The Iron Brigade awaits the Battle of Antietam

kholland

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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
 
From Service With the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers by Rufus R. Dawes

"About four o'clock in the afternoon. General Hooker's army corps began to cross Antietam Creek. The division of Pennsylvania Reserves crossed on the bridge above Keedysville, while General Doubleday's* division, to which we belonged, forded the creek at a shallow place below. The troops advanced slowly toward the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown Turnpike. We passed over open fields and through orchards and gardens, and the men filled their pockets and empty haversacks with apples. About dusk, sharp musketry and cannonading began in our front. It was nine o'clock at night when our brigade reached the position assigned it. The men laid down upon the ground, formed in close column, muskets loaded and lines parallel with the turnpike. Once or twice during the night, heavy volleys of musketry crashed in the dark woods on our left. There was a drizzling rain, and with the certain prospect of deadly conflict on the morrow, the night was dismal. Nothing can be more solemn than a period of silent waiting for the summons to battle, known to be impending.

*General Doubleday succeeded General J. P. Hatch, wounded at South Mountain."
 
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