The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-10-30
WAR STORIES.
An Incident at the Battle Of Sharpsburg.
Maryland
atlanta Journal.


sons Brigade at Sharpsburg," men
toned bursting cap at the heart of a
color bearer and afterwards finding
him wounded on the field. He told
me he was the color bearer of the First
Minnesota regiment. Through the
Atlanta Journal (and everybody reads
the JournaD have learned his name
and residence, and on the 39.h ami
versary of the battle Of Sharnshnrg,
September 18th, wrote him long
and friendly letter, to which lie replied
IN most interesting way, which 7
think will be equally interesting to
the many readers of that valuable pa
per, the Atlanta journal, and which |
will give in full:
STlLLWATER, MINI,
September 2S, 1901.
Mr.. w. II. Andrews, Sugar Valley,
Dear Friend Johnnie-Y Your kind
and interesting letter of the 18th in
slant, the Both anniversary of our first
and last meeting on the bloody battle
field of Antietam, Sharpsburg, Md,
has been received, and to say was
surprised and pleased would be ex-
pressing it mildly. In fact, was
more than pleased to hear from tho
boy in gray that laughed at for
lodging she'll that was in search of
him.
"Why, Johnnie, it became second
nature to us all to dodge those vicious
iron humble bees that had very dis.
agreeable way Of disturbing our quiet
ness. was also very much interest
ed In your account Of the part your
brigade took in that days work. It
was terrible dag for both sides.
have often wondered what ever be.
came Of the pleasant, manly sergeant
with whom I chatted 80 freely on that
occasion, and who felt sure was q
true soldier, hence my surprise and
extreme pleasure in receiving your
letter. l am also glad that you are
among the living, and that the little
brown-eyed best girl did lot 90 back
on you for stay at home, hul pre-
ferrcd the boy in gray in 'Tige' An
derson's fighting brigade. I am also
glad your gun missed fire when you
was 30 anxious to down me, for am
confident by what you write must
have becn your especial object, for
the First Minnesota was on the ex-
trome right Of our limo at that time,
while yours was on the extreme left of
your line.
"Now, will you kindly tell me just
where it was that your gun snapped.
Was it before you changed your posi-
tion further to the left while get in
the field, and before you tumbled over
the fence, or after? It must have
been before, because while we were at
the fence at the edge of the woods most
OF the boys on my right were down be-
hind the fonce, but those on the left
were up and attending strictly to bus
iness. [ was standing up resting my
flagstaff on the fence in front Of
me. Directly in front of me
only few Johnnies were visible
IN the corn field, but they were send
ing In their compliments to us rather
more freely than was desirable to
wouns. Sergeant Bloomer sent me a
three-column clipping from the Still
water Daily Gazette, in which is q
most thrilling account of his awful
fate on that bloody field, which will
copy from. Il says
The Minnesota regiment was in the
thick of the fight during the entire
day and was located at the extreme
right. Sam Bloomcr was the color
bearer of the regiment and early in
sthe forenoon, about 8 clock, while
he was resting the flagstaff on fence
III front of him and the boys we're
lying down so the bullets and shells
from the enemy's guns could get by
without hindrance or delay, MIME
ball str-ck his right leg just below
the knee cap. passing straight
through.
At the place of egrcss the bullet
left CHASTITY wound. Sam says that's
the nature Of a mimic ball, that's the
way they arc built. Just about this
time our line was broken at least
driven back about half mile, leaving
its faithful color bearer to his fate.
Sam crawlcd to the foot of big oak
tree, organizing himself with tho tree
between him and the rebel FIRE, but as
our men fell back and the rebels occu-
pied the place, he found change Of
base desirable, and went over to the