Rienzi, Monday, Sept. 15. To-day we began business in the old way. We had to sweep up for the first time in a week. I stood guard for the second time.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
September 15—It seems that the Yanks gained possession of both gaps in South Mountain late yesterday evening. At one o’clock last night we were ordered to move to Martinsburg. We started immediately after we received the order. At Williamsport we forded the Potomac. It is about two feet deep, with a gentle current and smooth gravelly bottom. Williamsport is a town of about a thousand inhabitants, situated on the Maryland side of the Potomac, six miles from Hagerstown and twelve miles from Martinsburg. There is a natural embankment on the dike order about forty feet high between the town and the river, which entirely shuts from view the lower part of the town from the stream. We arrived at Martinsburg at dusk this evening and I left my gun there at a shop for repairs. We then moved about three miles down the Shepherdstown road and camped for the night.
15th.—1 o’clock A. M.—I am now through dressing the wounds of those in my hospital. The next house to me is also an hospital, (a large church in the village of Burkettsville.) In it I hear the cries and moans of distress. To me, the sounds seem at this distance to be those of men neglected. God forbid that it be so, for they have plenty of Surgeons there.
Having, by the kind assistance of Doctor Garrett, a good and excellent physician of the village, got through with my dressings and seen my patients all asleep. I, in company with Doctor G., visited the other hospitals to offer our services to the Surgeons there, but we found the Surgeons had gone to bed, leaving the wounded to be cared for in the morning! I then returned to my hospital, and to my great gratification, found nearly every wounded man asleep, and this, notwithstanding they were wounded in all parts of the body—broken thighs, legs, feet, shot through the lungs, back, bowels. After they were dressed, the free use of anodynes and anasthætics had relieved the pain, and after a day of fatigue, danger and suffering, they were resting quietly.
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At 9 1-2 this morning, I was, at my earnest request, relieved from the care of hospital and permitted to return to my regiment.
A little circumstance occurred last night, which, as it may be important, I here journalize. A rebel Lieutenant was brought into my hospital to take care of his Captain, who was severely wounded. After I had got through my dressing, I fell into a conversation with him on the subject of the war and its probable results. He was well informed, intelligent, and communicative. During the conversation he quizzically asked me what I thought of the surrender of Harper’s Ferry! I replied, laughingly, that it would be time for me to think of it when it should take place. “But,” said he, “it has already taken place!” “When?” “About sun-down.” “How do you know?” “No matter; it is sufficient for us that it took place about sun-down.” His manner was assured and confident. What does it mean? Is there treason there, and has he had an inkling of it? This is a strange war, and a strange world. This noon we hear whispers that Harper’s Ferry is surrendered. At 9 o’clock this A. M., the firing there ceased. It could not have been surrendered at sun-down last night, as the Lieutenant stated; but has it been this morning? And if yes, had he any knowledge that it was to be, and some circumstances have occurred to delay the act? We must wait and learn.
But why did we not go yesterday to the relief of Harper’s Ferry, if it were in danger? We had whole divisions of men idle all day, and were within two hour’s inarch of the place? Had we another rival there to kill off? Why did we permit a whole transportation train to pass under easy range of our batteries, and escape without a shot? God forgive my suspicions as to our leaders, but preserve the country from their machinations—if they have any.
September 15. Some rumors yesterday and more direct information to-day are cheering to the Union cause. McClellan telegraphs a victory, defeat of the enemy with loss of 15,000 men, and that “General Lee admits they are badly whipped.” To whom Lee made this admission so that it should be brought straight to McC. and telegraphed here does not appear. A tale like this from Pope would have been classed as one of his fictions. It may be all true, coming from McClellan, but I do not credit Lee’s confession or admission. That we have had a fight and beaten the Rebels, I can believe. It scarcely could have been otherwise. I am afraid it is not as decisive as it should be, and as is the current belief, but shall rejoice if McC. has actually overtaken the Rebels, which is not yet altogether clear.
Monday, 15th—We pitched our tents and built our bunks today. It had rained all night and rained some more this afternoon. The men are not pleased with this camp ground, as it is low and level. There will be a great many on the sick list if we remain here. On account of the dry weather all summer, the springs no longer furnish the branch with running water, and we are compelled to get our drinking water from a stagnant pool. Our former camp here in Corinth, which we left in July, was on high ground and all had hoped that we would be permitted to occupy that spot, but we were disappointed in that—such is the life of a soldier.
(Telegram.)
Frederick, Maryland, September 15, 1862.
To W. A. Platt, Columbus, Ohio.
I am seriously wounded in the left arm above the elbow. The Ohio troops all behaved well.
R. B. Hayes.
Monday, 15th. Okie and I went to town and got provisions for five days’ rations. Saw Haynes and went to his tent and took dinner with him. Had a good time. Read a letter from Fred Allen. Went into the hospital and visited Bigelow and Ohio boys. Saw Laundon and walked to camp with him. Full of fun as ever. Found Okie issuing rations. Helped during the rest of the afternoon.
[After the Battle of South Mountain]
(J. C. Wyatt To E. F. Lusk.)
MlDDLETOWN, Md.
Sept. 15th, 1862.
Mrs. Lusk:
Capt. Lusk desired me to pen you a line, as he did not have the time or opportunity, informing you that he has passed through another bloody and fearful carnage and is spared and in good health. I met him this morning as I was returning to the General Hospital at this place. The enemy has been badly beaten. Our Regt. has not suffered much comparatively. You have reason to be proud of your son. May God bless him and protect him. Yours truly,
Jas. C. Wyatt,
Chaplain 79th N. Y. V.
Monday, 15th.—Orders to cook rations and be ready to march by four to-morrow morning.
The Baltimore & Ohio (B & O) railroad bridge was once a majestic wood covered bridge that spanned the Potomac River and carried train traffic on the B & O Railroad for 23 years prior to the outbreak of the Civil War…. With the secession of Virginia in April, 1861, the bridge became a tenuous connector between the Confederacy and the Union. The bridge was over an important border, the Potomac River, and constantly had to worry about attacks from both sides of the war. During four years of Civil War, the bridge would be built and destroyed nine times – four times by war, five times by floods.
On June 14, 1861, as the Confederates were leaving Harpers Ferry, Brig. Gen. Joseph Johnston ordered the burning of all bridges on the Potomac under Southern control. The bridges that were destroyed were Point of Rocks, Shepherdstown, and Berlin. The Berlin Bridge is called Brunswick today. The Harpers Ferry region was a dangerous border area for the next eight months, disallowing rebuilding of the bridge. When the Union army occupied Harpers Ferry in February of 1862 and B & O bridge builders accompanied them. A new iron trestle was completed atop the original piers in less than three weeks, which allowed for supplies to be sent to the Union forces in Harpers Ferry and further south.
The Confederates regained Harpers Ferry on September 15, 1862 but just a few days later they would abandon that post. On September 18, 1862, the bridge was destroyed for a second time by Confederates when they left Harpers Ferry due to the outcome of the Battle of Antietam in Shepherdstown. B & O bridge builders returned with the Union army a few weeks later and had the bridge operational once again by early October.
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Information from National Park Service (link).
Library of Congress image.
