Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland — John Shaqi
Antietam National Battlefield, MarylandTilberg, Frederick
History
Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland
Tilberg, Frederick
Antietam National Cemetery; Maryland Campaign, 1862; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
As the remnants of Hooker’s command sought shelter under the cover of
powerful Federal batteries in front of East Woods, a new threat faced
the Confederates. Mansfield’s XII Corps, which had encamped more than a
mile to the rear of Hooker during the night, had marched at the sound of
Hooker’s opening guns. At 7:30 a.m., almost an hour and a half later,
Mansfield’s force was approaching from the north in heavy columns.
Seeing Hooker’s plight, Mansfield now rushed to the forefront of his
men, urging them to the attack. But his work was cut short by a
Confederate ball; mortally wounded, he was carried from the field.
Without pause, Brig. Gen. Alpheus Williams moved up to command and the
attack swept on over ground just vacated by Hooker. On the right, Brig.
Gen. Samuel Crawford’s division bore down the Hagerstown Pike toward the
Confederates in West Woods. Attacking in separate units, however, their
lines were shattered by Brig. Gen. J. R. Jones’ men, fighting from the
cover of projecting rocks. J. E. B. Stuart’s artillery, from the hill a
half mile to the west, rapidly dispersed the remnants.
On the left, the Federals fared better. They pounded Hood’s men back
across the fields toward the Dunker Church and opened a great gap in the
Confederate line. Into the hole plunged Brig. Gen. George S. Greene’s
Union division. Only a desperate Confederate stand stopped Greene’s men
at the Dunker Church. There they remained, an isolated salient beyond
support—the Federal assault had shot its bolt.
Attacking separately, the two corps of Hooker and Mansfield had each
come within a hair of breaking Jackson’s line. What if they had attacked
together? Again and again through this long day, the same
question—changing only the names—would apply.
[Illustration: _Taken back of the picket-and-rail fence on the
Hagerstown Pike, where Jackson’s men attempted to rally in the face
of Hooker’s charge._ From photograph by Alexander Gardner. Courtesy,
National Archives.]
[Illustration: _Maj. Gen. Joseph Mansfield._ Courtesy, Library of
Congress.]
It may have been while observing this critical fight near the Dunker
Church, that General Lee saw a straggler heading back toward camp
lugging a pig that he had killed. With disaster so close, and straggling
one of its chief causes, Lee momentarily lost control and ordered
Jackson to shoot the man as an example to the army. Instead, Jackson
gave the culprit a musket and placed him where action was hottest for
the rest of the day. He came through unscathed and was afterward known
as the man who had lost his pig but saved his bacon.
[Illustration: _Going into Action._ From etching by W. H. Shelton.
Courtesy, Library of Congress.]
_Jackson Prepares an Ambush_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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