"The battle of Antietum (Sharpsburg, MD) was fought Sept. 22, 1862. At this time John and James
Swanson were barracked in Rome, NY with the rest of Co. E. Many of these men (78) were from
the Camden area and had been recruited by their first cousin Gavin Lambie; and earned Gavin the
right to become Capt. of Co. E. the 146 Reg. (N.Y. Vols.) was waiting for their Colonel to arrive.
A West Point Graduate and Kentuckian by birth, Col. Kenner Garrard had just been paroled from
a Confederate prison the week before he took charge of the 146th.
"From Rome Co. E. went to N.Y.C. then by boat to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, finally into camp (Camp
Seward) which was situated across the Potomac from Washington D. C. on the road to Falls Church,
Va. Their first battle was at Fredericksburg, Va. Dec. 13, 1862. James and John Swanson were
soldiers of Co. E. - Capt. Gavin Lambie; 146th Regt. - Col. Kenner Garrard; 3rd Brigade - Gen.
Warren; 2nd Division - Gen. Sykes; 5th Corps (5th Oneida) - Gen. Daniel Butterfield; Army of the
Potomac - General Burnside. Confederate General Robert E. Lee was so well entrenched at
Fredericksburg that the Union Army was forced to retreat! The 146th Regiment was ordered to
cover the main army's retreat and as the moon rose at 4:30 a.m. would have to wait for the
darkness of the next night before they could follow. Much to the Swanson Bros. relief a
rainstorm came up obscuring the moon's light and the 146th followed just before daylight. Co.
E. carried the Regimental colors which put them in a dangerous position.
"Instead of going into winter quarters Gen. Burnside decided to wage a winter campaign and
dislodge Lee from Fredericksburg by making a flanking attack (instead of a frontal attack as
before). They left their camp at Falmouth, Va. Jan. 20, 1863 just as the winter rains
commenced. The army couldn't move in the sea of mud. Finally Burnside convinced that any
plans he had were useless - led a sodden army back to Falmouth. Both John Swanson and Gavin
were placed in the Camp Hospital. Gavin Lambie sent a dispatch (telegram?) to his family
which they did not receive and knew nothing until they received a letter from James Swanson
on Sat. Jan. 31st. Gavin's brother John Lambie and Gavin's wife Sophia left on the midnight
train but Gavin had found transportation home so was gone by the time his family arrived at
Falmouth. Gavin Lambie died at home Feb. 15, 1863 leaving an infant son Franklin. Gavin was
killed by Falmouth Mud March.
"The Army of the Potomac under Gen. Hooker fought Lee's forces in a 2nd growth forest with few
roads and fewer clearings. They met Lee in Battle May day 1863 and although Hooker had twice
the manpower it was Lee's battle all the way and finally Hooker retreated across the Rapidan
River on May 6, 1863. John Swanson and his brother James had survived what came to be know as
the Battle of The Wilderness called by the Confederates Chancellorsville from the largest
clearing where the Chancellor family home stood.
"The next big battle that the 146th was involved in was Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. John and
James 3rd Brigade (which included the 146th Regt.) was commanded by Brigadier - General Stephen
Weed. General Warren was now aid to the Commander of the Army of the Potomac - General Meade.
At every major battle the Army of the Potomac changed commanders in an attempt to find someone
the caliber of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Gen. Warren saw that Little Round Top was
indanger of being occupied by the Confederates - he called on his former command the 3rd Brigade
which was nearly to come to the rescue. Gen. Stephen Weed was killed by a sharpshooter
concealed in a group of large boulders called Devil's Den. Col. Pat O'Rourke of the 140th Regt.
took over the command of the 3rd Brigade and was also killed by a bullet from "Devil's Den".
Then Col. Garrard of the 146th became 3rd Brigade C. O. He survived as did John and James
Swanson. After Gettysburg Gen. Warren asked and received his old 3rd Brigade back. I guess he
would rather lead his men as a brigadier General than have the honor of being the Top Command's
staff behind the lines. Meade did not pursue Lee in retreat July 4.
"Now we come to the Spring of 1864. Ulyssus S. Grant became the Commander of the Army of the
Potomac - Lee had met his match! First battle of the Spring Offensive - Gen. Grant met Lee
again in the 2nd Battle of the Wilderness. The same place they were a year ago exactly - In
May 1863 - in May 1864 both the first week of the month. James and John Swanson were now Co. E.
- I don't know the leader; 146th Regt. - Col. David T. Jenkins; Brigade 1 - Gen. Ayres; Div. 1
- Gen. Griffin; Corps 5 - Gen. Warren. The 146th took the most losses at this battle than any
during the war. Among the losses was John Swanson's brother James. No time for burials - no
time for grief - Grant and Lee did a continuous dance towards the confederate capitol of
Richmond, Va. -- Lee would retreat and dig in ! Grant would follow and attack: Day after
Day - no time to rest.
"1864:
May 5-7 Battle of Wilderness, Va.
May 8-21 A series of battles lumped together and called Spotslyvania Count House Battle, Va.
May 22-26 Battle of North Anna, Va.
May 27-31 Battle of Totopotomoy
May 31-June 12 Battle of Cold Harbor, Va.
This included Bethsda Church, Va. June 2 - John Swanson was captured confined Libby Prison,
Richmond, Va. then Andersonville, Georgia - Parolled Feb. 1865 - Discharged July 1865."