Honoring the Fallen: Memorial Illumination at Antietam National Battlefield

December 7, 2013 marked the 25th Anniversary of the Memorial Illumination at Antietam National Battlefield.

23,110  candles are placed on the battlefield by innumerable volunteers to honor the casualties of the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam, the single bloodiest day in all American History.

The event is sponsored by Antietam National Battlefield in cooperation with the American Business Women's Association and the Washington County Convention & Visitors' Bureau.

Volunteers representing Union and Confederate soldiers stand around campfires while the lines of vehicles pass by, viewing the luminaries.

Vehicles line up on Maryland Route 34, hours before the event, waiting for their chance to enter the battlefield via Richardson Avenue.

 It is an awe inspiring experience both to view the luminaries and participate as a volunteer.  I had the honor, this year, along with other living historians representing Battery B, 4th U S artillery to stand around a campfire at the intersection of Dunker Church Road and Starke Avenue.  While not attempting to be a modern day Alexander Gardner I was able to sneak in a few photographs. Cannot wait until next year to do it all again.

The "Old Man": James Stewart Commander of Battery B, 4th U S Artillery

James Stewart was born in Leith, Scotland May 18, 1826.  His mother died in 1829.  His father, who was a contractor and a builder died in 1841, leaving Stewart an orphan. He trained as a compositor in the Queens Printing Office in Edinburgh until 1843. In 1846 he immigrated to the United States and worked as a printer in New York.  Stewart enlisted as a private in the United States Army October 29, 1851 and was assigned to Battery B, Fourth U. S. Artillery as a private. 

                                                                        James Stewart

The brown haired, blue eyed Stewart stood 5 foot 6 1/2 inches tall, a short, stocky man by all accounts. He advanced steadily through the ranks of the peace time army, when promotions were notoriously slow and by the time he assumed command of Battery B, Fourth U. S. Artillery on the bloody battlefield of Antietam, September 17, 1862 he was a Second Lieutenant.

Stewart commanded Battery B throughout most of the remainder of the Civil War leading it to distinction on such fields as Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania Court House and Weldon Railroad.  He was breveted twice for gallant and meritorious service, the first time to captain on August 1, 1864 for action at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House and a second time to major on August 18, 1864 following the Battle of Weldon Railroad.

Stewart remained in the army after the Civil War.  On July 28, 1866 he was promoted to captain and assigned to the 18th U. S. Infantry.  He served with this unit until his retirement  March 20, 1879.  After retiring Stewart lived in Carthage and Cincinnati, Ohio where he was a instructor for the Ohio Military Institute.  He died April 19, 1905, at Fort Thomas, Kentucky and was buried in Section 1, Grave 736-WS, at Arlington National Cemetery, on Easter Sunday, April 23, 1905.

Stewart's Headstone Arlington National Cemetery

photo courtesy of Christine & Perry Whittaker

James Stewart's headstone at Arlington is one of two known headstones depicting the emblem of the Iron Brigade Association, the other being the headstone of Brigadier General John Gibbon.  The emblem on the headstones recognizes the Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin regiments of the Iron Brigade centered around the crossed cannons of Battery B.  The association purchased Gibbon's headstone.  Stewart's headstone was bought by Charles H. McConnell of Chicago.  Gibbon commanded the Iron Brigade from May to November 1862, training it and turning it into one of the most respected and feared fighting units in the Army of the Potomac.  Battery B was attached to the Iron Brigade throughout much of the Civil War, many recruits that filled the ranks of Battery B in December 1861, came from the Wisconsin and Indiana Regiments in the Iron Brigade.   

Little is known about James Stewart the man.  He was married twice and had ten children.  His first wife, whom he married in 1856, Sabine Haas was from Germany.  They had seven children together, three sons and four daughters, before her death on November 14, 1873.  In 1880 Stewart married Rebecca Duffy.  They had three children, two daughters and a son Thomas Duffy Stewart, who attended West Point for a time.  

Those who knew him in the army said he was a strict, fair disciplinarian as a military officer who was fond of battle and alcoholic spirits.  He reportedly set high standards for himself and his men.  

But there is more to the story.  In a letter written by Stewart to James Gould in 1893 he recounts his wounding at Antietam:  "About ten minutes after being placed in command I was struck by a mini ball breaking my waist belt plate and knocking me down.  On getting up I found my sword belt broken in two.  The shock was trouble for some time, but I knew if I should allow it to be known that I was wounded that someone else would be put in command of the battery.  I suffered a great deal and had to use a catheter for many a year and sometimes especially when I catch cold the old pains will come back.  General Gibbon does not know to this day that I was wounded in the battle.  To when the battle was over, in place of looking over the field and making notes I had to lie flat on my back and obtain all the relief I possibly could until the surgeon came and helped me out of the pain."

It says a lot about the measure of a man who would silently endure and suffer from a wound for the remainder of his life because on that fateful day in September 1862 he did not want to loose command of an artillery battery.

Further reading:  Giants in their Tall Black Hats Essays on the Iron Brigade, History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; Their Past and Present, page 989.

Hell for Battery B, 4th U S Artillery at Antietam

The September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) is often referred to as artillery hell because more than 500 pieces of artillery of all types were used by both armies during the day long engagement.  One could rephrase that statement and write that Antietam was hell for one artillery company, Battery B of the 4th U. S. who lost nine killed and 31 wounded officers and men and 26 horses while supporting the Iron Brigade and other units of the Union 1st Corps on the northern end of the field on that fateful September morning.

At Antietam Battery B was initially commanded by Captain Joseph B. Campbell a June 24, 1861 graduate of West Point who, in May 1862, replaced John Gibbon as commander of the battery when Gibbon was promoted Brigadier General of Volunteers and assumed command of the Iron Brigade.  When Campbell was severely wounded early in the day command devolved upon 36 year old Scottish immigrant Lieutenant James Stewart.

Battery B had crossed Antietam Creek late in the afternoon September 16, 1862, probably at a ford near the upper bridge, along with John Gibbon’s brigade to which it was attached.  Both had bivouacked on the rainy night of the 16th on the Joseph Poffenberger Farm with other elements of Major General Joseph Hooker’s 1st Corps of the Army of the Potomac.

Before dawn on the 17th and before most of the Union troops had risen from their fitful slumber artillery shells fired form Confederate batteries on Nicodemus Heights, west of the Joseph Poffenberger Farm, came crashing into the ranks of the 1st Corps.  Not long after that, around 6:00 a.m., Hooker directed Gibbon to prepare his brigade to advance south  along the Hagerstown Pike to engage Confederate troops commanded by General Thomas J. “Stonewall" Jackson which were about a half mile to their front.  Gibbon ordered Battery B to advance in support of the Iron Brigade.

As the regiments of the Iron Brigade deployed skirmishers and advanced southward Battery B advanced through the North Woods and went into battery in a plowed field approximately 100 yards south of the woods.  Shortly after unlimbering the company’s six Model 1857 Light 12 Pounders (Napoleons) Gibbon directed Stewart to advance his 2 gun section to a position due east of farmer D. R. Miller’s house.  Stewart went into battery east of the Miller farmhouse and directed counter battery fire against Colonel S. D. Lee and Captain W. T. Poague’s Confederate batteries in his front as well as against Confederate infantry regiments in the woods north of the Dunker Church.  

The Iron Brigade was taking heavy casualties from infantry and artillery enfilading their right flank as they advanced southward along and east of the Hagerstown Pike so around 6:30 a.m., Gibbon ordered Stewart to advance his section to a position west of the pike and south of the Miller barn.  Stewart unlimbered his two cannons and while facing in a southwesterly direction directed spherical case against Poague’s Rockbridge battery and Jackson’s troops. 


 According to Johnny Cook, the battery’s bugler, “No sooner had we unlimbered when a column of Confederate infantry emerging from the so-called West Woods poured a volley into us, which brought down 14 of 17 of my brave comrades to the ground.”

As stated in Lance Herdegen’s “The Iron Brigade in Civil War and Memory”,  “Stewart’s horse fell in a hail of bullets spilling him to the ground but he jumped up unhurt and ran to the limber to gather a makeshift force of horse holders and drivers to replace the downed cannoneers.” 

With Battery B’s support the 2nd and 6th Wisconsin of the Iron Brigade were able to break through Jackson’s line as they advanced through Miller’s cornfield and get within several hundred yards of the Dunker Church before a counter attack by Confederate forces under the command of General John B. Hood forced the decimated ranks of the Wisconsin regiments to beat a hasty retreat back through the corn and ultimately to a position west of the pike in the rear of and in support of Battery B.  

By 7:20 a.m., Gibbon was forced to call-up the other four guns of Campbell’s Battery  who came galloping up the Hagerstown Pike and unlimbered to the left of Stewart’s two cannons.  One of the bronze Napoleons was actually placed in the road by Captain Campbell. By this time the battery had changed positions and was now facing southeastward with their fire directed at Hoods troops in the cornfield.  

The intense infantry fire from Hood’s veterans soon wounded Captain Campbell and killed or wounded a number of his cannoneers even though the battery was firing single and double canister as quickly as the guns could be loaded.  As quoted in Herdegen’s book, “The steady firing of Battery B’s guns began to falter.”  

Seeing this, and also seeing that at least several of the guns were firing over the heads of the Confederate troops in their front, General John Gibbon drew his horse up alongside the gun in the road and shouted at the gunner to raise the elevation screw which would depress the muzzle.  He could not be heard above the din therefore “in the full uniform of a general officer, his face begrimed with powder smoke and (with) perspiration running down his face, Gibbon was still servicing the guns of his old battery.”  He raised the elevation screw and with the help of the remaining members of the guns crew, “double charges of canister were thrown into the corner of the cornfield, the aim was low, the stones and dirt on the road was plowed up, the fence rails were splintered and thrown into the air, and as the smoke and dust cleared away, groups of the enemy was seen running toward the rear.” 

With the regiments of Hood’s command that had been engaged with Battery B and the Iron Brigade in full retreat back toward the Dunker Church, around 7:30 a.m., Lt. Stewart was able to limber up the guns of Battery B and head northward down the Hagerstown Pike to the safety of the plowed field south of the North Woods where they unlimbered again around 8:00 a.m. 

Around 8:30 a.m. Gibbon again ordered Stewart to advance the battery to the fields east of the Miller house.  Steward advanced the cannons and came into battery on the left of Captain Dunbar Ransom’s Battery C, 5th U. S. Artillery.  He could not fire the guns here because federal infantry regiments were in position 20 yards in front of the battery.  When Ransom retreated Stewart followed him to the edge of the North Woods where he removed wounded horses and redistributed the remaining men and horses amongst the cannons.  Around 9:00 a.m. when Gibbon, for a third time, ordered Stewart to advance to the position east of the Miller house he was only able to take two of the battery’s guns.  The remaining four were removed to a position north of the Joseph Poffenberger Farm where they were unlimbered with the other 1st Corps batteries to guard the right flank of the Army of the Potomac.  

Stewart's 2 guns of Battery B remained in position east of the Miller house and a little later a little farther south but still east of the Miller house firing in support of Sedgewick’s Division of Sumner’s 2nd Corps as they advanced into the West Woods and later as they retreated northward through the woods. Sometime around noon or 1:00 p.m., Stewart withdrew his section and rejoined the other four guns of the battery on the ridge behind the Poffenberger Farm where they remained for the remainder of the day.  Late in the afternoon, along with other 1st Corps batteries, they lobbed a few shells toward Nicodemus Heights which silenced Confederate artillery fire from that position and convinced Stonewall Jackson it would be foolhardy to attempt to turn the right flank of the Union Army.

Battery B’s losses in action at Antietam on September 17, 1862, which officially included 40 officers and cannoneers killed or wounded and 27 horses killed, was the third highest loss of any artillery company in combat during the entire war.  Three Medals of Honor were earned by members of Battery B at Antietam including one issued to 15 year old bugler Johnny Cook and one each to infantryman William P Hogarty (detached from the 23rd New York Volunteer Infantry) and John Johnson (detached from the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer  Infantry.)

There is one additional casualty however that appears to have been missed by those compiling statistics.  In an 1893 letter to John Gould, Lieutenant James Stewart refers to the 41st casualty:  “About ten minutes after being placed in command I was struck by a minie ball breaking my waist belt plate and knocking me down.  On getting up I found my sword belt broken in two.  The shock was trouble for some time, but I knew if I should allow it to be known that I was wounded that someone else would be sent to command the battery.  I suffered a great deal and had to use a catheter for many years and sometimes especially when I catch cold the old pain will come back.  General Gibbon does not know to this day that I was wounded in the battle.” 

“To when the battle was over, in place of looking over the field and making notes I had to lie down flat on my back and obtain all the relief that I Possibly could until the surgeon came and helped me out of the pain.”   

           

Sacrifice Lost to History: Honored Dead of the 39th Illinois Volunteers

There are 4,776 graves at Antietam National Cemetery containing the remains of Union soldiers who died during the four year Civil War that raged between April 1861 and April 1865.  Many of those soldiers were killed in action or died of wounds following such well known battles as South Mountain (September 14, 1862), Antietam (September 17, 1862) or Monocacy (July 9, 1864).  Others died in obscure places often times of unknown causes and their sacrifice has been largely forgotten or unrecognized by historians.  Such is the fate of a handful of soldiers of the 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry who are buried with their comrades in the Illinois Section of Antietam National Cemetery.

The 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was mustered into federal service on October 11, 1861.  The regiment traveled to St. Louis from whence they were ordered to Williamsport, Maryland on October 29, 1861.  The inexperienced troops were assigned as railroad guards, to protect the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, in the Department of West Virginia.  The regiment's companies were split up and assigned to various strategic locations in West Virginia including Bath (present day Berkeley Springs), Alpine Station (present day Hancock) and Great Cacapon Bridge.

In early January 1862 during the Bath-Romney Campaign soldiers of the 39th Illinois were attacked by 8,500 veteran soldiers commanded by Stonewall Jackson.  The Illinoisians were pushed across the Potomac to Hancock, Maryland as Jackson's troops destroyed the railroad from Great Cacapon to Hancock before heading west toward Romney.

In late January and February, 1862 the 39th was deployed to guard the railroad at Cumberland, Maryland and  later New Creek, Virginia.  The weather was cold and miserable.  Many of the soldiers were without adequate food, clothing or shelter.   Several died of disease.  Others of the 39th died of unknown causes.  They were originally buried at Cumberland, Maryland and later disinterred and reburied at Antietam National Cemetery.

Private/Drummer Charles Rowley, from Homer, Illinois enlisted in Company G, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  He died at Cumberland, Maryland of unknown causes on February 20, 1862.

Private William H. Perry a resident of Esmona, Illinois mustered in with Company C, 39th Illinois in October 1861.  He died at Cumberland, Maryland of unknown causes on February 25, 1862.

Private Harmanus Borchers of Peoria enlisted in Company G of the 39th.   He died of disease at Cumberland, Maryland  on February 13, 1862. 

Private George H. Mott of Wilmington, Illinois enlisted in Company A. 39th Illinois.  He died of unknown causes at Culberland, Maryland on February 2. 1862.

Private William S. Littleton, a resident of Mahomet enlisted in company I, 39th Illinois.  he died at Cumberland of unknown causes on February 6, 1862.

Private Hiram G. Dunham, a resident of Hartford, Michigan enlisted in Company G, 39th Illinois.  He died of disease at Cuberland, Maryland on February 23, 1862.

There are ten soldiers from the 39th Illinois buried at Antietam National Cemetery.  Seven of those died near Cumberland, Maryland in February 1862.  Non of the deaths are attributed to being killed or wounded in battle.

A View of the Past: Horse Drawn Artillery

A reenactment was held on October 21 & 22, 2012 at the Cedar Creek Battlefield near Middletown, Virginia, commemorating the battle's 148th Anniversary.  One special treat, which appears to be an annual occurrence, is the presence of a ten pound Parrott Rifle drawn by a matching team of six bay horses.

As you can see several of the cannoneers ride on the limber, others on the team pulling the cannon.  The cannon itself is attached to the back of the limber.   The cannon is pulled on the field of battle and unlimbered.

As several of the cannoneers prepare the gun for firing, others take the team and the limber to a location behind the gun.

The gun ready to fire.

 The cannon had to be extricated quickly so it was dragged away by attaching the prolonge rope to the limber.

The gun was set up at the new position and commenced firing.

Antietam 150 Years Later: Honoring the Fallen

This past weekend witnessed the 150th Anniversary of the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam, a day that produced more casualties that any other day in this nations history.  While trying to wrap your hands around 23,110 casualties, which included dead wounded and missing, is a best a difficult task, it is easier to visualize what, at least a portion of that figure means, when you stand at a microphone in Antietam National Cemetery and read the names of the dead.  I and a number of others had this opportunity yesterday afternoon.

The names of both Union and Confederate soldiers who lost their lives at Antietam and/or during the Maryland Campaign were read alphabetically by state.  While standing in line awaiting my turn I heard the name of Joseph K. F. Mansfield of Connecticut.  It sent a shiver down my spine as every civil war buff recognizes the name of the Major General who was killed near the East Woods as he lead the Army of the Potomac 12th Corps into battle on that fateful September day. In lots of cases however the names of many of the soldiers who lost their lives on the farm fields near Sharpsburg, Maryland 150 years ago have been lost to history as their mortal remains lay mouldering under weathered headstones in a cemetery far from their homes and loved ones.

I had an opportunity to read 40 names, ten at a time, as I stepped to the microphone 4 different times.  The soldiers, who's name I spoke, came from Georgia, Indiana, Maine and Massachusetts.  Some of the men I honored are buried in Antietam National Cemetery including the following four soldiers from Indiana and Maine.

Headstone of private Alfred L. Cantwell, Antietam National Cemetery

Private Alfred L. Cantwell, Company E or F, 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Died 9/17/1862, Battle of Antietam, Sharpsburg, MD. Grave # 3463.

The 27th Indiana was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac.  They fought in the West Woods under Sedgwick and were routed by Confederate forces under the command McLaws and Walker.  The 27th Indiana went into the Battle of Antietam with an initial strength of 443.  Losses included 41 killed and 168 wounded which represents 47.2% of the regiments initial strength.

Headstone of Corporal Robert Bryant, Antietam National Cemetery

Corporal Robert Bryant,  Company C, 14th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.  Grave # 3434.

The 14th Indiana was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac.  They attack troops lead by D. H. Hill, stationed in the Sunken Road.  The 14th Indiana went into the Battle of Antietam with an initial strength of 320 men,  Losses included 30 killed and 150 wounded which is 56.3% of those engaged.

Headstone of private Rinaldo Ireland, Antietam National Cemetery

Private Rinaldo Ireland, Company F, 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry.  Died 10/21/1862, grave # 3147.

The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army  of the Potomac.  The regiment was held in reserve during the Battle of Antietam but saw action during the September 19-20 Battle of Shepherdstown, the last battle of the Maryland Campaign.

Headstone of private Arthur Goodwin, Antietam National Cemetery

Private Arthur Goodwin, Company G, 16th Maine Volunteer Infantry. Died 10/27/1862, Smoketown, MD. Grave # 3187.

The 16th Maine Volunteer Infantry was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac.  The regiment joined the 3rd Brigade on september 9, 1862 and were on detached service guarding railroads during the battle of Antietam. It is unclear if Arthur Goodwin died of wounds received in battle or from disease.  His remains were originally buried at Smoketown, Maryland and later removed to Antietam National Cemetery. 

It was an honor and a privilege to spend a short period of time at Antietam National Cemetery yesterday afternoon,  after a hectic weekend, remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  May those honored dead never be forgotten.

The Ties that Bind: The 104th New York and Tuthill Rich Cut Glass

  

The 104th New York Volunteer Infantry Monument stands north of and adjacent to Cornfield Avenue at Antietam National Battlefield,  The 104th New York was part of Duryea's Brigade of Rickett's Division of Major General Joseph Hooker's 1st Corps Army of the Potomac.  This unit fought valiantly in the cornfield at Antietam sustaining 82 casualties.

One of those casualties (wounded) was the captain of Company A Henry Guernsey Tuthill.  Henry was born in East Otto, New York on September 25, 1833.  He apprentices as a carpenter and cabinet maker before joining the Drake and Towley Sash and Blind Company in Corning, New York in 1856.   When the civil war broke out Tuthill enlisted and helped recruit Company A of the 104th which was known as Wadsworth Volunteer Infantry.

                                     Captain Henry G. Tuthill


Captain Tuthill saw action at First Bull Run where he was wounded in the right leg.  At Antietam he was struck by a minie ball in the left hand which resulted in the loss of portions of two of his fingers.  Tuthill's leadership at Antietam impressed his commander Brigadier General Abram Duryee who wrote after the battle:

Sir, I take great pleasure in recommending Capt. Henry G. Tuthill of the 104th Regt. as a gallant officer, efficient subordinate and brave. He has been engaged in the following battles: Rappahannock, Bull Run, Chantilly, Thoroughfare Gap, South Mountain, and Antietam, in the latter engagement the Captain was severely wounded and lost several of his fingers. I take especial interest in his welfare and promotion because I have witnessed his courage upon the field of battle and known him to be a reliable officer and it affords me much gratification to present him this my recommendation.
I Have the Honor to be Your Obt. Servt., A. Duryee, Brig. Genl.
P.S. Capt. Tuthill is senior Captain in the Regt. and was at the time of the promotion of Capt. Pray, but was absent with leave on acct. of his wounds.
A.D.

After Antietam Tuthill returned to Corning to recuperate from his wounds.  While there on December 3, 1862 he was promoted Lt. Colonel tp date from October 21.  He did not report back to the army until December 15, 1862, missing the Battle of Fredericksburg.  Henry was wounded a third time, in the left leg at Chancellorsville and at Gettysburg received a wound in the groin while engaged in the first days fighting.

Henry Tuthill was honorably discharged for disability on November 7, 1863 but he later reenlisted in the reserve corps.  He was finally mustered out of the army with 100% disability on November 6. 1866.

Charles Guernsey Tuthill, Henry's son, who started the Tuthill Cut Glass Company was born On February 5, 1871 in Corning, New York.  As a youth of 16 he apprenticed with the Hawkes Rich Cut Glass Company.  By age 22 he was a master glass cutter and a journeyman engraver.  In 1895 he opened the C. G. Tuthill Cut Glass Company which in 1899 was renamed Tuthill Cut Glass Company.
This company produced some of the finest cut and copper wheel engraved glass produced in the Brilliant Period in America.

It it apropos that both the 104 New York Volunteer Infantry Monument at Antietam and the Rich Cut Glass produced by Charles Tuthill stand as a lasting monument to civil war veteran Henry G. Tuthill.

for additional reading see "The Rich Cut Glass of Charles Guernsey Tuthill" by Mauruce Crofford