
Z, L, and 81. / saw the horses whose legs
were broken by the ball taken out and shot.
We sustained heavy loss in our Colonel,
James III. Childs. Comrade H. Crawford,
of Co. B, who was present, makes this state
ment in relation to the sad affair:
capt Tumbler, at the head Of four COM
panies, was sent to place Tdball's battery at
the right of the road, on top of the hill.
We had the fence partly torn down, and two
guns up the bank, and l was lifting on
wheel Of one Of the pieces, when the rebel
battery commenced Smelling us. The first
shot they fired hit dead tree just to the
left of the road in front of US. The second
shot came down among US, did not explode,
but wounded John Irwin, of Co. B. The
third shot came down to business, passed
under my horse, cut both legs off my brother
| Georges horse, and killed the next man.
Serg't Crainer, Co. M. The same shot also
wounded John Boyce, Co. b.
"This raised commotion among us.
took Boyce on my back, and when about
halfway down the hill our Colonel was hit
/ did not stop with my man, but crossed the
bridge about so yards to house on the
right of the road, where a hospital was
being established.
"When 1 got back to the regiment they
| told me the Colonel was dead. When we
afterward advanced over the same road the
spot was plainly to be seen where our Colonel
had lain on the bank Of the road, and we
all spoke of the occurrence. / saw a map
of this field, aud the location where Col.
Childs was killed. 1t was in the rear of the
regiment, where we formed on the left of
the road. / conversed with several of the
comrades who did not know where he was
killed The Adjutant said when the fatal
missile struck him he (the Adjutant) was
near the crest of the hill, on horseback
returning to the command after reconnoiter-
ing the position in front, and accompanied by
member of his staff, Capt Ii. NJ Hughes,
Co. K. The Adiutant, who was temporarily
in command OF Co. 6, supporting the battery,
saw the Colonel at the moment he was
stricken down, and the sad news soon spread
With one impulse Co. G started TO the rescue
Of their beloved leader. 1t was with the
utmost difficulty they were restrained from
breaking away from their position in the
ranks.
"Col Childs was Of commanding presence,
courteous and affable. He won the hearts
Of officers and men alike. At his death a
| sadness spread over the whole regiment that
| took long time to scatter.
II do not know as can add much to the
/ above about the Antetam battle If there
/ Is any battle distinctly remember, this one
clings to me through all these years. After
We formed in support Of battery, the rebel
batteries on the opposite hill got in direct
range of our battery, and they sent in shot
and shell with vengeance. Their range was
almost perfect All will remember how
| close the solid shot came to us; how they
| just missed our heads and knocked the
boards into kindling-wood Oh large barn
10 our left. Lieut.. Col. Kerr took command
of the regiment on the death of Col. Childs.
Some time during the afternoon No. AS
held the horses, and the balance of the regi-
ment were made carbineers and sent volleys
into the ranks of. the rebels. few of the
fours were here wounded, but ] cannot at this
time give particulars."-W. c. YARD, Co. K,
4th Pa Cav, Omaha Neb.