The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-09-17
"REMINISCENCES OF
.....ANTIETAM.
One of the Fiercest BATTLES Ever
Waged by Mortal Man.
BY ]. K. POLK RACINE.

Some time il tn" aft"rnoon the weath.r
cleared and we rrr" halted to give Il e
straggers (ot which there were hundreds
strewn for miles back a chance to come M
to the army. 4 funny dialogue took place
here about two hours after the halt was
made. Every stand of coors in military
warfare has guard of picked men, one
man, think, from each company. These
men are supposed to he brave enough to
fight for the flag while life shall last. Col.
l. ID. Davis being the Color Sergeant, had
charge Company BIS representative on
the Colonels guard was former leader of
Baltlmore's "blood-tub " gang. He was
hunch-backed and short in stature, and. in
fact, he was dwarf Simon pure and how
in the world he ever got into Uncle Sans
service | conld never find out His move
ments were so much like an old web-tooted
goose that he was never called ANYTHING
but " Bill Goose but his real name, I
think, was William Henry Snodgrass.
Previous to his falling behind, Sergeant
Davis had given him the oilcloth case
which was used to envelop "Old Glory" at
night or in time of storm. This was the
| dialoguehetween Col. Davis and Goose"
when the latter came wadlling into camp.
Sergeant Davis-"Hello, where have
you been all this time with that
that color case?" Goose '-'Why. Ser
geant, | couldn't keep up to you long
legged devils, and | come as fast as could
And I will say right here that the
glorious old banner OF the bloody Fifth did
not run the next day at Antietam. We be-
| held her at the slreamlet, we yazed upon
her at the woods, she was visible when
passing around the hay stacks in the now
ed field, she was aloft when Sergeant Ike
| stepped over the PROSTATE form of our com
mander in the torrid cornield, and when
we emerged into the bloody clover ield when
that lurid hell was covered with dear old
Cecl's richest blood, "Old Glory" was
being held proudly aloft by Cecil boy,
and Notwithstanding the puncturing she
got sne was there at the finish.
The beautiful banner of which | write
was presented to the Fifth by the glorious
Union ladies of old Cecil county, but near
ly all OF the peerless angels, whose patriotic
hearts beat so symphoniously with those of
the blue of Cecil, have nearly all been call.
ed hence.
Our command was gotten into shape and
soon was wading the highway again. We
are nearing the insignificant streamlet
known as Antietam, which has become so
famous throughout the country because of
the terrible events that were enacted near
its banks the next day. Yonder, see, is
the little hamlet on this side OF the creek, |
known as keedysville. See that large
building? That is the German Reformed
Church, and that edifce was made famous
the next day, because it was filled from pit
to dome with the mangled and bleeding
carried there from the stage of awful action.
When near Antietam we turn off and 90
into camp, where we are to sleep on our
arms until morning. But Hank! Great
God The mighty Lee has turned at bay
again, and Fighting Joe" Hooker charged
and recharged but it was all in vain, and
soon the shades of night hover all up and
down the dismal banks of the narrow
streamlet when the blue and gray, those
who are not on picket or the terrible vidette
duty, lie on their arms to dream of "Home,
Sweet Home and mother.
TO BE CONTINUED.