1862 September 21 near Williamsport

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




                        Sept 21st

This week has also been very actively employed,
the heaviest and most severe battle of the war
has been fought during its limit.  On the 15th at
noon we harnessed up, and after a long and
a difficult pull, we succeeded in reaching the
top of the South Mts where we went into park.
The road all the way up, was filled with the
bodies of the dead Johnnies, who were killed
yesterday.  All of our own dead are buried and
our wounded taken care of.  On the 16th the reb
prisoners were occupied in burying their dead,
placing from 15. to 60 in one grave laying them
in, heads and points.  Harpers Ferry has through
the treachery of Col Miles, been surrendered
to Jackson, thus giving the rebs an opportunity
to escape when they were fully surrounded,
Early on the 17th we were again on the road,
a very heavy cannonading can be heard in
the direction of Sharpsburg,  Arrived at Antietam
Creek at noon, when we found a most

terrible battle in progress:  we were sent to the right
center of the lines, where the fighting is, and has been
the most severe.  Went into position in the celebr-
-ated corn field where Hooker’s  Corps was so badly
cut up, and where Hooker was himself wounded..
We soon changed our position to the left.  the dead
and wounded lay so thickly, that it was with
great difficulty we could move our carriages.
From 12 M to 7. P. M. a steady and most terrible
fire was kept up by both sides:  we are having
great numbers wounded.  The rebs have been
driven all along the line to day, but hold their
present position very well.  Night put an end to
the conflict.  Early next morning Gen Lee sent in
a flag of truce requesting time to bury his dead and
to take care of his wounded, a truce of seven
hours was granted him, as our forces were too
much exhausted to attack him.  The field to
day presents an awful spectacle.  Dead, wounded
and dying men and horses, covered the field in
all directions..  dismounted guns. limbers and cassions
and parts of the same which have been blown up
literally cover the ground.  One would think to look
on the ground that there had been a rain
storm of small arms, the ground was so complete
-ly covered with muskets, swords, and revolvers.  The
dead in many cases are horribly mutilated.  having
heads, arms, and legs shot off, and some were
entirely torn in pieces by the explosion of shells,

     Some even after being killed, as they lay
on the ground were struck by sold shots, as
they ricocheted along the ground and torn
open;  others who had been wounded, were
afterwards killed before they could get off
the field.  In one place, where the rebs made a
stand a person could walk for over a mile
with out treading on any thing else but dead
rebs.   Our loss in this battle thus far, has been
about 10,000 in all, among whom was Gen’s
Mansfield and Richardson killed, Hooker
Sedgwick and Dana were wounded.  The rebs
have lost much heavier both in Gen officers and
men.  The strength of both armies before the battle
was about 100,000.  Friday morning we expected
to renew the battle, but upon advancing our
piquets, we found that the rebs had fallen back
under cover of night, not being able to stand another
day’s fight.  Immediate pursuit by the entire army
was made after them, but Johnny had a good start
of us, and succeeded in escaping across the Potomac
into Va.  Our artillery which could reach their
retreating columns opened a brisk fire on
them.  At four P. M went into camp.  Lay still
all the next day,  at 11. P. M we were turned
out to march to Williamsport where the rebs
have again crossed the river.  left camp at mid-
-night, arrived at the St. James College at day
break, but the rebs had fled at our approach.

At five P. M, all being very quiet we went into camp.
     The weather this week has been very mild and
pleasant.
                             

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493