Freemasons at Antietam

[Andy Cardinal]

On September 18, the 5th New Hampshire held a picket line in the Piper Cornfield near the Sunken Road. The main picket line was in the middle of the field, with the reserves at the edge of the corn. The pickets were under fire from Confederate pickets so that it was dangerous to show one's self. According to the account:

"Early in the morning one of the wounded rebels, who lay just outside the pickets, called one of the New Hampshire men and handed him a little slip of paper, on which he had evidently, with great difficulty, succeeded in making some mystic signs in a circle with a bit of stick wet in blood. The soldier was begged to hand the paper to some Freemason as soon as possible, and he took it to Colonel E. E. Cross, of his regiment. The Colonel was a Master Mason, but could not read the mystic token, it belonging to a higher degree. He therefore semt for Captain J. B. Perry, of the 5th, who was a member.of the 33rd degree of Freemasonry, amd showed him the letter. Capt. Perry at once said that there was a brother in great peril, and must be rescued. Col. Cross instantly sent for several brother Masons in the regiment, told the story, and in a few moments four 'brethren of the.mystic tie' were crawling stealthily through the corn to find the brother in distress."

The rescued officer was identified as a 1st Lieutenant Edmon of Alabama., who had been wounded in the thigh and chest. Edmon told them of another wounded officer, who was similarly resuced. This officer was identified as a Lieutenant Colonel from Georgia. Both officers were taken to the 5th New Hampshire's field hospital.

Source: https://books.google.com/books?id=JrBLAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA248&dq=antietam+masons+5th+new+hampshire&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjd6JS6vLHrAhXYHc0KHYTlBlMQ6AEwAHoECAEQAQ#v=onepage&q=antietam masons 5th new hampshire&f=false

 

[frontrank2]

Good post. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Miles Krisman]

After their capture during the Maryland Campaign, men of the Alabama Brigade were sent to Baltimore. When the men reached the city wharf, Captain Belcher said to Captain Williams, "I am going to see if there is a good Mason in this immense crowd." He made the sign and was recognized by a Yankee Colonel, who pushed his way through the crowd until he reached Captain Belcher. "I see you are a Mason, what can I do for you?" he asked. Captain Belcher told him that he had nothing and did not know where he was going. The Colonel told him that he belonged to General Bank's staff, who commanded that department, and "you are on your way to Fort Delaware." He said he would send some clothing by the next boat. The Colonel kept his promise and sent some nice blankets as well. The men left that evening on a steamer and reached Fort Delaware about noon the next day.[1]

​

[1] Greensboro Record, December 24, 1903, "Captain Jonathan Whitehead Williams – His Life and Times With the 5th​ Alabama, C.S.A. Company "D" Greensboro Guards"

 

[Andy Cardinal]

I did a quick search and could not find anything about Lieutenant Edmon. Maybe somebody else will have better luck, although I will look more thoroughly when I have a little more time.

 

[Rio Bravo]

I remember someone by the name of 18th Virginia posting about 5 years ago,
11RC - that her Husband's Great Uncle was a Confederate & a Mason, and that he was badly wounded at Antietam, and that he somehow carved a Masonic symbol on a Shingle,and held it up, and a Yankee Doctor ( a Mason) came and looked after him.......... and he recovered !

 

[rpkennedy]

I did a quick search and could not find anything about Lieutenant Edmon. Maybe somebody else will have better luck, although I will look more thoroughly when I have a little more time.

That's a name that could easily be spelled a number of different ways. That could be quite the hunt.

Ryan