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LATEST FROM WESTERN MARYLAND
With the Irish Volunteers: Assaulting the Sunken Road
(updated 11:45 a.m., Sept. 16)
Dispatches From Antietam, Day 2 (Saturday)
Irish Join Throng Marking The Battle's 140th Anniversary
"I am here to -- in the closest way possible -- walk in the footsteps on the well-worn path of history left by America's Irish soldiers. It is my people's history -- and I have this chance to reenact it in a truly awesome way." -- Corp. Paul Mullen (Sept. 14, 2002)
Fog of War on Display in Cornfield Fighting
(1 o'clock, Saturday)
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT WITH THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS
Hagerstown, Maryland
September 14, 2002
Farmer Miller's Cornfield
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Photo by Woodrow Swancutt
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Chaos. Sheer Chaos.
What started as a pre-dawn scene of martial splendor quickly dissolved into a massive field of smoke, bodies and broken lines.
Your correspondent was "mortally wounded" twice in the fray. Once in a sea of corn when our stout Reb opposition, with resolve (and apparently uniforms of iron), continued to push The Irish Volunteers back to the edge of the field.
The Irish Volunteers have had better days. The noise and the push of the Rebs resulted in heavy losses.
Rory Bialecki, a comrade from the 155th New York, said he just had to be here. "The reputation of the Antietam event, and the representation of the 1862 battle itself brought me here. Antietam was the first battle to alter the progress of the war. I am here to honor those that were here that day."
Our colleague Bob Petruzzi commented: "It felt a bit like it must have felt back then. Total chaos and confusion. The low-hanging smoke obscured my vision. I know that I fired on friendly forces by mistake. It was close and so surreal."
We marched this morning portraying the Pennsylvania Reserves. "The only division in the Army of the Potomac made up of Pennsylvania Regiments," long-time re-enactor Orton Begner told us. George G. Meade, who went on to lead the entire Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg and beyond, was its (the Reserves') original commander.
My feet are killing me and my musket is dirty, so I will stop for now. This afternoon is the "Main Event" for the Irish Volunteers -- The Sunken Road, a.k.a. Bloody Lane.
--KP Gorman
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT WITH THE NATIONAL REGIMENT
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Photo by Joe Gannon
Sunrise over the Federal artillery |
It's 3:30, and men are already stirring around the campfires. Reveille is set for 4 a.m. in anticipation of the morning's cornfield battle, and problems sleeping on the hard ground have brought several us over to the campfire early. The camp is a circus of sound at this hour. Snoring, lots of it, coughs, low murmurs of conversation. The camp is never silent. The 27th knows that private Don "Pyro" Hamel always has our campfire burning, no matter what time of night we might rise.
At 4 a.m., bugles and drums begin playing reveille. The camp comes to full life now. The cry "Fall in for roll call" echoes around now in hundreds of campsite. In pitch black, we form our companies into battalions of several hundred men each.
Marching out into the cornfields, we find hundreds of spectators waiting. It is a measure of the interest of so many Americans in this war that they would get up at 3 or 4 in the morning to take in a re-enactment of one segment of this battle. Then, suddenly the darkness was pierced by sounds of dozens of cannons flashing from the Confederate guns in the distance, followed by their booming reports second later -- a physics lesson in the difference between the speed of sound and the speed of light for all of us.
The air bursts and ground charges were now going off, adding to the spectacle. Spectators in the distance were definitely getting their money's worth, and the re-enactors were duly impressed by the pyrotechnic display. Then we heard the Rebel yell, and the Rebs were definitely in the cornfield. Soon the artillery fell silent and we were marched up to the cornfield by our battalion commander, a good Irishman named Tommy Downs.
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Photos by Jim Wassel
A Federal gun thunders: good morning to "Stonewall!" |
Waiting to advance into the 7-foot high stalks of corn, 27th Connecticut Private Kevin Casey remarked, "Can you imagine how scared they must have been?" "No," I replied, " I don't think anybody has an imagination that good."
Plunging into the corn, our formation soon fell apart. Tommy Downs came down the line yelling for us to move left. As we began to move, then looked back moments later, suddenly dozens of us found ourselves totally alone. It was eerie. We heard firing and yelling from several thousand re-enactors all around us, but we 12 were in a tiny cocoon, with a vision of no more than 20 feet in any direction.
In a moment that is unique to re-enacting, we suddenly faced a battalion of several hundred Confederates on our left. As sergeant in command of our little group, I stepped over to the
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Photos by Jim Wassel
Nervously watching the corn. "Do you see anything?" |
enemy's commanding officer, and said to him, "If you don't fire on us, we won't fire on you." He nodded his assent, looking for larger fish to fry than our group, and in seconds they was gone.
The rest of the battle was a jumble of moves back and forth, left and right, fighting, running, chasing, and being chased minute by minute. Being inside that cornfield was surreal, but certainly gave us a vivid demonstration of the fog of war. Incredibly, we suddenly found Tommy Downs again, or he found us, and we made our way out of that infernal cornfield. Did we win or lose? I'm not certain, but it certainly was a unique experience.
-- 1st Sgt. Joseph E. Gannon, 27th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
A CALL FOR CONTRITION -- GREEN FLAGS FLYING, ONLOOKERS CHEER -- "FAG AN BEALAC" -- REBS BEHIND SUNKEN ROAD -- AMMUNITION FROM THE DYING -- IRISH HOLD -- GLORIOUS VICTORY
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT WITH THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS
Hagerstown, Maryland
Saturday, September 14, 2002
4 o'clock
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Photo by Woodrow Swancutt
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The ranks of the Irish Brigade have swelled as a number of other regiments have joined in for the assault on the Confederates at the Sunken Road. This is a recreation of one of the most dramatic events in the history of the Irish warrior My blood is boiling as the "moment" approaches.
Father Rob Carter, portraying the Brigade's Father Corby, has walked up and down our line of battle, admonishing us to say an Act of Contrition and cross ourselves since there is no time for general absolution -- just as Father Corby had done while riding up and down the battle line that
famous September day in 1862.
Paul Mullen, who portrays a corporal, has noticed me writing in my journal. I explained that there are Irish people around the globe who want to know the news of this event. I asked Paul why he drove 350 miles to be here: " I am here to -- in the closest way possible -- walk in the footsteps on the well-worn path of history left by America's Irish soldiers. It is my people's history -- and I have this chance to re-enact it in a truly awesome way."
The light sprinkle of rain has stopped as we rest, under arms, on the ridge above the sunken road. The green flags of the Brigade attracted great attention on our mile-long march to the field. It is apparent to your correspondent that the specators know the history of the Irish -- and how the Brigade's reputation was galvanized here at Antietam Creek.
We have been called to fall in and take arms. More after the "battle."...
CAMP OF THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS, 6:10 PM
Good Lord, what a sight to see!
I have returned to our camp, completely drained of ammunition and energy. My voice has gone hoarse after breathing sulphurous smoke and repeated battle cries of "Fag an bealac" and "We can break their line!"
"The moment" reported by your correspondent from the Fox's Gap scenario yesterday returned today. The view down to the heart of our long, blue line included the colors of the 69th New York, in our front, the colors of the 28th Massachusetts. The gentle breeze which was sure to bring a different kind of storm to our site served all observers well as the flags flew crisply in the breeze -- for all to see. What a beautiful scene!
After a heavy Federal cannonade, the 69th was called to fall into line-of-battle to follow-up on two earlier assaults on the Sunken Road. The battalion before us marched in columns of fours by company into line through the cannons before us. I could not see what was happening, as we were situated below the ridge line, but as the advance was signaled by the buglers and the line stepped off down the ridge, an eeriness fell upon me which was shared by my comrades. Tony Carpenter, to my left, and Pat Lyons, to my right, both shook my hand and said the same thing: "We're next."
Then it came. Col.(Steve) Eames nodded and the bugler sounded. "Battalion! Forward!" and the colors stepped ahead of the line about six paces, then, "March!" Repeated cheers of "Fag an bealac!" (Clear the way!) were shouted by all, the drums beat a steady pace and we, too, advanced over the top and down the ridge toward the Sunken Road. Our officers kept a clean line. However, a Michigan battalion had bogged down perilously in front of our 400 or so muskets. Eventually, they were ordered to withdraw around our flanks and we approached within 20 yards of the post-and-rail fence that bordered "Bloody Lane."
Incessant firing turn rifle barrels red-hot
The order was given to "Fire by company" and, after one volley, all companies proceeded to fire at will. Sgt. Biggar commented to me after the battle that he had never experienced such a cacophony of gunfire. There was a great temptation by your correspondent to "turn cowboy" and break for the fence, but that would have been a dishonest portrayal.
We in the front rank were ordered to kneel. Independent fire continued. Men were "taking hits" all around me. Carpenter dropped. As he lay face-first in front of me, he reached back and handed me 10 fresh cartridges, still wrapped, as we were all beginning to run out of ammuniition. It all seemed to happen so fast.
The rebs were trying to flank us on our right. We stayed focused on the rebs behind the fence. Their colors kept dropping, and kept getting picked up and waved in our faces all the more.
Lt. (James) Doyle and Sergeant (Scott) Biggar kept trying to replenish our cartridge boxes as fast as they could, but we were all getting off four to five rounds a minute. The barrel of my musket was burning hot.
Down to the left of the Irish Brigade's line, a couple of New York regiments had made their way to the sunken road and the reb line there began to break.
The wounding of Private Gorman
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Photo by Jim Wassel
At the height of the battle, the Irish Brigade is enveloped in smoke. |
It was at that moment your correspondent, cartridge firmly between his teeth ready to be torn, took a ferocious "hit," spinning 90 degrees and falling backward right into the knees of Lt. Doyle. I lay there groaning. Doyle placed one last cartridge into my left hand and said: "We're moving on without you.
Good luck." He placed my forage cap over my face, then I fell silent. True to history, the Irish held their position until they ran out of ammunition.
Laying there with my musket at my feet, my cap over my face, a cartridge in my left hand on my chest and my right elbow on the ground, right hand straight up, I listened. Listened to the sound made by thousands of guns. Bugle calls. Officer's yelling with high-pitched, desperate voices. More battle cries from
the brigade a short distance away.
Then slowly the firing subsided. Bugles slowly sounded a cease-fire call. Then, a pregnant pause, and the crowd of spectators absolutely erupts.
Soon other "casualties" like me began to rise, and as we did, the crowd cheered all the more. What a gratifying moment to have so many people appreciate the lesson we all worked so hard to teach! What a great moment to represent the Irish Union soldier!
I am grateful to have played a part in the business here today. Alas, it is our last Antietam battle as the weather reports indicate that those breezes I mentioned were going to bring heavy rains during the night. The battalion votes to pack up and head north. --KP Gorman
SUNKEN ROAD FIGHTING DRAWS 81 CANNON, TWO GREEN FLAGS - WAS ONE THE ORIGINAL BRIGADE? - IRISH BRIGADE TAKES MASSIVE CASUALTIES - CORRESPONDENT HAS PRIME POSITION TO WATCH THE ASSAULT
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT WITH THE NATIONAL REGIMENT
10 a.m., Sunday
I am writing and forwarding my account this morning, as I fell asleep with exhaustion after returning from yesterday afternoon's fighting. The Saturday afternoon portrayal of the fight for the Sunken Road or, as it is also called, Bloody Lane, is historically a place for the Irish Brigade re-enactors to shine. Here, history tells us, the
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Photo by Jim Wassel
Sgt. Gannon, moments before the Sunken Road assault.. |
brigade, already battered and depleted after five months of active service in the Virginia heat and humidity, would suffer the first of two bloody charges in three months. The second would come against another sunken road in Fredericksburg in December 1862, three months from Antietam.
Not being a member of an Irish Brigade re-enactment unit, yesterday I could only observe their charge. My hope was that our vast battalion would enter the fray before them, giving me an opportunity to "take a hit," re-enactor speak for "being killed or wounded in battle." I hoped to gain a prime position in the middle of the battlefield from which I could observe the brigade's assault. Luck was with me -- our battalion was one of the first into the fight.
The Federal assault was preceded by an artillery duel, involving 81 field pieces, 39 Federal and 42 Confederate, typically full-scale, some from the war itself. There was never a gap of more than eight or 10 seconds between cannon blasts from one side or the other.
The field of battle 'an awesome scene'
Only a minute after the artillery duel ended, we were ordered to advance in column of companies. We reformed our lines by what is called by company into line, formed separately by each company. If done wrong, you risk throwing the entire battalion into disarray, which is an unfortunate time to be disorganized. When done right, it is extremely impressive, and in this case we executed it with near perfection.
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Photo by Jim Wassel
Our stalwart wing commander, Tommy Downs. |
Battalion commander Tommy Downs was very happy with our performance, but it was time for me to abandon this Irishman on the way to a rendezvous with others. Picking a likely looking spot, I took my "hit."
I had a long wait for the Irish Brigade, giving me time to survey the entire battleground. It was an awesome scene, I caould see at least 10 Federal battalions, with probably 3,000 to 3,500 men. I knew there were many more over the top of the hill waiting to come into the fight. The sunken road must have been a quarter-mile long, with a heavy rail fence in front and packed with gray-clad troops. The fire from their lines was incessant, and the first waves of Federal infantry were taking massive casualties, but they kept coming.
The cry resounds, "There's the Irish Brigade"
Chris Tomlin, our company commander, had taken a hit right by my side. Suddenly, I heard him exclaim, "There's the Irish Brigade." I saw the distinctive green flag emerging from the top of the hill. Like all re-enactors, Chris recognized the Irish Brigade flag on sight. My own battalion had retreated by then to reform in smaller numbers and renew the assault. The Irish Brigade went in to our right, with the green banner defiantly waving above them. They halted about 100 yards from the road, taking massive casualties.
About this time, several battalions of Confederates emerged from behind their lines to reinforce their positions. Two of them even came around the right of the road to assault the Fedreral left flank. We wondered if, as sometimes happens in re-enactments, the scenario would be broken. Historically, the Union had taken the Sunken Road position, but it was looking as if it wasn't going to happen. It seemed by now that all our troops must be on the field, so how, we wondered, were we going to cope with this large Confederate flanking force.
That was not the case, however. Within a minute, first one, two, three, then four Federal battalions emerged over the hill to our left. A huge cheer rang out from the beleaguered Federal troops on the field. As they came on, I noticed an amazing sight. A second brigade bearing a green flag was among the new troops. I did a double take, looking to my right to insure that the original brigade had not somehow rapidly moved away to the left, but they were still there. I was now bracketed by seeming Irish Brigades.
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Photo by Jim Wassel
A blue wave crashes over the Sunken Road. |
An interesting thought -- perhaps one drew men from the original brigade, looking to recapture some of its glory. In any event, the massive left-wing assault soon turned the tide of the battle. The Federal line advanced with both brigades, helping to capture the position. The Rebs were soon in full retreat.
It appeared the event organizers did a good job in preparing the Sunken Road position. The massive number of troops allowed the battle to last for an hour or more, with no letup in the action, which is unusual. The last-minute appearance of Federal reinforcements was well-staged, and probably will be the moment most re-enactors, and perhaps spectators as well will remember from this Sunken Road battle.
-- 1st Sgt. Joseph Gannon, 27th Connecticut Infantry
Some related sites:
Official Web Site of the 140th Anniversary Re-enactment of the Battle of Antietam
Sharpsburg Annual Heritage Festival
Antietam National Battlefield
Maryland Department of Tourism
Maryland Memories: For information on and to purchase tickets for the 140th Anniversary Commemoration of The Battle of Antietam Civil War Reenactment.
Excerpts from Fox’s Regimental Losses pertaining to the Irish Brigade (Potomac Legion Battalion site)
Excerpts from the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion: Irish Brigade Report for Antietam (Potomac Legion Battalion site)
The Columbia Rifles, a campaign-oriented Civil War living history unit
E-mail us for more information
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