Category: Maryland

Gettysburg College

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Just north of downtown in the square, there lies a college that saw the Battle of Gettysburg outside their windows. The college was founded in 1832, originally known as Pennsylvania College. It didn’t change it’s name to Gettysburg College till 1921. Shown below is a picture of the three buildings on the campus that were here during the Civil War.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress – Pennsylvania College

The first president of Pennsylvania College was Charles P. Krauth. He served for sixteen years between 1834 and 1850. He and his family lived within Pennsylvania Hall during his entire tenure, and acted like a guardian for the students who resided there. The second President of the College was that of Henry L. Baugher. He would be the president that served during the Civil War and offered the benediction on November 19, 1863 at the Soldier’s National Cemetery prior to the Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address.

The building with the cupula on the top is Pennsylvania Hall. For the first decade of the exitance of the college, this Hall was the only academic building on campus. It also contained the living quarters, offices, and relaxing rooms. The second building was started in 1846 and ended construction in 1860. Linnean Hall was used for scientific studies. The third and last building that stood on campus was the president’s house which was constructed in 1860. This is where the Baugher family resided during the Civil War.

During the battle of Gettysburg, Union signal officers used the cupola on June 30 and on July 1st, before the Confederates overran the northern side of town. Confederate generals used it on July 2nd and 3rd. The wounded were treated around the campus through the end of July before being transferred to Camp Letterman. After the battle, bullets, bones, and human remains continued to be found around the campus for multiple years.

Confederate, Field Hospitals, Gettysburg, Gettysburg College, Maryland, President, Union

Antietam – Burnside Bridge

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In the mid-morning to early afternoon, the Union concentrate near the lower Antietam bridge. Across the river, three Confederate batteries and approximately 600 soldiers from the state of Georgia were on the slopes looking down at the enemy. Staring at the heights and trying to figure a way across the bridge and the river stood the 9th Corps containing around 13,000 soldiers. Throughout the morning, the Rebels were continuing to shoot at the Union across the river.

Author’s picture of Burnside Bridge – April 2015 –

Against all the confusion, and the four attacks through Noon, the 2nd and the 20th regiments from Georgia continued to hold off the 9th Corps of the Union. However, around 1 p.m., regiments from the 51st Pennsylvania and 51st New York marched out of the cover of the trees and made a charge against the bridge and were successive.

The battle of Antietam was mainly a draw for both armies. However, soldiers were buried from the Union and the Confederacy within the National Cemetery. Not all soldiers were recognized as they were buried since ids and markers weren’t known at that time. Some soldiers were found with their family bibles or letters in their knapsacks. However, if the name was not known, they were labeled unknown soldiers. Luckily, some remains are still found as recently as thirty years ago and are reinterred with their brothers.

It was the bloodiest day in United States history, with a combined tally of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing of Confederates and Union soldiers.

Antietam, Artillery, Confederate, Maryland, Union

Antietam – Bloody Lane

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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!

Antietam, Artillery, Confederate, Gettysburg, Irish Brigade, Lost Orders, Maryland, McClellan, President, Sunken Road, Union

Antietam – Morning Phase

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After three small battles at Crampton, Fox, and Turner’s Gap, the Union and Confederate army converged on the biggest battle of the Maryland Campaign. Both armies moved towards this little town. Confederates called it the battle of Sharpsburg, while the Union called it the battle of Antietam. With the Rebel forces divided with some of it attacking Harpers Ferry and capturing the Union garrison, the other half is here preparing for battle against most of the Union forces. Even before the battle began, here are the facts:

  • Union soldiers numbered 84,000 with approximately 244 cannons
  • Confederate soldiers numbered 55,000 with approximately 148 cannons

This picture that is located in front of the Antietam’s Visitor Center shows the aftermath of the battle. It shows the cannon ball damage to the Dunker Church, and those soldiers killed on the field.

Courtesy of the Antietam National Battlefield wayside markers

On September 17th, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War began. Three phases of the morning, afternoon, and early evening occurred with significance in each time frame. The morning action that was between 5 to 9 a.m. happened on the northern part of the battlefield that included the West Woods, North and East Woods, and the Cornfield. When the fighting eased around 9 a.m., the Confederates retreated towards the West Woods.

There was over 8,000 casualties that were either killed or wounded. This fighting occurred on 24 acres of land. Some regiments of both armies were cut to pieces in less than 30 minutes. As an example, the 12th Massachusetts brought 334 soldiers to the morning fighting. As the fighting eased, less than 100 soldiers remained. It was the highest casualty rate of any Union regiment at Antietam.

Antietam, Artillery, Confederate, Gettysburg, Maryland, McClellan, President, Union

Lost Orders No. 191

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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!”.

Antietam, Confederate, Frederick, Gettysburg, Lost Orders, Maryland, Monocacy, President, Union