The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-02-02
Antietann.
THAT FIELD TO BE PROPERLY MARKED
AND MAPPED.

lines or battle and the position of troops of
the Army OF Potomac and the Army OF
Northern virginia at Antletam, Nd. An
tietam was one of the bloodest battles of
the War OF the Rebellion, and it is one the
history of which it has been most difficult
to compile. The battle was fought early i'm
the war, at time when the officers had not
become accustomed to making careful and
comprehenSlve reports, as they did later in
the war. Inc comnllers have proceeded SO
Iar as 10 complete map No Of this nota
bic historical series. The map shows the
position of the Union and Confederate
forces on the morning of Sept II, 1862, pri-
or to the battle of Antietam. which
opened at daybreak This map shows the
position OF every Union and Confederate
company on this terrible field of battle, the
losses upon which were appalling. 1t has
a tragic interest for the survivors of that
field, and is replete with instruction to those
VINO look back upon the battles of the war
Tor lessons OF patriotism. In the CONNER
clal days days III which the rising genera
tlon IS llvlng this map will serve to call to
MIND the yalor, the brilliant achievements.
the patriotism of those whom history will
soon classify as their ancestors. Each wear
the number of the old veterans grows lass.
Mindful OF this the Congress of the United
otates, the blue and the gray voting tOgeth-
er, Has mace an appropriation for the col
lectl0n OF the historical data, that these
maps may be for the generations to
come warning to avoid the causes which
may lead to civil war, and an inspiration
OF patriotism if foreign war shall come.
THE BAPTISM OF A FREE RACE.
This particular battlefield is noteworthy
1or another reason. 1t is a monument of
great crisis in our national history. Abra-
nam Lincoln, in August, 1862, decided to
emancipate the slaves. But he determined
not 10 issue his proclamation in the face of
military defeat. This precious document
lay signed in his desk drawer one month
whlie PRESIDENT Lincoln waited for a vic
tory Tor the Union armies. Upon the re-
suit OF this battle of Antietam depended
the time OF issuing the proclamation of free
dom for race, the striking of shackles
from the slaves.
~ When Zen the summer of 1862 brought disas-
ter after disaster to the Union cause, final
~ eliminating in the invasion of Maryland
by Gen. Lee, Abraham Lincoln determined
on the emancipation of The Slaves 81
made" said Mr.. Lincoln, "a solemn VOW
before God that, if Gen Lee was driven
back from Maryland, would crown the re-
suit by, the declaration of freedom to the
slaveS.'
Gen. Lee was driven from MARYLAND. and
on Sept. %, 1852, President Lincoln issued
the proclamation.
The battle of Antietam was baptism of
blood for the enfranchiSed race.
The gentlemen who have undertaken for
the Government to mark the lines of battle
OF this immortal field say that the field on
which the battle took place is practically
unchanged from what it was on the day of
the action, save the cutting down of some
trees, and presents to-day, as it did in 1862
the most open field on which was fought
any of the great battles of the rebellion-a
held OF which the eye at one sweep can
take in all points 1t is proposed to main
TAIN the neld In the same condition as to
roads, fields, forests and houses.
The purpose is to have each State which
had troops engaged on the field provide the
monuments for marking the positions of
the troops, after the general plan hereto
fore pursued at Gettysburg by the Gettys-
burg Battlefield Memorial Association, and
proposed by the Chickamauga Memorial
Association for like purposes on the fields
Of Chickamauga and Chattanooga.
WHERE BLOOD RAN IN RIVERS.
Antietam was the bloddiest battle of the
War of the Rebellion. More men were
killed on that one day than on any other
one day of the war. There were battles
with greater loss of life, but they were not
fought out in one day as at Antietam. At
gettysburg, Charlottesville and Spottsyl-
vania the fighting covered three DAYS or
more; at the Wilderness, Cold Harder.
Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga and
Atlanta the losses were divided between
,wo days of fighting; but at Antietam the
bloody work commenced at sunrise, and at
o'clock that afternoon it was over.
The percentage of loss on the Union side |
vas over Is per cent. of the entire strength |
II the army and fully 20 per cent of The |
roops under fire. Many brigades lost one |
hlrd to one-half the men taken into acton. |
ma twelve regiments lost more than 80 per |
'ent. the Twelfth Massachusetts heading |
he list with 6I per cent. while the lowest |
If the twelve, the Fourtt enth Indiana. |
OSt ST per cent
Wellington lost II per cent. at Waterloo: |
Napoleon 49, per cent. IT AuSterliiZ and IA |
,er cent. at Marengo. The average losses |
If both armies at Magenta and Solferino, |
n 1909, was less tnan per cent. At |
HOnlggratz, IN 1906, 1t was per cent. At
Worth, MarS-la-Tour, GravelOtte and Sedan
n 1870 the average loss was IL per cent.
The marvel of German fighting in the
'ranc0-PrusSian was by the Third West
,halian Infantry at Mars la-TOur. 1t took
QOO men into action and lost 40.4 per cent.
NeXt to this record was that of the Garde-
,chutZen Battalion, 1000 strong at Metz
which lost 46.1 per cent
AS striking as are these figures on the
} mon side, they are equaled if not exceed
d by those of the COniederatps IL is i'm
'0Sslble to give the figures with entire ac
uracy, for, in making up their returns.
hey include the losses at Harper's Ferry
outh Mountain and Antietam, agprepat
ng 1885 killed, 934S wounded, and 1877 mis-
ing, sum total of II, COL or according to
zen. Lees report, over 20 per cent of the
roops which lie took into MARYLAND, and
he greater part of which loss was sustained
t Antietam.
sWATHs OF FALLEN MEN.
The terrific nature of the contest sustain.
d by them may be judged from the fact
nat many brlgadeS lost one-halt the men
Dgaged, and in three, at least, this propor
on was exceeded. Out of AZ Confederate
given as sustaining a loss in any
ne battle during the entire war of over so i,
er cent. 10 made this record i'm one day at
.ntietem, headed 10y the First Texas. of
IoOd's division, which lost S2.3 per cent.
ne highest record for the war. These fig
res on both sides attest the bravery and
bstinacy with which the opposing lines in
pen field, without breastwOrks of any kind
-OOd and tore each other to shreds.
The losses of the Massachusetts troops
ERE enormous. The Massachusetts
welfth heading the tragic list with 81 per ,
INT. ,
1 asked Colonel Stearns how he had been /.
Bile to gather this detailed information So
; to make the map and assign every sol !
Ter to his position in battle field covering
vast an area. and at a distance of time OF
lirfv wears He answered. :