"We immediately moved forward in line to assault the enemy's lines, under a severe and galling fire."

In the late afternoon of September 14 on the rolling hills outside of Burkittsville, Maryland, the 5th Maine Infantry deployed as part of the initial Union assault on the Confederate defenses at Crampton's Gap. Commanded by Colonel Nathanial Jackson, the regiment pushed forward on the left of Colonel Joseph Bartlett's brigade fighting to a standstill with the Confederate defenders before being forced to withdraw to resupply their cartridge boxes. The regiment would take part in the final bayonet charge up the side of the mountain that would capture Crampton's Gap. Colonel Jackson reported the regiment suffered 4 killed and 28 wounded in the fight.  Listed below are known casualties totaling 18 men (64% of reported in Official Report)


Killed:
Private John Bryant, Company I
Sergeant E.C. Chadbourne, Company C
Private Oliver Fletcher, Company I
Private Samuel Lufkin, Company I

Wounded:
Private Jonathan Alexander, Company G
Captain Hamlin Bucknam, Company K
Private James Cooley, Company G 
Private Abraham Chase, Company E
Private Charles Dore, Company K
Private John Godfrey, Company F
Private John W. Goodwin, Company B
Corporal S. W. Hatch, Company D
Private James Kelley, Company C
Private John Linscott, Company B 
Private William Maxim, Company B
Private John H. McIntire, Company B
Private Portland A. Wilson, Company G
Private Alvah Withee, Company H

Kemper's Fallen Virginians

Arriving at Turner's Gap in the late afternoon, James Kemper's brigade of Virginians were ordered to the embattled Confederate left that was on the verge of collapse. Arriving on the field, after a forced marched and a period of counter-marching around the mountainside , Kemper's brigade was deployed to the left of Richard Garnett's brigade. With Garnett's brigade becoming heavily engaged and forced back, Kemper's pulled back to a fence line where it would remain for the rest of the battle, holding the line until nightfall when the Confederates would retreat off the mountain. There is only one report from Kemper's brigade from this battle (Colonel Montgomery Corse's) so regimental deployment and reported losses from this battle are unknown. The following list are drawn from regimental rosters of known casualties from the battle: 2 killed, 27 wounded, 10 captured. A roster for the 24th Virginia Infantry could not be found at this time. As before, any casualties described as occurring in September 1862 are omitted due to lack of detail on place where the event occurred.

11th Virginia Infantry

Killed:
Private James B. Brugh, Co. G

Wounded:
Private Christopher S. Booth, Co. G
Private Hillary B. Brown, Co.E
Private Edward P. Burroughs, Co. B
Major Adam Clement, Regt.
Private Jacob A. Fluke, Co.D
Private Phillip Gibbs, Co. ? (died of wounds, 9/20/62)
Private John Hendrick, Co. D (captured also)
Corporal Tipton D. Jennings, Jr., Co.G
Private Louis C. Neville, Co. E (captured also)
Private Henry T. Thompson, Co.D
Sergeant Elijah H. Walker, Co. K

Captured:
 Private John M. Brafford, Co. K
Private William C. Courtney, Co. I


7th Virginia Infantry

Wounded:
Private Charles L. Atkins, Co. B (died of wounds 9/25/62)
Private Jordan R. Berny, Co. G
Private James I. Cole, Co. D (died of wounds, 9/25/62)
Private Baldwin L. Hoge, Co. D (captured also)
Private William D. Jarmen, Co. I
Color Bearer Tapley Mays, Co. D (died of wounds, 9/17/62)

Captured:
PrivateWilliam H. Brown, Co. C
Musician Francis M. Burrows
Private Champ Cambell, Co. G
Private Tim Darr, Co. D
Private John S. Dudley, Co. D

1st Virginia Infantry

Wounded:
Private John G. Daniel, Co. H
Private Andrew T. Minor, Co. I
Private William F. Pumphrey, (captured also)

Captured :
Private John Willey, Co. B

17th Virginia Infantry 

Killed:
Private Marcus D. Darr, Co. B

Wounded:
1st Lieutenant William W. Athey, Co. C
Private John Beach, Co. H
Private John Hixon, Co. D (died of wounds Jan. or Feb.1863)
Corporal Rueben Lane, Co. F
Priivate James R. Sullivan, Co. F
1st Lieutenant Albert M. Tubman, Co. E
Sergeant Francis M. Wallace, Co. C (captured and died of wounds, 9/29/62)

Captured:
Private Richard Mayhugh, Co. D
Private Jacob Willey, Co. B




 

Sources:

Bell, Robert T. 11th Virginia Infantry. [Virginia: H.E. Howard, 1985] pgs. 63-100

Riggs, David F. 7th Virginia Infantry. [Virginia: H.E. Howard, 1982] pgs. 61-101

Wallace Jr., Lee A. 1st Virginia Infantry. [Virginia: H.E. Howard, 1984] pgs.81-123

Wallace Jr., Lee A. 17th Virginia Infantry. [Virginia: H.E. Howard, 1990] pgs. 100-146

Remembering New Jersey's Fallen

New Jersey Monument, South Mountain

During the fighting that would take place at Crampton's Gap, Alfred Torbert's all-New Jersey brigade went into the fight at a critical moment. The  momentum of the Union assault stalled and the men of Joseph Bartlett's brigade were running out of ammunition. Torbert was ordered to advance his brigade and after a sharp fight, he ordered a charge. "A cheer, and the men went forward at the double-quick...", Torbert's men broke the Confederate line and pushed up the Burkittsville Road slamming into the flank of Confederate reinforcements that were hastily thrown into the fight. Flushed with victory, the New Jersey men push on and with other 6th Corps soldiers, gain control of Crampton's Gap. When the fighting was over, 174 men from New Jersey laid, killed or wounded, on the mountainside. Listed here are 58 of those men, 32% of those reported.

1^st New Jersey (Lt. Colonel Mark W. Coliet commanding)

 Killed:

            Private James Cox, Co. C

            Private John Brown, Co. E

            Private Joseph E. Dilks, Co. E

            Corporal Julius Houriett, Co. I

            Private Patrick McGourty, Co. I

            Private Kiren Campbell, Co. I

            Private Ernest Leu, Co. K

Wounded:

            Private Charles Melman, Co. B (died of wounds 10/31/62)

            Private Charles Exner, Co. C (died of wounds 10/18/62)

            Private George S. Heany, Co. D

            Private Charles Mclaughlin, Co. E

2^nd New Jersey  (Colonel Samuel Buck commanding)

Killed:

            Private William Callender, Co. A

            Private James P. Lyndon, Co. C

            Private John McMonigle, Co. C

            Private Jacob Windecker, Co. D

            Private Conrad Reis, Co. E

            Private Jerry Carroll, Co. F

            Private William Mcvay, Co. F

            Corporal George Somerville, Co. H

            Private Byron Lawton, Co. I

            Private William McCloud, Co. I

            Private Emanuel Boudiette, Co. K

            Private Andrew Hemberger, Co. K

Wounded:

            Private Jacob Smith, Co. B (Died of wounds 10/8/62)

            Private Thomas Kendall, Co. C (Died of wounds Sept. 1862)

            Private Samuel Mellor, Co. C (Died of wounds 11/1/62)

            Private Philip Tanner, Co. D (Died of wounds 10/7/62)

            Private William Kleine, Co. E

            Private Herman Jansen, Co. E (Died of wounds 10/1/62)

            Private Boles Taylor, Co. F

            Private David Burtchell, Co. H

            Private Jabez Fearey, Co. K

            Private Robert Grabeck, Co. K

            Private William A. Leibe, Co. K

            Private William Nalborough, Co. K (died of wounds 10/1/62)

3^rd New Jersey (Colonel Henry Brown commanding)

Killed:

            Private James T. Caffery, Co. A

            Private Michael Donnell, Co. A

            Private William J. Ballenger, Co. C

            Private Charles H. Bacon, Co. F

            Private Thomas B. Keen, Co. F

            Sergeant Theodore McCoy, Co. G

            Corporal Thomas Alcott, Co. H

            Private Hugh Loughran, Co. H

            Private David Harrigan, Co. I

            Private Anthony H.  Perry, Co. I

            Private William Garry, Co. K

Wounded:

            Private James Hollingsworth, Co. B

            Private James Williams, Co. E (died of wounds 9/17/62)

4^th New Jersey (Colonel William B. Hatch commanding)

Killed:

            Adjutant Josiah S. Studdiford, Regt.

            Private Samuel S. Hull, Co. B

            Sergeant George J. Pettit, Co. C

            Private Andrew Flash, Co. C

            Private Joseph E. Ware, Co. F

            Private Mitchell Walker, Co. I

            Private Daniel Dixon, Co. I

            Sergeant William W. Palmer, Co. K

            Private Robert C. Curry, Co. K

Wounded:

            Private Jesse G. Eastlack, Co. H (Died of wounds 03/27/63)

Sources:

New Jersey, Adjutant-General's Office. RECORD OF OFFICERS AND MEN OF NEW JERSEY IN THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865.[Trenton, NJ, John L. Murphy, Steam Book and Job Printer, 1876.] Two volumes. "Published by authority of the Legislature." William S. Stryker, Adjutant General. (found online at the New Jersey State Library)

Men of the Phillip's Legion

Listed here are a few photographs of men that would find themselves fighting for their lives during the savage afternoon fighting that would swirl around the Daniel Wise Cabin at Fox's Gap.

Captain Hamilton, 1864

 Captain Joseph E. Hamilton, Co. E:
Born in April 1839, Captain Hamilton was only 23 when he lead his company into the maelstrom that was the afternoon fighting at Fox's Gap. Commanding his company during the three regiment assault order by brigade commander Thomas F. Drayton, Hamilton would lead his company into the teeth of the massive Union 9th Corps. Under heavy musketry, the Hamilton would pull his men out of the fight but only after he was wounded and fortunately, he would be able to make his escape off the mountain. Hamilton would continue fighting until he was captured during the retreat to Appomattox. He would survive being sent to a northern prison and would live until 1907.

Capt. Johnson, circa 1863

Captain James M. Johnson, Co. L:
A native North Carolinian, Captain Johnson would spend much of his life living in Georgia where he would attend the Georgia Military Institute. He would serve in the 14th Georgia Infantry before returning to Georgia after being discharge for disability in December 1861. Not wanting to miss out on the war, he enlisted in what would become Company L, Phillips' Legion and was given command of the company as it's captain. Leading his company at South Mountain, Hamilton would be wounded in the thigh and the nature of his wound would cause him to fall into the hands of Union forces. He would be paroled and returned to Richmond by October 1862. He would survive the fighting at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg but would fall, mortally wounded, during the attack on Fort Saunders near Knoxville, Tennessee in late 1863. 

Lt. Jones, 1850's

1st Lieutenant Abraham Jones, Company D:
Initially serving as part of a Georgia State Brigade, Lieutenant Jones would find himself serving in Phillips' Legion in August 1861. Jones would serve with the regiment in the western Virginia campaign in late 1861 before the legion was sent back to the deep south to protect coastal areas. By July 1862, Jones was back in Virginia with the Legion as part of the newly created brigade of Thomas Drayton. During the ensuing campaign and victory at Second Manassas, Jones would write home that he believed the army was about to cross the Potomac. With his belief a reality, Jones would march on the roads of western Maryland eventually reaching Hagerstown on September 11. On September 14, Jones would find himself marching back towards South Mountain. Arriving on the mountain, Jones would find himself at Fox's Gap advancing through farmer Daniel Wise's South Field and into a woodlot. Suddenly firing breaks out and after a severe firefight, Phillips' Legion is forced from the field. Tragically, Jones would not be among the survivors. At some point during the fight, he would fall and he would be listed as killed as a result of the fighting. He would be buried with his fellow soldiers in mass graves in the fields around Fox's Gap. Here he would rest until the mid-1870's when the Confederate dead were recovered, if possible, and re-interred in Hagerstown, Maryland. If his grave was found, he is likely listed as an unknown among the over 2,000 Confederates buried in Hagerstown.

Chaplain George Gilman Smith:
Serving as the pastor of a small church in Georgia prior to the war, Chaplain Smith would find himself serving with the Phillips Legion when war broke out. He would, to his disdain, receive the moniker "fighting chaplain". Smith would find himself with the Legion's battle line as it advanced into Wise's South Field at Fox's Gap.  With the advance and confusion of the coming fight, Smith served as a sort of courier for the Legion to help avoid a friendly fire situation and also to warn General Drayton of a Union column advancing up the Old Sharpsburg Road. After warning Drayton, Smith saw that the Confederates were under fire from three directions. Rushing to warn the commander of the Legion, he saw them retreating in utter confusion. At this point, Smith would be severely wounded in the throat with a bullet entering his throat and exiting near his spine, paralyzing an arm. Smith would be carried off the field by a group of soldiers who believe his wound was mortal. Smith would survive his wounds and live until 1913. He wrote an account of his experience on the mountain that can be read here.


Sources:

Kurt Graham. Phillip's Georgia Legion - Infantry Battalion. Biographies-Photos-Reminiscences. [accessed 9/1/2012]

Casualties of Phelp's Brigade

Taking command of his brigade of just hours before leading it into battle, Colonel Walter Phelps, Jr. lead his four regiments of New Yorkers (22nd, 24th, 30th, and 84th regiments) against the lightly defended mountain spur. Phelps was initially ordered to support the Marsena Patrick's brigade as it advanced towards the mountain in strong skirmish lines. Phelps would instead, unknowingly, lead his brigade through a gap in Patrick's line and after advancing slowly, ascertained where the Confederate position was and advised division commander John Hatch. Hatch came to Phelp's and began urging Phelp's men forward. Hatch would be wounded as a result. Phelp's would push his brigade forward and after a heavy engagement, his men would force the Confederates back. Phelp's would hold his position until relieved by the brigade of Abner Doubleday. Phelps would stated that he would lead less then 400 officers and men into battle, losing 20 killed, 67 wounded, and 8 missing for a total of 95, a loss of "a fraction less than 25 percent". The 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters, who were assigned to this brigade, were serving on detached service and were not part of the brigades fight. Listed here are the sixty-one known casualties, 64% of those reported.


Killed:
Private Joseph D. Bryson, Co. H,  84th New York/14th Brooklyn
Private Nathanial C. Carshaw, Co. K, 84th New York/14th Brooklyn
Private George P. Coats, Co. E, 24th New York
Private James Evans, Co. K,  22nd New York
Private John Farrell, Co. D, 30th New York
Private John Gibson, Co. I, 30th New York
Private Henry W. Hathaway, Co. C, 22nd New York
Private Oliver S. Lackey, Co. B, 22nd New York
Private James McCauce, Co. A, 24th New York
Private William McMurray, Co. A, 30th New York 
Private William G. Miller, Co. A, 84th New York/14th Brooklyn
Private Charles Mussehl, Co. F, 84th New York/14th Brooklyn
Private John Neason, Co. G, 22nd New York
Private Daniel Pendell, Co. F, 22nd New York
Private Jonathan G. Porter, Co. A, 22nd New York
Private Samuel R. Rose, Co. A, 84th New York/14th Brooklyn
Private Charles Stickney, Co. B, 22nd New York
Private James Sullivan, Co. H, 30th New York
Private Francis Weaver, Co. A, 24th New York
Private Seldon Whitney, Co. H, 22nd New York
Private John Wright, Co. A, 22nd New York

Wounded:
Private Michael Ariel, Co. C, 22nd New York
Private Frank Aubin, Co. E, 22nd New York
Private Albert W. Bailey, Co. A, 24th New York
Private Suell J. Baldwin, Co. G, 24th New York
1st Lieutenant Severin Beaulien, Co. D, 24th New York
Private Wilber B. Buswell, Co. E, 22nd New York (died of wounds, 9/15/62)
Private Sylvester Clark, Co. C, 24th New York
Private William D. Coddington, Co. D, 84th New York/14th Brooklyn (died of wounds, 9/19/62)
Private Micheal Connolly, Co. F, 84th New York/14th Brooklyn
Private John Cunningham, Co. B, 84th New York/14th Brooklyn
Private Frank Cutler, Co. H, 24th New York (died of wounds, 10/14/62) 
2nd Lieutenant Charles S. Doubleday, Co. H, 22nd New York
Captain William D. Ferguson, Co. G, 24th New York
Private Charles Gillgan, Co. A, 24th New York
Private Adam A. Hoffman, Co. C, 30th New York (died of wounds, 11/6/62)
Private Derenzie R. Holley, Co. K, 24th New York
Private Michael Keefe, Co. F, 24th New York
Private Thomas Keefe, Co. A, 30th New York (died of wounds, 9/27/62)
Private William E. Kelly, Co. H, 30th New York 
Private Charles H. Kile, Co. K, 30th New York 
Private Henry Limteoh, Co. H, 24th New York
Private David Lody, Co.I, 24th New York
Private William Madden, Co. B, 84th New York/14th Brooklyn
Private Charles McCauley, Co. F, 24th New York
Private Thomas McDougall, Co. H, 24th New York
Private Charles McIntyre, Co. E, 30th New York 
Private John Murray, Co. A, 22nd New York (died of wounds, 10/23/62)
Private Erastus North, Co. C, 24th New York
Captain Melzar Richards, Co. D, 24th New York
Private Alanson Pearson, Co. C, 84th New York/14th Brooklyn (died of wounds,10/27/62)
Private Henry Seeman, Co. F, 24th New York
Private Erwin Shutts, Co. I, 24th New York
Private Orlando Sykes, Co. B, 24th New York
Private William H. Taylor, Co. C, 24th New York 
Private William Tero, Co. C, 22nd New York
Private Gorgon F. Veilie, Co. B, 22nd New York
Private Louis Vermit, Co. G, 22nd New York
Private Enos Weed, Co. H, 24th New York 
Private Knight D. Whitney, Co. K, 24th New York
Private Alva J. Williams, Co. B, 22nd New York



Sources:

New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs: Military History. New York State Military Museum, 22nd New York roster. [accessed 8/31/12]

Ibid. 24th New York roster. [accessed 8/31/12]

Ibid. 30th New York roster. [accessed 8/31/12]

Ibid. 84th New York/14th Brooklyn roster. [accessed 8/31/12

The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of of the records of the Union and Confederate Armies; Series 1, Volume 19 (part 1), pgs. 231-231.

"He died for his country, facing the enemy, like a brave soldier"

The following is a letter that was written following the death of Private Rueben Hunley to his wife by one of his comrades in arms, Emory Mitchell. It is an answer from a request by Private Hunley's wife about the particulars of his death. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to attempt to provide some solace to Mrs. Hunley. It is also noteworthy that that Mitchell took that time to write Rueben's wife providing the chaotic experiences he had just witnessed. Private Rueben is the same soldier that wrote the letter I posted previously, that can be viewed here.

  

Camp near Sharpsburg

Md. Oct. 8, 1862

Mrs. Huntley,

I have just received a letter from Mr. Weston. He said you wished me to write the particulars in regard to the death of your husband. It was dark when he was shot. There was no one within ten or twelve feet of him. Our company were in front as skirmishers and there fore were scattered no two together but he was seen to fall as if shot dead and was not heard to speak. The next morning I went and found him and had him carried off the field. When I found him, his knapsack had been robed of everything worth taking so I could not find anything worth sending to you. He was shot through the breast and I think he must [of] died instantly. He was my tent mate and I feel lonesome since his death. but he died for his country and faceing the enemy, like a brave solder.  He was burried decently by one of our company. Witch is better than some of our brave boys fared. I am sorry I cannot give you more information. I will close by sending my respects to all inquiring friends.

E. Mitchell. 

Sources:

Huntley, Reuben  Letters, 1861-1862 [unpublished]. University of Wisconsin Digital Collections http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.Huntley [accessed 5/22/2012.]

"His place can hardly be filled....": Captain Wilson Cowell, 2nd Wisconsin Infantry

This is a photo of Captain Wilson Cowell of Co. B, 2nd Wisconsin Infantry. Captain Cowell was killed in action leading the skirmishers that were covering the advance of the 2nd Wisconsin along the National Pike towards Turner's Gap.

Cowell was born April 12, 1827 the oldest of five children. In 1858, after working for his father, Cowell moved to La Cross, Wisconsin and founded the Katayan Bank. Becoming deeply involved with his new home, he was elected as mayor of La Cross in April 1861 but events on the national level would cause Cowell to instead enlisted on April 18, 1861, just having turned 34 years of age. Having served as a captain in a pre-war militia unit, Cowell was quickly given the rank of captain.  He would lead Company B in the fighting at First Bull Run, Groveton, Second Bull Run, and Chantilly before losing his life at South Mountain. He was extremely loved by the men of his company and a story that veterans later remember was during the First Battle of Bull Run when an artillery shell struck within his company. Cowell, calmly taking out his pipe and lighting it, sat in the spot where the shell struck stating that lightening does not strike twice in the same spot.

Cowell's remains would be transported back to his birthplace of Kittanning Cemetery in Kittanning, Pennsylvania.  A poem, entitled Tobacco Road, was written by a soldier in Company B following his death. A brief excerpt:

'Twas an evening in September,
When we charged famed "Turner's Pass,"
That we found our brave commander
Lying bleeding on the grass.

A comrade gently raised his head
To see if there was life;
But alas, the vital spark had fled
With his last words, "Oh, my wife!"

Before we ceased our cannonade
Into the South Mountain's door,
A wail went from the Iron Brigade,
Brave Colwell is no more.

Captain Cowell's final resting place

 Sources:

1.Unknown author. Wilson B. Cowell page  [accessed 4/17/12]

2. Ralph Sattefield.  findagrave.com (Cowell Grave). [accessed 4/17/12]

2nd Lieutenant William G. Dekle, Jr., Co. F, 50th Georgia Infantry. KIA Fox's Gap

This is a photograph of 2nd Lieutenant William Grissom Dekle, Jr. who served in Co. F, 50th Georgia Infantry. He enlisted in the 50th in the spring of 1862 and was elected 2nd lieutenant in June of 1862. Dekle would find himself crossing the Potomac into Maryland with Thomas F. Drayton's brigade in early September 1862 as Robert E. Lee moved his army northward for the first time in the war. On September 14th, the 50th would find itself marching to the aid of Daniel H. Hill's division, which had come under heavy pressure from Union forces advancing against the vital gaps on South Mountain. The 50th would march towards Fox's Gap and would constitute the  Confederate left during the afternoon fighting with  Co. F marking the extreme left.

At around 3 P.M., General Drayton ordered the Philip's (GA) Legion, the 3rd South Carolina Battalion, and the 15th South Carolina out of the Old Sharpsburg Road and into Daniel Wise's South Field. With this movement, the 50th moved from a position in Wise's North Field and into the road to support the advancing Confederate infantry. Suddenly, the roar of musketry broke the afternoon silence and the three regiments sent into Wise's South Field came under heavy attack to the front as well as their left. Lieutenant Dekle's Company F, along with the remainder of the 50th and the 51st Georgia, supported the exposed regiments the best they could. The company began to take fire from the left flank and rear as the fight reached a climax. The fire was coming from the 45th Pennsylvania and 46th New York from Thomas Welsh's Union brigade  and devastating volleys of musketry were coming from the 17th Michigan infantry (Benjamin Christ's brigade) that had gain the rear of the Confederate battle line. The devastating fire swept the 50th Georgia, especially Company F, leaving Confederate dead and wounded laying thick in the Old Sharpsburg Road. When the fighting had ended, Company F had lost 12 killed, 17 wounded, and 7 missing, the number of men from Company F escaping unscathed can be counted on one hand. Among the dead was Lieutenant Dekle. He would be buried in an unmarked grave beside the dozens of Confederate dead that littered the fields around Fox's Gap.  Dekle's remains would remain at Fox's Gap until after the war when in the 1870's an effort was begun to re-inter the Confederate dead from South Mountain and Antietam in on cemetery. Dekle is now buried, as an unknown, along side over 2,000 Confederate soldiers in the Washington Confederate Cemetery at Rose Hill Cemetery in Hagerstown, Maryland. To note, Dekle's wife, Susan, upon her passing in 1911, requested to be buried in an unmarked grave as her husband was in 1862.

Sources:

1. Thomas County Historical Society and Museum of History.

2. Photo