The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-04-12
BATTLE OF ANTIETM
A THRILLING ACCOUNT BY A
UNION SOLDIER.

"A
UNION SOLDIER.
The Fight Which Mcclellan
Meant to be the Battle of His
Life" Fighting Joe" Hooker
and Little Mack"---Lee and
Jacksonville Shock Of q Bull
let as Described by One Who
Was Hit.
Hooker opened the fight on Lees
left at Antietam. Mcclellan meant
that to be the battle of his life. His
scouts had brought him information
that Lees army was strung out from
ShJpsburg to Harper's Ferry, and
that the force in gray on the line of
hills above him numbered only few
thousand hungry and footsore men,
most of whom had marched all night.
Lee had to halt at Sharpsburg. He
had to fight there. When he looked
down on those moving masses of blue
his heart must have grown faint. He
had sent word to Jackson the day
before to close up. He had sent him
word at dark that haste was urgent.
Another courier had departed at
midnight with the message: elf you
do not reach me before noon this army
will be prisoners or exterminated!
Jackson was coming and praying
that the federals would delay. Every
horse was carrying double-every
vehicle filled with his infantry-every
thirsting, hungry, halting man was
entreated to hurry. While Hooker
was opening the fight on McClellan's
right, Jackson's men were coming
up. There could be no halt for rest
or food. Lees left was being held by
three or four skeleton brigades, and
the musketry had hardly begun to
volley before they were forced to give
ground. Jackson rode on ahead his
men followed in twos and threes and
groups. At last as they came up they
formed a battle-line. Some were
killed before they knew the position of
the federals dashing at them.
1t was hardly daylight when we,
under Hooker, pushed forward.
Every private in the ranks realized
the object-to smash Lees left, and
take his center in flank that would
roll him away from the ford, and the
center and left would wipe him off the
face of the earth. Hooker was a
fig Inter and rusher. Half an hour
more and we should have doubled that
flank back. 1t was falling back
falling back, but fighting for life-when
Jackson came up. We heard the
cheering and suspected the cause. The
advance had disarranged our lines.
The order came to cease firing and
dress for another forward movement.
That cornfield made famous by the
historians was on our brigade front as
we moved. Every man who was there
that day will remember how the corn
stalks waved and rustled as we pushed
through them-how the silken tassels
became detached and f1oated into our
faces like spider webs on dewy
summers morning. They were wait
ing for us-the men who had come up
from Harper's Ferry without halt,
ready to die to save Lees left wing.
At first a scattering fre-a man falling
out here and there. The pop! pop!
pop increases in rapidity-now it
becomes continued roar--here comes
the command to charge! There is a
cheer-a rush, and we are checked.
Men cannot dodge bullets, but we
dodge nevertheless, as they zip and
spit and whistle by our ears. A storm
of bullets can not be breasted like
gale of wind laden with snowflakes,
but we bend our heads and advance.
What had happened7 am down
among the cornstalks? Did | stumble
and fall as the line swept forwardP 1t
is like waking out of deep sleep
like coming back to earth after
physician has administered chloroform.
All! Now get twinge Of pain-I
have been hit A bullet has crashed
into my shoulder, spun me around like
a top and then dashed me to earth in
a heap. Men struck that way lose
consciousness for minutes or hours.
The roar swells out again. | hear
men cursing and cheering, and |
finally understand that our lines have
been driven back. lift my head for
a hasty look around, and find that |
have lots of company. The dead and
wounded are as numerous as the corn
hills.
A bullet in the shoulder is nothing.
\ gill or two of blood lost from the
body is OF no account. turn over,
seize dead man by the arm and pull
myself up, but everything dances
before my eyes and sink down in
heap. 1t isn't the wound itself but
the shock to the nervous system. I've
seen a six-iooter drop in a heap and
cry like a woman because bullet had
made one OF his hngers an inch shorter,
and he was never charged with being
a coward, either.
There is no such thing as time on
battlefield. A general may watch
its fight, but private soldier has no
thought of it. The sun may have
been at meridian when the battle
opened. All of sudden he is amazed
that the orb has gone from sight. He
has tough, on and given no heed to
time.
Only half conscious-only half
realizing that l was hit, | by and by
felt the cool breezes of evening, and
lost the glare of the sun, Some one
gave water, but | felt too dreamy 10
open my eyes. Some one pulled a
dead man off my legs-a wounded
t ,,bo b.l ~roDt over n IN