The National tribune., 1908-04-30
PATRICK'S BRIGADE.
It's Shhre in the Stormy Scenes On the
Right at Antietam.

Right at Antietam.
Editor National Tribune: Having just
finished reading your excellent, and to
my mind impartial, description of the
battle of Antietam, and also studying
Z. the diagram or plan of the battlefield
as published in The National Tribune
of Dec. 2e, 1907, 1 cannot see how
Sedgwick's Division got into the West
Woods from the direction and by the
line of march laid down for them on
the diagram, as they would have had
to climb two post and rail fences on
each side of the Hagerstown turnpike
and that would have broken their for
nation and thrown them into confu-
sion. 1 think there must be some mis-
take as to the route Sedgwick took
when he made his advance into West
Woods. If you will grant me the space
in your esteemed paper L will tell what
/ saw with my own eyes of what was
supposed to be Sedgwick's Division go
ing into and coming out Of West Woods
on Sept. II, 1862.
In order to do so l will give a con-
else statement of the movements of my
regiment, the 23d N Y, on that day.
Brigade, Doubleday's Division 1t was
commanded by Col. H. c. Hoffman, as
cool-headed, brave and gallant a man
as ever wore shoulder straps l wish
TO say in general that the scene of oper-
ations of the 23d n. Y. and Patrick 5
Brigade was on the ID. r. Miller place,
to the south of the barn and west of
the turnpike and in the north edge of
the West Woods.
We did not go into the fight with
Gibbons Brigade and Meade's Division,
but when they were hard pressed Pat
rick's Brigade was ordered up to their
support. Before we came under fire
the 23d y. Y. was detached from the
brigade and sent to the right to guard
against a surprise from the enemy upon
our right and rear. We filed to the
right and crossed the PIKE, and We're
proceeding in the direction of the Po-
tomac, as / take il, when the order was
countermanded, and we were ordered
to rejoin~the brigade. We came back
by the left. flank on the double-auick,
and, as Col. Hoffman says in his report
of the battle, as published in our regi-
mental history, Joined the brigade just
in time to advance with it to the ledge
of rocks on the right of and in front
of Campbelrs Battery"
This was one Of the outcropping lime
stone ledges that were so plentiful in
that vicinity, and was about two and a
half or three feet high at the place
where my company stood. which was
just at the north Sdge of the West
Woods, so that the 1yht of the regiment
must have extended into the woods
some distance. The narrow clover field
between the pike and the woods had a
gradual slope from the pike down to
this place; then there was a perpen-
dicuiar descent of perhaps three feet;
then there was an old pasture field VIII,
a few old logs and stumps scattered
over it, extending west and north bor-
dered on the west and north by timber
and brush. This field surrounded the
ID. r. Miller barn, which was west of
the pike. Our position now was this:
We were lined up along this ledge of
rocks which was parallel to the pike,
which we were facing: that is, we were
facing east If we were connected with
the rest of the brigade, as our Colonel
says, they must have been on our left,
which would throw them in the vicinity
of the Miller house and barn The 23d
n. Y, then. was the right of the bri-
gade and the extreme right of the army.
and our line at right angles or almost
SO to the general line of battle that
was advancing thru the cornfield east
of the pike. In other words we were
on the flank of the enemy
Ordered 10 Aim Low
We We're ordered to opeY fire in the
direction of the pike and to aim low.
We could see there was fence along
the pike, and we were firing into it. In
this position we delivered Is or 20
rounds, when we were ordered TO ad-
vance across the clover field to the
pike, which we did on the run, giving
a cheer as we went
When arrived AT the fence x-e
were ordered to throw it down. but
could not. 1t was post and rail fence
almost new / should think. II was made
by mortising holes in the posts which
are wide and thrusting the ends of the
rails thru these holes so that they
Tapped several inches. Such a fence
can only be taken down by commenc-
ing at one end and taking out one panel
at time. We were ordered to climb
the fence, which we did, and jumped
! down into the road and advanced across
10 the east side, where we found anoth-
er fence of the same construction. We
were ordered TO open fire, which we
did. kneeling down and firing between
the rails.
How far these two fences extended
towards the bunker Church 1 cannot
say, but beyond the right OF our regi-
J ment / think. ] saw no dead rebels in
the road, but our Orderly fished -four
or five live ones out OF the ditch at the
side of the road and sent them TO the
rear under guard. We fired about the
same number of rounds here as we die
before, when we were ordered to re.
turn TO the ledge of rocks, as our righ
flank. which was ''in the air." was il
danger. We had to climb the fenc,
again. and the way the bullets were
! coming our way was a strong hint foi
us to do IL quickly, too
When we got into the clover field tn,
rest OF the regiment started in a tro
for the ledge. but ! was too mad tC
run, besides / had just fired my gur
p as we received the order TO retire, and
wanted another charge in that CUR
awfully bad, so ] just got a cartridg,
and tore If. and commenced to ram i
home, while / went in walk. but witt
pretty long strides. down the slope
When / arrived at the ledge the rest o
my company had just jumped dow
ard faced about. ] had just cappe,
my gun, and, still standing on the bank
said, Where are they?" One OF tn
boys. pointing to the right oblique to
wards the bunker Church, said, s.Ther
they are; can't you see them ?''
looked in that direction. and eouf,
plainly see a column of rebel troop
filing from the pike across the iittl
cleared strip into West Woods. j coul