Camp on top of Loudon Hights

Octr 2^nd 1862

 

Dear Marshall

                        I had just finished a letter dated the 29^th & 30^th when I reced yours of the 27^th and before posting mine I thought of sending a few additional lines acknowledging the receipt of yours. Very glad to hear that you are well

 

Things in general indicate that Harpers Ferry is to be a permanent and strongly fortified post, under command of Gen^l Geary his Head Qs at present is on Loudon H^s along with our Division (Greens) I may mention here that said Green was one of the engineers or engaged in some way in the construction of the N.J. waterworks and is a New Yorker he was a Brigadier under Banks. quite a number of men are detailed to cut timber fix roads and improve the Hights generally and perhaps to build a fort &c. I hope if there is an army of occupation left here that we will be counted in. the yellowing leaves and cold nights put a fellow in a notion of quarters again / no fighting yet of any consequence some slight skirmishing and feeling along the lines but nothing serious. Old Abe arrived yesterday about the time he arrived as rough a looking norwester as ever he dared to be came roaring across the valley its dark face lit up with prize views and belching out peals longer and louder than was heard at Antietam. the descending torrents seemed to break into white foaming spray as they reached the ground, the whole lit up grandly by the evenings sun and several rainbows made it a splendid sight. seventeen guns greeted Abe from Bolivar Hights we were called out and waited until quite dark but Abe did not come up so we went out this morning at 9 and were drawn up in line along the ridge and Abe and Co rode along the ranks a company of Hawkins Zouaves who are detached with the howitzers fired a salute and we cheered until we nearly scared their horses out of their wits. Abe looks thin and careworn but thoughtful and determined. he lost a splendid view as the landscape below was shut out by a dense fog rising from the rivers 

 

I send you a splinter that I cut from the door of the engine house in which John Brown was taken prisoner it is situated near the end of the R.R. bridge which you might have noticed in a picture of Harpers Ferry in a late N^o of the Weekly. The steeples of the churches and courthouse of the town of Charlestown where John was hung are visible from our camp. I hear that Adams E. Co have an office in town I think I will go down and see if I can learn anything of the groceries, if they are not outflanked I think I will be enjoying them soon. I have reced the papers. My address is Co. D. 5^th Regt O.V.I. 1^st Brigade 2^nd Division 12^th Army Corps via Washington please give my thanks and kind wishes to Mr Preston and all my friends and acquaintances. sincerely hoping that you are all very well

                                   

I remain yours sincerely

James Clarke 

 

M. M. Huey Esq                                 

 

In the Battle of Antietam Mansfield commanded Banks old Corps and in the fore noon was the left of Hooker. the cornfield which was taken and retaken so often was the place where we went in first. A brigade of Texan and South Carolina troops in changing position came into a crossfire of our Brigade in an angle of the field and reced our first and strongest fire they could not stand it but broke into confusion some threw down their arms and ran into our lines while the remainder broke for cover in the woods which we reached nearly as soon as they did and drove them out of that. then we in turn were compelled to retire in our turn by fresh Brigades coming up on this side. the white church was on the edge of the woods in which were the secesh lines. we passed beyond this church in our first advance and would have driven the enemy to the turnpike if we had another division to back us at the time. it was at the church and at this time that Jackson put his best foot foremost, afraid his lines would be broken. he then tried all his might to brake ours but he found another stone wall. our brigade stood in the middle of that cornfield waiting for ammunition with a battery ditto until ammunition came up during which time we were enduring a constant fire and we had to stand until our reserve came up. our Brigade took seven stand of colors our Reg^t got two of them [?] in our Reg^t 56 killed and wounded out of 178

 

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our Division left camp at Kerdysville at 11 P.M. and took up a position and went in to the fight at daylight and were relieved by Franklins Division at 11 A.M.

SOURCES