MAUCH CHUNK GAZETTE October 9, 1862
Sept. 21, 1862.
Dear
Gazette,--- Your readers are undoubtedly anxious to hear from the army, and I
will now try to give you a short description of our part which we played in the great
drama of last week. On Saturday morning the 14th, at daylight, we took up our line of
march through Frederick, and after a march of 14 miles we arrived at Middletown, where we
halted to cook coffee on the heights, overlooking the Middletown Heights. We heard, and
saw plainly our artillery engaging that of the enemy, who commanded the mountain pass on
the Hagerstown road. After resting awhile we advanced down the road. As soon as we came
within range of the enemy's guns,
But we lost heavily. My brave Lieut. Charles Bitterling fell while
gallantly urging his men on to combat. He is buried near the spot where he fell He was a
noble officer.
Now to the other
two battles.
Monday was occupied in marching. First w e went
back to the place where our men had unslung knapsacks before entering into action. This
was is distance o f 2 miles, for so far had we drove the enemy from his position, and had
not night set in, we would have annihilated him. We then got to the main road, which was
then strung all along with soldiers---old and new troops. We were greeted with great
enthusiasm as we passed by the different corps on our march to the front. Gen. McClellan
came on behind us and such a cheering as that which greeted him, I never heard before.
This greatly buoyed up the spirits of our boys, as we had been marching with artillery most of the
day, and were almost smothered with the dust they made. That night we marched to and
orchard about 1/2 miles to the right of the
road, where we encamped. Next morning about 10 o'clock we crossed Antietam Creek, (our
regiment only and a squadron of cavalry) to ascertain the enemy's position. The cavalry
soon reported signs of the enemy and drove in their pickets.
About 4 P.M. our whole division or corps
crossed, and advanced, the brave Generals Hooker and Meade at our head. We came to an open
field and as usual, in all. fights, our regiment was deployed as skirmishers. An open and
plowed field of about 3/4 of a mile was between us and the woods, where the enemy had been
ascertained to be. We advanced over the field and soon unmasked their infantry, who poured
volleys after volleys into us. When we was within 150 yards of the woods, we up and
charged into the woods. Here our boys were at home. A concealed battery of four guns
opened on us with grape and canister; they could not stand our well aimed bullets and
withdrew. The firing was kept up until 10 P.M., when we laid on our arms facing the enemy.
Thus matters stood for the night. Re-inforcements came pouring in on both sides, and
preparations were made to renew the battle in the mourning. The loss of our regiment was
heavy. We lost our Colonel Hugh W. McNeil, a braver than him the army did not hold, and
Lieut. Allison; two officers and 30 men wounded. On the battle of Sunday we lost 16 killed
and 34 wounded. The battle opened before daylight. We were in the centre of our corps, the
right and left had already exchanged salutes. This was the greatest battle ever fought on
this Continent, the strongest contested on both sides. My men had been fighting now 14
hours and 1 took them to the rear for ammunition, every round had been fired. About 4 P.M.
we took a position farther to the right, in a corn field, when again the action was
renewed by our artillery. But we soon silenced the enemy's guns, and thus the day was
ended, our troops in possession of the battlefield at every point. We had achieved a
glorious a victory, and took thousands of prisoners and many guns. I am the only Captain
in the regiment for duty, and now in command of the regiment. There is but one senior
Captain to me, and he is unwell.
We are now encamped on "Fair Potomac's
shore.''
The enemy leaving his dead and most
of his wounded behind. I Cannot give an idea of our loss, but assure you, that the enemy's
far exceeds ours.
DENNIS McGEE.
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