- Joined
- May 12, 2010
- Location
- Now Florida but always a Kentuckian
Bravery and heroism comes in many forms. This story of William McKinley at Antietam is such a story of great courage under fire and great concern for his fellow soldiers.
On the morning of September 17, 1862 the 23rd Ohio Regiment was again preparing for combat near Frederick, Maryland. They didn't even have time to stop for breakfast and were sent off to the sounds of battle. Left at the rear about 2 miles behind the fighting was a 19 year old schoolteacher from Niles, Ohio. It was William McKinley who had enlisted as a private. The young man now had the job of Commissary Sergeant. He was responsible for feeding the men. As he sat in the warm sun and listened to the horrific battle noise from the battlefield, he saw men coming back. They were scared and confused. He had a great idea, He started brewing coffee and putting food into two wagons. He rounded up a couple of old mules and started out toward the battlefield with his supplies.
General J.L. Botsford of the Ohio Volunteers later said:
"It was nearly dusk when we heard tremendous cheering from the left of our regiment. As we had been having heavy fighting right up to this time, our division commander, General Scammon, sent me to find out the cause which I very soon found to be cheers for McKinley and his hot coffee."
He went on to write:
"When you consider the fact of his leaving his post of security, driving right into the middle of a bloody battle with a team of mules, it needs no words of mine to show the character and determination of McKinley, a boy at this time about twenty years of age. McKinley loaded up two wagons with supplies, but the mules of one wagon were disabled. He was ordered back time and again, but he pushed right on."
For McKinley's act of bravery under fire of the enemy in order to bring warm coffee and food to the exhausted, famished men of the Ohio Volunteers he was cited and promoted to second Lieutenant. By end of war he was a Brevet Major. After war he studied Law, then ran for and won seat in Congress. He served term as Governor of Ohio in 1892. In 1896 he was elected President of U.S. and won re election in 1900.
On September 6, 1901 William McKinley was shot in Buffalo, N.Y. by an assassin's. On September 14. 1901. nearly 40 years after his bravery at Antietam, he died of his wounds. His last words were "It is God's way, His will be done, not ours."
On October 13, 1903 a 33 foot high Monument was dedicated by Ohio Veterans organizations on the Antietam Battlefield to William mcKinley. The Monument is located just South of Burnside Bridge Parking area. The monument text"
William McKinley
January 29, 1843 - September 14, 1901
Fourteen Years Member of Congress
Twice Governor of Ohio 1892-2 and 1894-5
Twice President of United States 1897-1900-1901
On the morning of September 17, 1862 the 23rd Ohio Regiment was again preparing for combat near Frederick, Maryland. They didn't even have time to stop for breakfast and were sent off to the sounds of battle. Left at the rear about 2 miles behind the fighting was a 19 year old schoolteacher from Niles, Ohio. It was William McKinley who had enlisted as a private. The young man now had the job of Commissary Sergeant. He was responsible for feeding the men. As he sat in the warm sun and listened to the horrific battle noise from the battlefield, he saw men coming back. They were scared and confused. He had a great idea, He started brewing coffee and putting food into two wagons. He rounded up a couple of old mules and started out toward the battlefield with his supplies.
General J.L. Botsford of the Ohio Volunteers later said:
"It was nearly dusk when we heard tremendous cheering from the left of our regiment. As we had been having heavy fighting right up to this time, our division commander, General Scammon, sent me to find out the cause which I very soon found to be cheers for McKinley and his hot coffee."
He went on to write:
"When you consider the fact of his leaving his post of security, driving right into the middle of a bloody battle with a team of mules, it needs no words of mine to show the character and determination of McKinley, a boy at this time about twenty years of age. McKinley loaded up two wagons with supplies, but the mules of one wagon were disabled. He was ordered back time and again, but he pushed right on."
For McKinley's act of bravery under fire of the enemy in order to bring warm coffee and food to the exhausted, famished men of the Ohio Volunteers he was cited and promoted to second Lieutenant. By end of war he was a Brevet Major. After war he studied Law, then ran for and won seat in Congress. He served term as Governor of Ohio in 1892. In 1896 he was elected President of U.S. and won re election in 1900.
On September 6, 1901 William McKinley was shot in Buffalo, N.Y. by an assassin's. On September 14. 1901. nearly 40 years after his bravery at Antietam, he died of his wounds. His last words were "It is God's way, His will be done, not ours."
On October 13, 1903 a 33 foot high Monument was dedicated by Ohio Veterans organizations on the Antietam Battlefield to William mcKinley. The Monument is located just South of Burnside Bridge Parking area. The monument text"
William McKinley
January 29, 1843 - September 14, 1901
Fourteen Years Member of Congress
Twice Governor of Ohio 1892-2 and 1894-5
Twice President of United States 1897-1900-1901