Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-09-23
Visit from Veterans.

Last Monday the veterans of the
Philadelphia Corn Exchange Regiment
and their friends, about fifty in all,
visited the scene of the battle in which
they fought in 1862 at the Cement
Mill, mile below Shepherdstown.
They arrived at Sharpsburg on Sun
day, where they made their head
quarters. Monday morning they took
hacks for shepherdstown and drove
directly to The battlefield, on Mrs.
Hannah Wysongs farm, near the river.
Mr.. G. c. Cartaret was master of cere-
monies and had charge of the pro-
gramme. Major Joseph Ashbrook,
who received what was thought to be
a mortal wound in the fight, offered
prayer; Comrade Mehan read a poem;
then the address of the day was de-
ivered by Comrade James Holt. The
/
exercises were brief A vote of thanks
was extended to Mrs. Wysong and her
sons for their courtesies A few per-
sons from town were present, the
weather being SO disagreeable as to
deter visitors. The party was photo
graphed. The veterans returned to
Sharpsburg in the afternoon, and at
night held a campfire, when several
addresses were made. Tuesday was
devoted to sightseeing on Antietam
battlefield, and the same evening the
visitors returned to Philadelphia.
The 118th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry was organized in Philadel-
phia and mustered into the service of
the United States on August Is, 1862.
This regiment was recruited entirely
through the efforts of what was then
known as the Corn Exchange Associa-
ton of that city. From this reason
the regiment was designated as the
Corn Exchange Regiment. After
being mustered into the service of the
United States, and upon reaching
Washington, the regiment was assign
ed to the third brigade, first division,
Fifth Army Corps. At the battle of
Antietam the Fifth Army Corps was
commanded by Major General Fitz
John Porter and upon that eventful
day constituted the reserve of the
Army of the Potomac. The brigade
of which the ll8th was part was
commanded by Col. James Barnes, OF
the 18th Massachusetts, Infantry. By
reason of their being part Of the re-
serve they were not called into action
on September 18th, the day on which
the battle of Antietam was fought. On
the morning of the 10Th of September,
1862, the Fifth Army Corps was ad-
vanced to a position on the Potomac
river, at Blackford's Ford, the Con-
federates having during the night Of
the 18th retired from the field and
across the Potomac river. The Fifth
Army Corps was ordered to pursue
the enemy and give aid to the cavalry
brigade then in advance, When the
corps reached the Potomac river 1t
found the enemy across and the ford
defended with artillery well posted.
General Porter began preparations to
clear the ford and if possible to cap
ture some of the enemy's artillery by
lining the banks of the river and canal
with skirmishers and sharp-shooters,
and by posting artillery on the bluffs
of the north bank of the river. While
these were driving from their guns the
enemy's cannoneers and horses, an at
lacking party from Barnes and Crit
fms brigades, of which the l16th Penn
sylvania was a part, volunteers for the
occasion, was formed and crossed the
river in face Of warm fire from the
enemy's infantry. Darkness, however,
prevented the attacking party from
accomplishing any great results and
enabled the enemy to remove the great
er portion of their artillery, but four
guns and caissons were captured. The
party was recalled during the night
and the entire command bivouacked
within reach of the ford.
On the morning of the Goth, two
brigades, accompanied by small COM
mand of cavalry, again crossed the
river. In this command was the third
brigade, commanded by Col. Barnes,
and with it went the ll8th Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers. Upon reaching the
south bank of the river it was found
that the Confederates in force were
advancing to attack them. These two
brigades Immediately deployed upon
the bluffs bordering the river at this
point. On this morning these two
brigades did not number over $500
These comparatively few men were
attacked in force by A. P. Hills and
Early's divisions of Jackson's Corps,
composed of at least eight or ten brig