- Joined
- Feb 13, 2011
- Location
- Howard County, Maryland
A curious Wisconsin officer climbed the ridge overlooking Antietam Creek and could clearly see the Rebel line on the hills surrounding Sharpsburg. Joe Hooker, who was also there, told the officers around him that at least 40,000 enemy waited just across the creek. Soon, McClellan and his staff arrived to study the Confederate position. Nothing of immediate consequence came out of the long distance reconnaissance. About 3: 00 p.m. orders arrived for the brigade to move out of the range of the Rebel guns. Once we did so, “Our greatly exhausted men were soon sound asleep,” remembered Major Rufus Dawes.
The four regiments rested out of danger but enjoyed a good view of the artillery exchanging fire. McClellan spent the day concentrating his army for what was shaping to be a major battle. He had about 75,000 soldiers at hand, but was convinced the Confederates had at least 50,000 men along the front. Lee only had perhaps 15,000 men readily available, but Little Mac was convinced the six Southern divisions that had taken part in the siege of Harpers Ferry had reached the field, increasing the Confederate army to close to 100,000. In fact, the six divisions would not reach Sharpsburg until late the next afternoon—September 17th — and even then, Lee would have fewer than 40,000 men.
"The Iron Brigade in Civil War and Memory" Lance J Herdegen
The four regiments rested out of danger but enjoyed a good view of the artillery exchanging fire. McClellan spent the day concentrating his army for what was shaping to be a major battle. He had about 75,000 soldiers at hand, but was convinced the Confederates had at least 50,000 men along the front. Lee only had perhaps 15,000 men readily available, but Little Mac was convinced the six Southern divisions that had taken part in the siege of Harpers Ferry had reached the field, increasing the Confederate army to close to 100,000. In fact, the six divisions would not reach Sharpsburg until late the next afternoon—September 17th — and even then, Lee would have fewer than 40,000 men.
"The Iron Brigade in Civil War and Memory" Lance J Herdegen