The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-12-25
|StOry Of the Battle Of Antietam
As Told in Letter Written Fifty Years Ago
By J. {. Richmond

formerly a resident of the City of
Carbondale in the early COS. When
the "Wurts Guards" marched off to
the war from that place with colors
flying and by the sound of fife and
drum Mr.. Richmond was one of the
number. The day after the battle of
Antietam he stood on the battlefield
and a week later he wrote the fol-
lowing letter to the editor of the
Carbondale Advance, now the weekly
edition of the Leader, and described
what he saw. The following is the
letter written fifty years ago, taken
from the Carbondale Leader with
permission of J. E. Richmond.
Hagerstown, Md, Sept. 20, 1862.
Saturday evening in Camp.
E. A Benedict, Esq, Ed. Advance,
Dear Sir:-Agreeably to my prom
Use, to keep you advised of the
whereabouts and doings of the
"Wurts Guards" and matters con-
nected with our present campaign,
/ sit down in my tent this eve to ar
range the hurried notes | have TAX
en- of affairs up to this date. ! write
with the sound of cannon in the dis
tance, and by going outside the tent
l can see the flashes of guns towards
the Potomac.
We think a brisk engagement is
going on at no great distance, and it
is not improbable that within the
next twenty-four hours our regiment
may be called on to participate in 1t.
Gen. Kenly's brigade of Maryland
troops marched through town this
morning on their way to the Poto-
mac, and l think it probable they
have come up with the rebels and
engaged them. This bridage came in
early this morning from Baltimore
via Harrisburg. But what is now
going on in front is mere matter of
conjecture, and l will proceed to give
an account of the stern realities of
war, which l have already met with.
You have probably learned about
our arrival at Harrisburg and being
sent to this place, so that it will be
unnecessary for me to refer to the
circumstances attending our trip
hither / will therefore, confne my
self chiefly to a brief narrative of
scenes which none of our company
but myself have yet witnessed, and
describe what l saw on the battle
field of Antitam.
Wednesday last was the day of the
great battle. On Thursday morning
when we reached this place every
thing was quiet, though we heard
from the people about town that a
great battle had been fought the day
before within eleven miles of this
place (Hagerstown) and the Mayor
has issued a proclamation requiring
all places of business to be closed
and all able-bodied men to do down
to the battlefield to assist in taking
care of the wounded.
During the forenoon news came
that Jacksons army had surrender
ed, which occasioned great excite
ment, but it has not been confirmed.
Yesterday morning, not feeling well
enough for camp duty, Capt. Nicol,
with the kindness and consideration
which he has ever shown to me and
to the men under his command,
granted me "leave of absence" for
the day, and l determined to improy e
the opportunity by making a visit 10
the battlefield. | had been sick at
Harrisburg, but determined to keep
up with the company as long as pos
sible, and that / have been able to
do so is owing, in a great measure,
to the generous assistance of my
mess mate, w. w. Lathrope, and
Hon. j. NJ. Poore, our popular eX-
Mayor Mr. Poore, with the energy
that characterized him in everything
placed himself under forty-five, and
taking my place in the ranks, with
knapsack slung and musket should
cred, acted we'll the part OF sold
ier. The rebel army, before evacuat-
ing Hagerstown took all the provis-
ions available, even to the last LOAF
of bread at the Washington Hotel
where Mayor Poore and myself took
breakfast the following morning
The proprietor told us they cleaned
us out of most everything In set
tlement of our bill of $500 / offer.
ed them Troy City" money worth
par which he refused and ! gave him
a $500 bill of Northwestern money
worth twenty cents on the dollar, he
paying the change in silver. Early
yesterday morning | took a seat in
an ambulance and started for the
field. The ambulance also contained
five citizens, who went down fol
curiosity, rather than a desire tC
render assistance. We were told
however, that the pickets would mo-
let us pass the lines. When we came
to the guard stationed a short dis
tance from the field, we were stop
ped, and the question asked OF all
except my self and a surgeon who
had just Joined us, Did you come IL
render assistance or from curiosity?'
All were obliged to confess to the
latter motive, and sure enough, they
were not allowed to proceed further
/ was surprised at being allowed tC
pass on unquestioned when other
were stopped, and did not, at first
quite understand what it meant
Presently / found myself addressed
as surgeon" and soon perceived
that my blue army clothing, whicl
closely resembled the uniform of ou
surgeon, had led our men to tak'
me for one OF the profession, anC
this mistake procured for me libert.
to go pretty much where / pleased
The first sight that greeted m!