"The Irish Ninth in Bivouac and Battle"
by Michael H. Macnamara
CHAPTER XIII.
We leave Harrison's Landing. -- Visit Miner's Hill. -- Sad Recollections. -- McClellan again resumes Command. -- Invasion of Maryland. -- Battle of Antietam. -- Retreat of Lee.
THE Ninth remained at Harrison's Landing till August 14, 1862; thence they marched down the peninsular, en route for Fortress Monroe, passing, on their way, through nearly all our old camps. Again we beheld the result of our labors in front of Yorktown. With what different emotions we gazed upon them ! Our memories naturally reverted to the gallant dead who had cheerfully labored with us in those intrenchments, and who now sleep forever on the bloody field of the Chickahominy, or the plains of Malvern. We had started from this place with exultant hearts -- the enemy in flight before us; we returned drooping and dispirited -- a triumphant enemy behind us. But we had our scars and our glory; and our virgin flags had been baptized in the fierce fire of five battles, and we had even wrested victory from ruinous defeat.
Our march was rapidly continued, and in about five days we reached Fortress Monroe, where we remained for a short time, receiving there a number of recruits from Massachusetts, who were enthusiastically welcomed. Thence we marched to Newport News, where we embarked for Acquia Creek, which we reached the next day. From that place we went by rail to Fredericksburg, encamping at Stafford Heights, where we remained two or three days. From this camp we marched, on the 24th of August, to Ellis' Ford, on the Rappahannock, where we watched and waited for about a week, and then proceeded to Warrenton Junction. Leaving that place we went on to Manassas, and participated in all the disastrous encounters which occurred there. Our regiment, however, did not suffer, as we only had five wounded. We then proceeded, via Vienna, to Chain Bridge, on the Potomac, whence we returned to our old camp at Miner's Hill, after an absence of nearly six months. We marched slowly and silently up the hill, familiar scenes meeting us on every hand; we passed over the pathways which had been worn by the feet of the men of the Ninth; we reached the old parade ground, where we had so often stood in the pride of full ranks; sadly and silently we marched into the company streets; the tall weeds nearly obscured the cellars we had dug the last winter; the old seats and shelves we had erected still remained.
The ashes of the old camp fires were still visible, and the tent poles we had stuck into the ground still remained standing. One by one our poor fellows pitched their tents. In a little while all was done; then the history of the last few months became painfully evident. The vacant cellars could be seen on every hand. The men who had once lived, laughed, and sung within them were dead. The officers' tents were pitched in line. Another terrible hiatus appeared. Company I's tents were not pitched; its cellar was not covered; its officers had not returned. All had been killed on the peninsular.
In a few days the broken corps of the army of the Potomac were gathered before the works that protected Washington, and the process of reorganization was commenced by General McClellan, who had again assumed control of the army, after the disastrous campaign of Pope. About this time rumors were rife that General Lee meditated the invasion of Maryland. Soon corps after corps moved on Washington.
On the 12th of September our regiment started, and, recrossing the Potomac at Georgetown, reached the capital, which was in a state of great excitement.
The threatened invasion of the northern states, and the dire rumors that the capital itself was menaced, was sufficient material for the most intense feeling, and the progress of the army of the Potomac was watched with anxiety; the citizens greeted them with great demonstrations of affection and delight. In their compact ranks and brown faces they showed little of the wreck of the peninsular, and the recruits since received greatly enlarged their columns. Two days' rapid marching, under a hot sun, and over dusty roads, brought us to Leesburg, in Maryland. The following day we passed through Rockville and Clarksburg, halting on the night of the 13th, near Hyattstown -- a most insignificant place, with scarcely provision enough to feed a chicken. A place called Urbana is another effort of mind over matter, but is somewhat dignified by its vicinity to Monocacy Station. We staid here a few hours, and then resumed our march, arriving at Frederick City, in Maryland. In these four days the Ninth marched nearly one hundred miles, -- in the best possible humor, and every day in anticipation of an engagement. The regiment passed immediately through Frederick, by way of Middleton, and on the morning of the 17th of September, the Ninth joined in the well-fought field of Antietam, our regiment being employed in supporting Griffin's United States Battery D. The progress of this engagement was remarkably splendid; the masses of our army were moved with precision and celerity, our charging columns moving forward unwaveringly; and the entire army moved under the influence of one will, carrying fear and consternation into the ranks of the enemy, the determined and valorous fighting of the northern soldiers being terribly conspicuous; and terror reigned in all the ranks of the rebel horde. McClellan vigorously assailed the retreating forces of the enemy, driving them to the Potomac, where they would have been almost annihilated but for the extraordinary lowness of the water in the river, and the unfortunate surrender of the Loudon Heights, and the works and defences about Harper's Ferry.
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