Near Harper’s Ferry, Md., Sept. 21st 1862
My darling Addie;
Ere this reaches you the telegraph will
have informed you of the great battle of the 17th, at Sharpsburg
and you will be painfully anxious to learn the fate of
your Charlie. Through the mercy of the “God of battles”
as heretofore, I came through perfectly safe. To your
payers, precious one, I owe my safety Day before
yesterday, I received two letters from you, dated Aug 31st
& Sept. 8th and Sept. 10th, one enclosing a note from Dora, and
I need not tell you that they were received with pleasure,
for you already know how I prize your letters. But I
owe you an explanation for not writing oftener than I have
for the past month, and will give it now. If you have
received the letters I wrote from near Georgetown and near
Rockville, you will have seen why I did not write while
on the Rappahannock. The day I wrote you last, we marched
some eight miles, and with the exception of two days when
it rained (and we had no shelter) have been marching or doing
some duty equally laborious, thus putting it completely beyond
my power to write–part of the time, even in my diary.
[page 2]
So you see that the campaign in Maryland is in fact
an arduous one. But I now have the pleasure of writing
that Maryland is free from Secesh. After the battle of South
Mountain, a week ago today, the Rebels precipitately fled to
the vicinity of Sharpsburg, and posted themselves on
the hills surrounding the village. They were closely pressed
and our men kept them constantly under fire. Tuesday
was occupied in feeling their position and a heavy artillery
skirmish took place, with some loss on both sides.
Our division was formed in column of companies, to be held
as a reserve corps and at night we lay down–as I supposed
for the night. Tattoo sounded and a hush, solemn in its
stillness, settled over camp. I had just sunk into an
easy slumber when the clear notes of a bugle sang out on the
breeze, and the bivouac was broken. Hurrying into line,
we were marched from the left of the field around some
4 1/2 miles to the right, again going into bivouac about
half past one A. M. At daylight we were aroused
by a volley of musketry but a short distance from us.
The Penna. Reserves were engaged, in less than an hour
the engagement became pretty warm, the artillery having
joined in the fray. We were called into line,and
marched toward the scene of conflict at once, meeting
[page 3]
the wounded coming in nearly every rod. We halted
a short distance from the field, and twenty five minutes
allowed us to make coffee. At the expiration of that time
we fell in and marched directly in the face of the enemy
who held as usual, a hill surmounted with a belt of
woods, where they held at bay some four or fife of the
Pa. reserve regiments. As we advanced steadily across
the open field, we ployed column and advanced n
two columns directly into the woods, delivering our fire as
we came up. Our regt. was upon the right of the 2d column
and where we were the woods were not very dense, and
we soon dislodged the enemy, they then taking cover
behind a fence, in a cornfield. As we came upon
the brow of the hill, we halted, and poured an incessant
fire into their ranks for about 20 minutes, when they
began to show signs of unsteadiness. “Charge, bayonets,”
exclaimed Col. Tyndale (comdg. the brigade) and away
we went shouting like madmen. Charging over the
fence into the ranks of the Secesh, they broke like sheep
leaving the dead and wounded at our mercy–and
their name was legion. Away they went, at full speed
closely followed by our brave boys, and we chased
them into another piece of woods. In this charge we
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drove them nearly half a mile, and our brigade captured
a twelve pounder rifled cannon, and two stands of
colors, while the ground was thickly strewn with
small arms, and the dead lay in heaps of tens,
twenties, fifties, and even hundreds! As we neared
this 2d piece of woods, it was discovered that it was
under cover of a battery of heavy guns. A battery
of Howitzers was immediately ordered up, and they
stood an unequal fire until their amunition was
completely exhausted, when they were relieved by
the 8th R.I. battery of Parrott guns. Soon it was announced
that the enemy was advancing upon the Battery from
the right. We mad a half wheel to the right, and
lay down behind a ridge of land, just enough to
conceal us. Here, recourse was had to strategy.
A small force, with the colors, advanced and delivered
a weak fire, as though they were the only support to
the battery. The bait took. With a yell, they dashed
out of the woods hoping to make our guns an easy
prey, but at the word “Up boys and at them,”
with a cheer which rent the air, we rose and
poured a deadly volley into the advancing col-
umn. They halted, reeled a moment, and would
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have broken, had it not been for the firmness of
their officers. They rallied, but did not advance.
We continued to rain bullets into their midst,
till they finally gave way before the impetuosity
of our men. Again Col. Tyndale ordered us forward
and we held the second hill. Our company was
immediately thrown out into the woods as skirmishers
and for about an hour we held our position against
Gen. A. P. Hill’s entire division! About 12 oclock the
13th new Jersy regt. came up to relieve us, and our
regiment fell back being completely out of ammunition.
About half past one P.M., a panic was seen to spread
in the ranks of the 13th (just named), and they soon
broke and ingloriously fled the field. The panic
spread to our brigade and regardless of
the commands and entreaties of the officers, they left
the field. Seeing them thus giving way, Major Crane
immediately formed the remnant of our brave Seventh
upon our colors, and vainly endeavored to stay the
retreating column–but it seemed as though the
New Jersey regt. was bound to be defeated.
[page 6]
The rebels advanced, but their triumph was short
lived, for they advanced directly between our
right and left wings and they closed upon them
driving them back in precipatancy losing some 600
prisoners, and very many killed and wounded.
Thus the day field was saved. Gen. Green withdrew
our division from the field, but the fight continued
uninterruptedly until after dark. Our victory
is complete and decisive, and our brigade has
covered itself with new glory, and the Seventh
is proud of its laurels. The regt. lost 5 killed, and
33 wounded. Do. H. lost one killed–Henry Bacon
and one wounded–H. J. Bell. I was under
fire the entire day, not leaving the company,
and how I escaped is truly wonderful to me.
I went over the field day before yesterday, and
I wish never to see the like again. The ground
for as far as the eye can reach, was literally
covered with dead bodies, still unburied. I can-
not here describe the scenes of that field so I
will dismiss the subject, with “Three cheers
for Gen. McClellan,” who says “the Ohio boys
before the brigade fell back
cant be beaten.” Col Tyndale was killed just^
[page 7]
After a tedious march to Maryland Heights,
we fund yesterday that Jackson had crossed
the Potomac, and left Maryland.
If I had time, I would like to tell you all
about this country but, the mail closes in 15
minutes. We hope to soon have 24 hours
rest when I will write until I can–will
I will write you a very long letter–answer Dora’s
write to Laura, & your Papa.–give Hal. a scolding
for not writing to me, &c &c. Dont consider
this as an answer to your charming letters, for I
shall do that in a little better style; but I write
now on a stone, sitting upon the ground, and
the sun shining very hotly.
I suppose your school has closed. did you
have a good time, at the close? But my time is
nearly up and we move soon.
Remember me to Dora and the rest
and tell Laurie I will write as soon as possible.
Be happy, my darling, and dont forget to
pray for, and write to,
Your devoted Charlie
Direct Co. H. 7th Ohio regt.
1st Brigade, 2d division
Banks’ Army Corps
Washington, D. C.
Charles Tenney to his fiancee Adelaide Case
MSS 11616
.
