Grey Ghost
09-16-2012, 2:14pm
I participated in the 135th reenactment. Wasn't able to attend the 150th this weekend. Just a few highlights of the battle.
It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000 casualties on both sides.
September 17, 1862.
"Artillery Hell" - As quoted from one Confed. officer. The union had and estimated 293 guns. The Confederates had and estimated 246 pcs. It is estimated 50,000 artillery projectiles were fired during the battle and 3-4 million bullets.
During our reenactment, they could hear the cannonade all the way to Wash. I can't remember how many cannons participated. But, as per the original battle, they opened up with everything at 5:30 am that Sept. morning and it continued for hours. I will NEVER forget the concussion feeling of being in-between all those guns.
The Cornfield - Seeing the glint of Confederate bayonets concealed in the Cornfield, Hooker halted his infantry and brought up four batteries of artillery, which fired shell and canister over the heads of the Federal infantry, covering the field. All at once, the cornfield exploded into chaos as a savage battle raged through the area. Men beat each other over the heads with rifle butts and stabbed each other with bayonets. Officers rode around on their horses sweating and cursing and yelling orders no one could hear in the noise. Rifles became hot and fouled from too much firing. The air was filled with a hail of bullets and shells.
Remember, it was almost still pitch dark that early morning and the corn was still high in the field. We even had tons of confusion during the reenactment of this portion of the battle. I can't imagine the kind of hell the real soldiers experienced that morning. :sadangel:
Bloody Lane - The Confeds. held a great position during a good part of the battle. It was a sunken road below a small hill. As the Feds. came over the top of a hill. They were practically mowed down with fire from the sunken road. There is a famous photo of Confed. dead in Bloody Lane. There was miscommunication about adjusting the battle line and it left a hole in the Confed. line and the Feds. finally pushed through to take the position.
Burnside's Bridge - 400 men of the 2nd and 20th Georgia regiments, under the command of Brig. Gen. Robert Toombs, with two artillery batteries held off 12,500 Fed. troops and 50 artillery pcs. for three hours at this position. The bridge actually had another name, but, has always been called this since the battle. Basically, Burnside, tried to move all his men over this tiny bridge into action. It was a huge bottleneck and he was criticized for not having his men wade through the creek that was only waist deep. On the other side were VERY steep banks that were practically impossible for anyone to climb...especially with all their accoutrements on and muskets.
A.P. Hill - A.P. Hill moved his Division 17 miles from Harpers Ferry, at a wicked pace. Some said he would slap stragglers across the butt with the back of his sword to keep them moving. He realized the seriousness of getting his men there and into line of battle. He was ordered to reinforce the Confed. right and instead of waiting for his entire Div. to arrive (which was proper procedure) deployed them into battle line as they arrived. Burnside's plan was to hit the weakened Confed. right and flank them. They ran smack dab into A.P. Hill's men which ended the battle.
It is another one of those 'what if' questions that the CW is famous for...What if... A.P. Hill hadn't made it there in time ? What if... Burnside had gotten his men across that little bridge and into line earlier in the day ?
Lee withdrew back to VA. the next day. Union Gen. McClellan was relieved of duty for not pursuing them. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22.
Spare a moment of silent thought or prayer for these men tomorrow. :sadangel: Don't forget them and what they sacrificed for all of us.
Timeline, maps, pics, etc...
Battle of Antietam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000 casualties on both sides.
September 17, 1862.
"Artillery Hell" - As quoted from one Confed. officer. The union had and estimated 293 guns. The Confederates had and estimated 246 pcs. It is estimated 50,000 artillery projectiles were fired during the battle and 3-4 million bullets.
During our reenactment, they could hear the cannonade all the way to Wash. I can't remember how many cannons participated. But, as per the original battle, they opened up with everything at 5:30 am that Sept. morning and it continued for hours. I will NEVER forget the concussion feeling of being in-between all those guns.
The Cornfield - Seeing the glint of Confederate bayonets concealed in the Cornfield, Hooker halted his infantry and brought up four batteries of artillery, which fired shell and canister over the heads of the Federal infantry, covering the field. All at once, the cornfield exploded into chaos as a savage battle raged through the area. Men beat each other over the heads with rifle butts and stabbed each other with bayonets. Officers rode around on their horses sweating and cursing and yelling orders no one could hear in the noise. Rifles became hot and fouled from too much firing. The air was filled with a hail of bullets and shells.
Remember, it was almost still pitch dark that early morning and the corn was still high in the field. We even had tons of confusion during the reenactment of this portion of the battle. I can't imagine the kind of hell the real soldiers experienced that morning. :sadangel:
Bloody Lane - The Confeds. held a great position during a good part of the battle. It was a sunken road below a small hill. As the Feds. came over the top of a hill. They were practically mowed down with fire from the sunken road. There is a famous photo of Confed. dead in Bloody Lane. There was miscommunication about adjusting the battle line and it left a hole in the Confed. line and the Feds. finally pushed through to take the position.
Burnside's Bridge - 400 men of the 2nd and 20th Georgia regiments, under the command of Brig. Gen. Robert Toombs, with two artillery batteries held off 12,500 Fed. troops and 50 artillery pcs. for three hours at this position. The bridge actually had another name, but, has always been called this since the battle. Basically, Burnside, tried to move all his men over this tiny bridge into action. It was a huge bottleneck and he was criticized for not having his men wade through the creek that was only waist deep. On the other side were VERY steep banks that were practically impossible for anyone to climb...especially with all their accoutrements on and muskets.
A.P. Hill - A.P. Hill moved his Division 17 miles from Harpers Ferry, at a wicked pace. Some said he would slap stragglers across the butt with the back of his sword to keep them moving. He realized the seriousness of getting his men there and into line of battle. He was ordered to reinforce the Confed. right and instead of waiting for his entire Div. to arrive (which was proper procedure) deployed them into battle line as they arrived. Burnside's plan was to hit the weakened Confed. right and flank them. They ran smack dab into A.P. Hill's men which ended the battle.
It is another one of those 'what if' questions that the CW is famous for...What if... A.P. Hill hadn't made it there in time ? What if... Burnside had gotten his men across that little bridge and into line earlier in the day ?
Lee withdrew back to VA. the next day. Union Gen. McClellan was relieved of duty for not pursuing them. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22.
Spare a moment of silent thought or prayer for these men tomorrow. :sadangel: Don't forget them and what they sacrificed for all of us.
Timeline, maps, pics, etc...
Battle of Antietam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia