Lost Orders – Gettysburg Chronicles

As the northern portions of the battlefield ease, the concentrate of the Confederacy takes their position along the Sunken Lane. This farmer’s road was used so often that it sank into the terrain. Between the Mumma’s Farm and the Sunken Road, both forces would command their soldiers to most certain death. The Confederate troops were in line from the Dunker Church to the Lane, while the Union Troops made a half semicircle formation from the North Woods through the East Woods and towards the Sunken Road.

Terrain of the Sunken Road – The Bloody Lane –

One of the most famous generals of the Confederacy was near Dunker Church under the command of General Stonewall Jackson. To prevent Union sharpshooters, the Rebels set fire to the Mumma farmhouse. The rebels were positioned along the lane and they ducked down to not be seen. They waited for the Union soldiers to attack and not fire till they “saw the white in their eyes”.

Courtesy of the Author – Irish Brigade – Sunken Road –

One of the most known brigade of the location is the Irish Brigade. The brigade consisted of the 63rd, 69th, and 88th New York. They were led by the emerald green banners. They started the day with 1000 soldiers and officers. At the end of the day, over 600 were killed and or wounded. This flag below was one of the banners.

Green Ensign of the 1st Regiment (69th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry), Irish Brigade

Their fighting war cry from the 69th New York was the following: “Faugh a Ballagh” – Clear the Way!

Confederate General Robert E. Lee began the first invasion of the North on September 4th, 1862. They moved across the Potomac River and traveled into Mary-land and towards Frederick. As they crossed the Potomac, the Union was on their tails from being centered outside Washington D.C. They were now in enemy territory. Even though the farmlands were rich and green with food, they moved at a snail pace. As they approached Frederick, Maryland on September 9th, portions of the army were captured in town in the picture below.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress – Confederates walking through Frederick, Maryland – Sept. 1862

The signage of Jacob Rosenstock’s Rosen’s Dry Good and Clothing store is the clue. This location was on Patrick Street in the downtown Frederick on September 12, 1862. This is the only known picture of Confederates marching in columns of fours.

As the soldiers arrived into the city, Confederate generals gathered and conversed about the next move. Having cigars near the fire was a common thing for the leaders to do. Somehow, though, after the Confederates have moved to the west towards Boonesboro and Harpers Ferry, was that the orders were left on the ground. Lee wanted to crush the Union garrison at Harper’s Ferry, so the orders had the army divide and hopefully accomplish the objective.

The Union was about a day behind the Confederate soldiers. Around 12 p.m. on September 13th, portions of the 12th Union Corps arrived into Frederick. As they moved towards the town, portions of the regiments walked through old campgrounds that were still smoking from the previous army.

Courtesy of the Monocacy National Battlefield – Frederick, Maryland

In one of these campgrounds, Corporal Barton W. Mitchell of the 27th Indiana Volunteers discovered cigars wrapped in a piece of paper lying in the grass. He handed the paperwork of the important document up the line of command. As the paperwork continued to go up the line of leadership within the Corps, it was read by the following:

Sergeant – John M. Bloss
Regimental Commander – Colonel Silas Colgrove
Aide to Camp – Samuel Pitman
12th Corps Commander – Alpheus S. Williams
General of the Union Army in 1862 – George McClellan

George McClellan was overwhelmed with happiness since he knew where the Confederates direction and objective. He yelled out in glee, “Now I know what to do!”.

Category: Lost Orders

Antietam – Bloody Lane

Lost Orders No. 191