New quote from the 50th Georgia

The following is a quote that was recently found by my former colleague and Maryland Park Service Historical Interpreter John Miller. It comes from George E. Fahm who had enlisted as a private in Company E ,"Thomas County Rangers", of the 50th Georgia Infantry in March 1862. He would be appointed 3rd Sergeant in early August 1862 and he would be promoted to 2nd Sergeant in October 1862. In April of 1863, he would be elected the junior 2nd lieutenant of the company and he would be promoted to captain in 1864.  He would continue fighting with the regiment until he was captured during the retreat  following the fall of Richmond and Petersburg in April 1865 and he would be held at Johnson's Island until June 18, 1865. During the course of his service he was wounded twice; at Sharpsburg in September 1862 and Chancellorsville in May 1863. This quote describes the carnage of the fighting in the Old Sharpsburg Road during  the afternoon Union assault that swirled around the Daniel Wise cabin.

A big thanks goes out to John for sharing this quote with me.

"Company E was composed of sixty-five effective men, and of this company thirty-three were killed in the line of battle and twenty-seven were wounded. Five were all who came out unhurt. Seven of the eight color bearers, four on each side of the flag, or colors of the regiment, in that fearful battle, seven of these eight men were killed where they stood; the eighth man was wounded; the flag, flag-staff, clothing, cap and blanket of the color bearer (myself) showed thirty-two bullet holes, and yet most strangely to relate, I did not receive a scratch in that battle. Surely God was with me in that fearful struggle.”

Sources:

John A. Miller, South Mountain State Battlefield

Roster of Company E, 50th Georgia

Allan Ogborn, 19th Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Allan Ogborn, Company B, 19th Indiana

Above is a photo of Allan Ogborn from the 19th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Born in March 1840 Ogborn enlisted as a private in Company B, the "Richmond City Greys", in Wayne County, Indiana in July 1861. He is pictured here as corporal in late 1861. He would fight with the 19th in the battles of the late summer and fall of 1862, including South Mountain where the 19th Indiana assailed the right of Alfred Colquitt's confederate brigade. He would survive the fighting on the mountain. He would be promoted to sergeant and serve in this capacity until Gettysburg. At Gettysburg, he would receive a mortal wound on July 1st during the Iron Brigade's epic stand on McPherson's Ridge. He would be transported from the battlefield to a hospital in Philadelphia where he would pass away on July 18, 1863. His body was returned home to Wayne County where he is buried at the Sugar Grove Cemetery.  

Sources:

1. Corporal Allan Ogborn, Indiana History

2. 7thwisconsin.org: 19th Indiana, Co. B roster

In memory, Memorial Day 2011

With Memorial Day upon us, let us not forget those that have fallen in defense of our country. While we enjoy the numerous cookouts and jump in the swimming pool for the first time this summer, let us remember that a families father or mother; son or daughter; brother or sister paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to enjoy these freedoms whether it be those that gave us freedom in the Revolution or those who are serving overseas today, let us remember their sacrifices. The following is a poem that I came across today.

In Loving Memory

By Joanna Fuchs

On every soldier’s tombstone
should be a message of honor, respect and love:
"In loving memory
of one who loved his country,
who fought against evil
to preserve what is right and true and good.
In loving memory
of one who is a cut above the rest of us,
who had the surpassing courage,
the uncommon strength,
to do whatever had to be done,
persevering through hardship and pain.
In loving memory
of one who was brave enough
to give his life, his all,
so that those he cared about
would remain safe and free.
In loving memory
of a unique and treasured soldier
who will never be forgotten."

Private George Detrick, 23rd Ohio, KIA Battle of South Mountain
Buried at Antietam National Cemetery

I also encouraged those to visit the graves of these brave and fallen men and women at national cemeteries across the country. I will end with links to the casualties lists of those regiments and brigades that I have posted to this blog in honor of those men, blue and gray, that gave their last full measure of devotion. We must never forget.

23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

50th Georgia Volunteer Infantry

North Carolina's Fallen

96th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Pennsylvania Reserves

John Gibbon's Iron Brigade

Thomas F. Drayton's Confederate Brigade

Robert E. Rodes Fallen Alabamians

Happy Birthday to Bloody Prelude

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of the beginning of this blog. It amazes me how far this blog as come in the past year, especially since it deals with the Battle of South Mountain, the overlooked battle of the 1862 Maryland Campaign. I just hope that this blog as help raise awareness about this important battle here are some tidbids from the past year.

My very first blog post was about Brigadier General Samuel Garland, Jr. who was killed during the battle at Fox's Gap. You can read this entry here.

I would also like to note the 5 most popular post according to you the reader. They are:

1. Birth of the Iron Brigade: This entry narrates the thrust up the National Pike made by John Gibbon's all Western brigade against the Confederates defending Turner's Gap. It can be read here.

2. The Slaughter of Drayton's Brigade: This entry list the nearly 500 known casualties suffered by Thomas Drayton's Confederate brigade during the afternoon fighting around the Daniel Wise Cabin at Fox's Gap. It can be seen here.

3. The men have stood like iron: This entry list the known casualties suffered by the Iron Brigade during its furious assault against Turner's Gap. It can be found here.

4. 2nd Mississippi Regiment at South Mountain and beyond: This post is a narrative discussing the role the 2nd Mississippi played in the fighting at South Mountain and the remainder of its war career. It can be read here.

5. The "Rock of South Mountain": This post discusses the life and civil war career of General Alfred Colquitt with an emphasis on his role as the defender of Turner's Gap on September 14, 1862. It can be read here.


I send a thank you out to everyone who stops in to check out my little blog. Thanks for you continued support and heres to another year of Bloody Prelude.

Fallen Ohioan's of the 23rd Ohio

Regimental Colors, 23rd Ohio

The 23rd Ohio Volunteer infantry was part of Colonel Eliakim Scammon's brigade of the Kanawha Division. On the morning of September 14, 1862, the 23rd Ohio was encamped just outside of Middletown, Maryland and at about 6 A.M., the regiment began its march towards Turner's Gap in support of Alfred Pleasonton's cavalry division. Upon reaching what is today Marker Road, General Jacob Cox ordered his division to proceed up this road and onto the Old Sharpsburg Road to outflank the Confederates in position at Turner's Gap from the south. This sent the 23rd Ohio and their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes on a collision course with the 5th North Carolina Infantry of Samuel Garland's Brigade, which was at the moment marching with all speed towards Fox's Gap. Marching up the Old Sharpsburg Road and then up a mountain path called the Loop Road, the 23rd Ohio constituted the left flank of Scammon's brigade. Going into line of battle about a mile south of Fox's Gap, the regiment advanced out of the woods and at 9:00 a.m., slammed into the skirmishers of the 5th North Carolina, touching off what would become the Battle of South Mountain. For the next two hours, the 23rd battled North Carolina's sons in the fields south of the important intersection at Fox's Gap. After George Crook's brigade was ordered into the fray, the Ohioan's pushed back the North Carolinian's and began advancing on Fox's Gap itself before being halted by a determined Confederate counterattack. The 23rd had suffered terribly in its morning fight losing Lt. Colonel Hayes with a shattered arm. The regiment would participate in some skirmishing during the afternoon fighting and for the day it would lose 32 killed, 95 wounded, and 3 missing. Below are those known casualties pulled from the muster rolls of the regiment. Of the 130 casualties, 93 men are known accounting for 71% of the regiments casualties. A portrait of Private George Detrick, who was killed during the battle can be seen here.

Killed:
Private George W. Baker, Co. E
Private Isaac W. Barker, Co. D
Private Joshua L. Barnes, Co. A
Private Albert J. Colbert, Co. I
Private Silas S. Collar, Co. B
Private William S. Crepps, Co. G
Private David A. Curtis, Co. I
Private George W. Detrick, Co. F
Private Robert A. Dixon, Co. I
Private Townsend G. Dixon, Co. C
Private John Dunn, Co. A
Private Hiram Durkee, Co. D
Private William Edwards, Co. F
Private Stafford A. Grant, Co. I
Corporal Jesse Hill, Co. I
Private Philander J. Hinds, Co. I
Private Frederick Hooker, Co. D
Private John W. Kiser, Co. G
Corporal Archibald Moore, Co. F
Private Robert P. Pierson, Co. I
Private John S. Pinney, Co. G
Sergeant Major Eugene L. Reynolds, Regiment
Private Thaddeus A. Roas, Co. A
Private William Severance, Co. I
Private George W. Shaffer, Co. H
Private Edward Sims, Co. D
Corporal Mark  Slonaker, Co.G
Private Benjamin B. Smith, Co. F
Corporal Francis C. Smith, Co. I
Private Henry H. Smith, Co. D
Private Thomas J. Smith, Co. I
Private Thomas G. Wells, Co. K
Private Issac N. Whitney, Co. H
Private Robinson Wiggins, Co. H
Private David Williams, Co. E

Wounded:
Sergeant Joshua A. Armstrong, Co. F
Corporal Eli F. Botsford, Co. A
Private Henry L. Braddish, Co. A (Captured)
Private Charles V. Brookman, Co. C (Mortally)
Private William Brown, Co.K
Private Jacob Burkhart, Co. F
Private Henry Burmaster, Co. A
Private Ogden M. Clow, Co. I
Private Thomas O. Conners, Co. A
Private Robert B. Cornwall, Co. A (Mortally)
Private Issac N. R. Crawford, Co. H
Corporal John Elder, Co. H
Private Van F. Fitch, Co. E
Private Martin Haacke, Co. C
Private George W. Harper, Co.H
Private Wilson B. Harper, Co. H (Mortally)
Private Jacob Hartman, Co. D
Lt. Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes, Regiment
Sergeant A.L. Heliger, Co. E
Private August Herthneck, Co. B
Private Isaac Hill, Co. K
Private William Holcomb, Co. D
Sergeant George W. Holeton, Co. E
Private Byron W. Hosford, Co. C
Private Joseph A. Joel, Co. A
Private Christian Kesler, Co. H
Private John S. Kirkwood, Co. F
Sergeant Frederick F. Koontz, Co. G
Sergeant Aaron Koplin, Co. F
Private William H.H. Liggett, Co. H
Sergeant John H. Lindley, Co. D (Mortally)
Private Thomas Moore, Co. E
Private Henry W. Parsons, Co. H (Mortally)
Private William W. Rech, Co. H
Private David I. Richardson, Co. H (Mortally)
Private Jacob E. Rife, Co. H
2nd Lieutenant Martin V. Ritter, Co. C
Private Joseph J. Roop, Co. G
Private Sylvester Rounsville, Co. I
Private Francis E. Sammis, Co. K
Private Morris Schneider, Co. I
Private Walter B. Selby, Co. H
Private Miles Shadwick, Co. D
Private Martin Siples, Co. D
Captain John W. Skiles, Co. C
Private William H. Snyder, Co. H
Private Fitzerland Squires, Co. K (Mortally)
Corporal Emanuel Stover, Co. H
Private Enos Taylor, Co. F
Private Edwin B. Thomas, Co. A
Private James A. Thomas, Co. F
Sergeant George E. Tyler, Co. I
Corporal Asa M. Vansickle, Co. A
Corporal John Whetstone, Co. E
Private Daniel Whisler, Co. G
Private Hiram N. Young, Co. C

A Thank You

Today marks my last day working as a National Park Service intern at South Mountain State Battlefield. It may be cliche to say that it only feels like yesterday that I started here but thats how I feel. This year went by way to fast. Coming up here, I knew very little about the Battle of South Mountain except from what I've read in various books about the Maryland Campaign but leaving here I feel like I have a grasp on the events that occured on that bloody sunday in 1862. I'd like to thank the National Park Service and the Maryland Park Service for giving me the opportunity to work at this wonderful site. The State of Maryland has something really special here and I feel proud that I was able to help interpret this wonderful battlefield with the Maryland Park Service Staff. It was special to me that I got to see the original stonewalls at Fox's Gap, the land over which the Iron Brigade earned its famous moniker at Turner's Gap, and the site where the war could have been ended at Crampton's Gap. I'll stop here so that I don't continue to ramble, so I'd like to thank again the National Park Service and the Maryland Park Service for this opportunity that I will never forget.

I would like to thank my wife, Heather, for supporting me while I worked here and with this blog. She was my first reader and she helped me gain confidence with writing this blog as well as giving tours. If you know me, I'm a kinda shy person so I just sit there and be quiet. She was the one I gave my first tour to. She helped me feel comfortable giving the tour and she helped point out little things that I needed to work on, like not mumbling, so that I could do the best I could. Thank you babe, I couldn't have done it without you.

I would also like to thank the readers of this blog for your support. It started out as a way for me to  remember what I was learning when I firsted started out. Now it will be away for me to continue learning about this important battle as well as educating the public about the events that occured here. The blog will continue until every last resource I have avaliable to me is exhausted and then I'll just write some more. I truely love this battlefield and I feel that it is finally getting its place in the spotlight. Thank you and I hope that you will continue to support my efforts as well as the efforts of the National Park Service and the Maryland Park Service in interpreting (NPS) and preserving (MPS) this place where thousands of American's shed their blood for the cause in which they believed. Thank you.

A Texan's Diary

Presented here are the diary entries of Sergeant Robert G. Holloway of Co. I, 4th Texas Infantry. It begins on September 7, 1862 and concludes on September 21st. While the 4th Texas was not heavily engaged at South Mountain but they were here suffering six killed and two wounded according to the Supplementals to the Official Records of the Confederate and Union Armies. The regiment was under the command of Lt. Colonel Benjamin F. Carter. Three privates are named in the diary:

W.R. Jefferson would be captured at Williamsport, MD on September 15. 

S.M. Riggs is Private Steven Madison Riggs. Private Riggs would participate in every battle of the 4th Texas and would be wounded at Chickamauga where is leg would be shattered. He would die as a result of the amputation. He was the cousin of James M. Polk.

J.M. Polk is Private James M. Polk. Private Polk had been wounded at the Battle of Gaines Mill and rejoined the regiment while the regiment was encamped near Frederick, Maryland. He would be wounded at Chicamauga where a bullet struck him on the right side of his head and lodged itself within his skull. He would recover from this wound and be promoted to Captain. He would be captured while fighting in the Western Theatre.

Enjoy.

Sunday, 7th 1862
Left Frederick at 8 o'clock and proceeded to Frederick Junction on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad where we stopped to cook rations.

Monday, 8th 1862
On the Railroad leading to Frederick City cooking rations. S.M. Riggs and W.R. Jefferson was detailed to go to the City to buy things for the company. Returned without anything since stores were closed.

Tuesday, 9th
Left Camp on the Railroad for camp on the Monocacy River about a mile off. J.M. Polk got to camp from Richmond.

Wednesday, 10th
Left camp at sunrise but do not know where we are going to. Passed through Frederick City and was recieved with good enthusiam by the cecessionist of that place. from there we passed on to Boonsboro and other little towns and camped seven miles from Fred'k City.

Thursday, 11
Nothing occured on the march of any importance. Camped 4 miles of near the Pennsylvania line. Some prisoners brought in.

Friday, 12th 1862
Marched about three miles. camped.

Saturday 13th
Remained in camp.

Sunday 14th
Left Hagerstown for Boonsborough. Arrived at Sundown and were exposed to the fire of shell and shot.

Monday 15th 1862
The army commenced to fall back through the town of Boonesboro on the Williamsport Road.

Tuesday 16th
The enemy followed us to Sharpsburg where we made a stand and had a heavy skirmish

Wednesday 17th
The fight commenced this morning at daylight and about Seven o'clock our Brigade was ordered forward to support Whitney's and soon became engaged, lost 6 wounded and 2 missing in Company I. I was shot through the finger of the right hand.

Friday 19th 1862
Left Shepherdstown in company with several others of the Regt. for Winchester.

Saturday 20th
Arrived in Winchester this morning.

Sunday 21st
Got pass this morning for Stauton.

Source:
Museum of the Confederacy, Eleanor S. Brockenbrough Library diary collection. Sgt. Robert G. Holloway, 4th Texas Company I, Nov 8, 1861 to Sept. 15 1863.