Battle Reports
Report of Col. George L. Andrews
REPORT OF BG GEORGE H. GORDON, Commanding 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 12th (late Banks') Corps
SIR: In conformity with orders emanating from headquarters of the corps, I have the honor to report upon the part taken by my brigade, the Third of the First Division of your corps, in the recent battle of Antietam, near Sharpsburg, on the 17th instant:
The enemy, routed at passes of the South Mountain of the 14th, were rapidly pursued and brought to a stand near Sharpsburg, on the westerly side of Antietam Creek, on the 16th instant. Massed in rear of our forces, drawn up in line of battle under General McClellan, this corps, remaining inactive during the day, was moved on the night of the 16th and morning of the 17th to the right of our line to strengthen General Hooker, who had at noon of the 16th crossed the creek and engaged the enemy's advance.
Just after break of day we were aroused from a brief slumber by sharp firing of musketry in front of General Hooker's position. The corps, then commanded by the lamented Genral Mansfield, was by that officer immediately put in motion. My brigade, formed in columns of battalions closed in mass, I directed toward a battery which I was ordered to support, but before reaching the same I received a countermanding order to move forward with all possible dispatch to the support of General Hooker, then severely pressed. I moved accordingly my ployed masses by the flank at double-quick, gradually gaining deployment distance, thus throwing forward in line of battle on the right the Second Massachusetts Regiment, Colonel Andrews; in the center the Third Wisconsin, Colonel Ruger; on the left the Twenty seventh Indiana, Colonel Colgrove. The One hundred and seventh New York Regiment, Colonel Van Valkenburgh, I held in reserve, throwing them into the edge of a piece of woods on the left, which I was informed by an aide of General Hooker, who met me advancing, was to be held at all hazards. The only remaining regiment of my brigade, the Thirteenth New Jersey, I had, by direction of General Mansfield, thrown into the edge of a piece of woods behind my first position as a reserve. This regiment remained as posted during the delpoyment of my line and the posting of the One hundred and seventh New York.
While moving forward the three regiments referred to, an aide of General Hooker's, galloping rapidly toward my command, begged me to hurry forward. It was apparent, from the steady approach of the sound of musketry, that the enemy were advancing. Their shouts of exultation could be distinctly heard as the line of my deployed battalion, sustained on the right by Crawford's brigade and on the left by Greene's division, both of our own corps, advanced boldly to the front. Before the impetuous charge and the withering fire of our line, the enemy halted, wavered, fled in confusion, and sought shelter in the woods opposite from whence he had emerged. I immediately ordered the One hundred and seventh New York to support the movement of my advance line, at the same time sending my aide, Captain Wheaton, to bring up th etHirteenth New Jersey. We now held possission of the field, had driven the enemy into the concealment of the woods, and, by a partial change of front forward on our left, were advancing toward the center of the general line of battle.
General Mansfield had been mortally wounded at the commencement of the action while making a bold reconnaissance of the woods through which we had just dashed. The command of the corps here devolved upon you.
My brigade was now drawn up in two lines. In the first, the Second Massachusetts and the One hundred and seventh New York Regiments; in the rear, the Third Wisconsin and Twenty seventh Indiana. These latter regiments had suffered considerably. In the others the casualties had been unusually light. We were at this time re-enforced by General Sumner's corps, who, coming with shouts to the field, pushed across into the woods containing the enemy, and engaged him with ardor.
By your direction, I formed my brigade in line of battle in the edge of the woods through which we had charged. General Sumner's corps soon became warmly engaged. It was apparent that the rebels had received very strong re-enforcements. The tide of the battle again turned. Our forces were compelled to fall slowly back behind betteries posted in front of the woods the enemy had tried vainly to enter. More than driving our forces from the woods the enemy did not essay, or if he did, was foiled. The next movement of my brigade I am called on to report was ordered by General Sumner, through you. It was to move up toward the woods in front, to support th etroops there. The order, most urgent and imperative, furnished the only information I possessed that our forces had again entered the woods in our front. I deemed it of the utmost importance that my command should move forward with the least possible delay. I therefore in person gave the order to the regiments nearest me, without the formation of my entire brigade, intending to bring up other regiments to support or continue the line, as circumstances might require.
The Second Massachusetts and Thirteenth New Jersey were immediately put in motion. The Third Wisconsin and Twenty seventh Indiana Regiments, which, as before stated, had suffered seriously in a previous encounter with the enemy, were lying about 200 yards in front, concealed from the view of the enemy by a slight ridge. The One hundred and seventh New York was posted some distance to the left. The Second Massachusetts and Thirteenth New Jersey pushed forward, with great alacrity, suffiently far to find that the troops to be supported had retired, that a large force of the enemy lay concealed in the woods, while a not inconsiderable number showed themselves in the open fields beyond. These regiments were received with a galling fire, which they sustained and returned for a brief period, then fell back upon their supports. So strong was the enemy, that an addition of any force I could command would only have caused further sacrifice, without gain.
The loss in the Second Massachusetts was severe. Here fell, mortally wounded, Lieut. Col. Wilder Dwight, of this regiment, bravely fighting for his country. An official paper is not the place to express the sadness the death of this gallant officer brings to the regiment, in which his presence was so much left, as well as to many friends serving in the army, to whom he was much endeared.
I halted my command to report to you, sir, the position of the enemy, and was ordered to form a supporting line behind batteries in position on the left. The rebel lines again advancing, I then forwarded a portion of my brigade to support those nearly in front, while the One hundred and seventh New York Regiment was directed to support Captain Cothren's battery on the left. This fine regiment, but just organized and brought into the field, in this battle for the first time under fire, moved with steadiness to its perilous position, and maintained its ground until recalled, though exposed to a front fire from the enemy and a fire over its head from batteries in its rear.
About this time, in the order of events as narrated, I received an urgent call from General Greene, commanding the Second Division of our corps, to send him any re-enforcements I might have anc ould spare. General Greene at this time was gallantly holding a portion of the woods to the left, the right of which was held by the enemy in force. I directed the Thirteenth New Jersey, Colonal Carman, to support him. This regiment, also for the first time this day under fire, moved boldly and in an orderly manner toward General Greene's position, and I am much gratified to report that the general has spoken to me of their conduct in terms of high commendation. The services of my brigade during a portion of the remainder of the day were confined to forming a supporting line to fresher troops in our front.
Again, however, late in the afternoon, was I called into action by direct order, addressed in person by General McClellan to my brigade, to support General Franklin in his intended movement to the front upon the disputed woods. In conformity with this order, I formed my brigade in line of battle directly in rear of General Newton's brigade, of General Franklin's corps, and enacted orders from that officer, to whom I had sent a staff officer to report my position.
Captain Wheaton, my aide, immediately brought me an order to move my brigade to the support of a battery on the contested field, somewhat to the left and about 300 yards to the front of the position I then occupied.
The absence of General Crawford from the field, by reason of a slight wound, placed me at this time in command of the First Division of the corps. Turning over the command of my brigade to Colonel Ruger, of the Third Wisconsin, I conducted him to his assigned position, which he held during the night of the 17th instant. The First Brigade (Crawford's) of my division, commanded by Coloenl Knipe, of the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, was drawn up in line of battle, also supporting General Franklin's line, to the right of my original position.
Early in the morning the position of my division was again changed to the same direction, but somewhat in advance of the position of the evening before, supporting General Franklin. I held this line during the day and night of the 18th instant. The morning of the 19th revealed the fact that the enemy had fled under cover of the night.
Thus terminated a bloody and obstinate contest. From sunrise to sunset the waves of battle ebbed and flowed. Men wrestled with each other in lines of regiments, brigades, and divisions, while regiment, brigade and division faded away under a terrible fire, leaving long lines of dead to mark where stood the living. Fields of corn were trampled into shreds, forests were battered and scathed, huge limbs sent crashing to the earth, rent by shell or round shot. Grape and canister mingled their hissing scream in this hellish carnival, yet within all this and through it all the patriots of the North wrestled with hearts strong and nerve unshaken--wrestled with the rebel hordes that thronged and pressed upon them as to destruction; never yielding, though sometimes halting to gather up their strength; then with one mighty bound throwing themselves upon their foes, to drive them into their protecting forest beyond. We slept upon the bloody field of our victory.
I cannot too highly praise the conduct of my brigade of regiments, old and new. The Second Massachusetts, Colonel Andrews; the Third Wisconsin, Colonel Ruger; the Twenty seventh Indiana, Colonel Colgrove, I had a right to expect much of. I was not disappointed. Veterans of Winchester and Cedar Mountain, they can add to their laurels the battle of Antietam Creek. In this battle, I believe unaparalleled in this war in severity and duration, from sunrise to sunset ever under fire, at times severely, never free from musketry or artillery, officers and men behaved with most praiseworthy intrepidity and coolness. The One hundred and seventh New York, Colonel Van Valkenburgh, and the Thirteenth New Jersey, Colonel Carman, being new troops, might well stand appalled at such exposure, but they did not flinch in the discharge of their duties. I have no words but those of praise for their conduct. They fought like veteran soldiers, and stood shoulder to shoulder with those who had borne the brunt of war on the Peninsula, in the Shenandoah Valley, and from Front Royal to the Rapidan. They were led by those who inspired them with courage, and they followed with a determination to conquer or die. If I make special mention of the One hundred and seventh New York Volunteers, of my brigade, it is that I may speak of its colonel and lieutenant-colonel, Colonel Van Valkenburgh and Lieutenant-Colonel Diven, both of whom, members of the present Congress, have left their Congressional duties to organize and bring into the field this fine regiment for their country's service. The example of these gentlemen, leading their men into the fight, cheering them onward, themselves thoughtless of exposure, prominent in the advance, bearing extraordinary fatigues without a murmur, shows a willingness to sacrifice their comfort and their lives for their country. Let others of our prominent men do as thet have done, are doing, and the rank and file of our country will throng to follow such earnest leaders.
I owe especial thanks to the Hon. Charles R. Train, who volunteered his services on my staff at a time when fatiguing labor and most arduous service had deprived me of all my aides save one officer. This gentleman also has shown his willingness to lay down his life in his country's cause. The invasion of the loyal North called him from his Congressional duties and his home at a moment's notice. No fatigues, though excessive, no danger, though most perilous, deterred him from moving forward whenever he could render assistance in beating back the invading foe.
To Capt. Charles Wheaton, Jr., my aide, I am again indebted for valuable service, ever exposed and ever ready to move cheerfully into dangers, at a time when I was deprived of the valuable services of my adjutant-general, Capt. H.B. Scott, who was worn out by fatigue and exposure in the Army of the Potomac.
I cannot close this report without a recognition of the valor of the rank and file of my command. Every soldier, commissioned, non-commissioned, and private, deserves a nation's thanks...
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant
GEO. H. GORDON
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REPORT OF COL. GEORGE L. ANDREWS, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry
SIR: In compliance with orders from division headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Second Massachusetts Volunteers in the battle of September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Md.:
The evening preceding, the regiment was ordered forward to a place near the battle-field, to be in readiness, with other forces, to support General Hooker. The men were here allowed a few hours' rest. At about 6 o'clock in the morning of the 17th the regiment moeved with the rest of the Third Brigade, in column, to a point still nearer the scene of action, which had already commenced. From this point, after a short interval, a part of the brigade, including this regiment, which was on the right, was marched forward in column by battalion, with delpoying intervals. Having reached the farther edge of a wood in front, the columns were deployed in line and ordered to advance against the enemy, who occupied a wood opposite the left of the brigade and a corn-field in front of the center and right. This regiment, with the rest of the brigade, advanced, passing through one of our batteries, by which its movements were necessarily much impeded, and was halted in an orchard, some 75 yards in advance of the position taken by other regiments of the brigade. I formed the regiment in a broken line; the left perpendicular and the right parallel to the line of the other regiments. In front of the right, about 50 yards distant, were two regiments lying down. From my position a fire was opened, so directed as to cross that of the rest of the brigade, and which was delievered with perfect coolness, and evidently with great effect. I here witnessed the gallant manner in which the Third Wisconsin, under Colonel Ruger, sustained and replied to a destructive fire. The enemy was soon driven from his position, when our line was ordered to advance through the corn-field. The enemy fled from this part of the field, leaving it thickly strewn with his dead and wounded. The regiment was halted near one of our batteries, which was playing upon the enemy, receiving his fire in return. Up to this time the loss in this regiment had been very small.
Soon after this the corps of General Sumner passed us, advancing to attack the enemy in his near position, which was in a thick wood--his line being nearly at right angles with that of the Third Brigade, when advancing to the attack. The front of the brigade was then changed so as to take a position in the woods from which the enemy had been driven, and which was directly opposire the wood above mentioned. At about 12 o'clock (m.) this regiment, with the rest of the brigade, was ordered forward to the support of General Sumner's corps. The regiment advanced in line, the Thirteenth New Jersey on its right, to a lane, fenced on both sides, which offered a partial cover, and which was about 100 yards from the wood held by the enemy. Here the regiment received a very heavy fire from a large body of the enemy posted in the woods. Our fire was opened in return; but the enemy having greatly the advantage, both in numbers and position, his fire became very destructive.
Being unsupported, it was impossible to advance and a useless sacrifice of life to keep my position. The regiment was accordingly marched back in perfect order to the position from which it had advanced. This position, with some unimportant changes, was retained until evening, when the regiment, with the rest of the brigade, was ordered forward opposite the left of the wood held by the enemy, to support our batteries. Here it remained until the next morning.
Too much praise cannot be given to the officers and men of the regiment for their bravery and steadiness under the fire of the enemy, and for their general good conduct throughout the day. I would include in this commendation the few remaining men of the company of Zouaves d'Afrique attached to this regiment; their only remaining officer was necessarily absent, sick. Assistant Surgeon Stone, with his hospital attendants and the detachment of recruits detailed to take care of the wounded, rendered most efficient service. Although there was little opportunity for individuals to distinguish themselves, yet several of the non-commissioned officers and privates were conspicuous for bravery, coolness, and good conduct in action. They will be properly noticed.
I have to lament the loss of Lieut. Col. Wilder Dwight, who fell mortally wounded at the lane above mentioned, while displaying his usual coolness and courage under the fire of the enemy. The loss of this gallant officer, so beloved by officers and men, is most severely felt; but he has added another bright name to the glorious list of barve and noble men who have freely given their lives in the cause of their country. Captain Francis and Lieutenants Crowninshield and Mills were wounded, the latter severely. Of non-commissioned officers and privates, 12 were killed, 51 wounded, and 2 are missing. If the company of Zouaves d'Afrique, 3 were wounded, 1 of whom is missing.
I inclose the list of killed, wounded and missing, called for by orders from division headquarters.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE L. ANDREWS
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