1862 September 14 near South Mountain

[from the diary of Samuel Johnson, 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]

             
      Sept 14th  

This week we have been constantly on the
jump  at 8 A. M of the 8th we again took up
our line of march.  passed through Rockville,
and at seven P. M took a position, and
encamped for the night.  Did not move
until ten A M the next day/.  at two P. M
after a short march the div halted and
encamped in line of battle.  The 32nd N. Y.
and a section of our battery were sent
out on piquet.  On the 10th were up and
off very early.  at seven P. M. after a long
and very fatiguing march, we halted and
encamped for the night at the foot of the
Sugar Loaf Mts. .  We are close on to the rebs,
and will doubtless have a battle in a few
days.  Next day we lay still for a rest.  On
the 12th were up and off very early, and after
a long and very severe march we went into
position, and encamped for the night.  On
the 13th after a very short march we halted
just outside  Buckeystown, and encamped for
the night.  The rebs occupied this ground this
morning and tried hard to hold it, but
were driven from it by our advance.  To
day were up and off as early as usual,
at noon we halted just out side the
town of Jefferson.  At two P. M. we again

started on, and at three P. M arrived at Burketts-
-ville, immediatly in rear of which we found the
rebs posted in force on both sides of the
road with Artillery:  their position was very
strong.  The 1st  Div was formed on the right of
the road.  the 2nd on the left.  a line composed
of Bartletts, and Talbott’s Brigade supported
by Newton’s advanced steadily on a charge.
The rebs were driven from their position at
the base of the Mt. and forced back to their
artillery.  Here they attempted another stand,
but the impetuosity of our troops again routed
them from their position, and they retired
fireing their pieces by echelon:  after an action
of two hours, the crest was gained, and
the rebs fled hastily down the other side of
the Mts.  On the left of the road.  Brook’s
and Irwin’s brigades of the 2nd div. formed to
protect our flanks, and charged up the
Mts. in the same steady manner, driving all
before them, and carried the crest on the left.
Four hundred prisoners, seven hundred stands
of arms, and one piece of Artillery were captu-
-red, also three colors.  Our loss was 115. killed
16 wounded, and several missing,  the rebs lost
beside their prisoners three hundred killed
at Browns Pass on these same Mts:  Gen’s
Burnside, Sumner and Hooker’s corps, and
Sykes div. had a very severe and obstinate

[Johnson breaks here and continues on the 17th]

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493