Save Historic Antietam Foundation

(from the December 2009 SHAF Newsletter)
by Tom Clements, SHAF President

In hopes that it may interest our readers, and to give them a taste of the memoirs of many veterans of the battle, we will from time to time run a few letters from men who survived the battle.  These letters come from the National Archives Antietam Studies files, transcribed for clarity.

Here is a letter from Capt. John D. Frank, Commanding Battery G, 1st NY Light Artillery.  Formerly a Private, Corporal, Sergeant and First Sergeant of Light Battery A,  2nd U.S. Artillery, Frank was made Captain of this volunteer battery early in the war.  He served under Brevet Maj. Henry J. Hunt, Brevet Maj. John Sedgwick, Brevet Lieut. Col. Horace Brooks, Capt W.F. Barry and Capt J.C. Tidball before the war, and  commanded his battery with distinction at Antietam.  He was mustered out of the service in the spring of 1863.

Lamartine
Fond du Lac Co Wis.
Aug. 16th. [18]93

Col. J. C. Stearns:

Sir.

Your letter herewith enclosed was received by me yesterday, having been forwarded by Capt. Ames, who as Lieut. in Battery “G 1st NY. Light Arty; was absent during the Antietam Campaign on account of sickness contracted during the Penninsular Campaign. In my endeavor to answer you questions for any practical purpose, I am compelled to violate rules of brevity.

1st On the night of Sept. 16th the Battery was not in line.

2nd On the morning of Sept 17th, when the Battle commenced was advancing to, and in Column of Sections, awaiting orders, about 1/2 mile to the right of and in a direct line with Dunker Church and about 1/4 mile in rear of said line.

3rd Upon Sedgwick’s repulse advanced (without orders) to a Ridge about 1/2 mile in line with and to the right of Dunker Church; to the head of a Ravine, commencing at the foot of Dunker Church Woods, crossing the Ridge and ending in a piece of heavy timber in our rear, said position being taken to prevent the threatened advance of three hostile Brigades forming at the foot of the Ravine behind the Dunker Woods, with the evident intention of taking French (who after  Sedgwick’s repulse and before Smith’s arrival was thought to be our extreme right) in flank and rear.

4th During the night of the 17th bivouac(k)ed on the position held since about 9.30 A.M. of the 17th.

If more accurate information is desired, would respectfully refer you to Col C. D. Green, Adjt. Gen’ls. Dept. who, as Ass’t. Adj’t. Gen’l. of Smith’s Division gave me the 6th Maine of Hancock’s Brigade in support, visited the Battery several times during the heaviest part of the engagement, and for the purpose of his field report would naturally take close notice of topography. He will more readily remember Capt. Frank as the First Sergeant of Brooks’s and Barry’s Lt. Batty in 2nd U.S. Arty, while himself serving as Lieutenant of said Regiment at Fort Leavenworth.

Respectfully
Your Obdt. Servt.
Jno. [John] D. Frank.
Battery “G”
1st N York Light
Capt Jno D Frank

(from the December 2009 SHAF Newsletter)
by Tom Clements, SHAF President

A misty and cloudy day did not dampen the spirits of 15 SHAF members who gathered on Saturday November 14 to replant a section of the historic East Woods.  The last of the three major woodlots on the northern end of the field, East Woods was much larger at the time of the battle than its current footprint.  Starting last year the Natural Resources group at Antietam began to plant seedlings in a five acre patch adjoining the current woodlot.  Our members pitched in with a will, and by noon had planted several dozen seedlings in a cleared lot just south and east of the Cornfield.

Although the weather was moist, no hard rain fell, and the damp soil is ideal for tree planting.  Our work will be obvious to visitors from the Cornfield tour stop, look for the tubes used to protect the seedlings from the many deer that live in the park.

Our semi-annual Work Days have become a tradition at the battlefield, and the effort to restore the historic scenery of the field is appreciated by the park staff and visitors.  We usually work on Saturday mornings, once in the spring and once in the fall.  Watch our website, SHAF.org for announcements of our next date.

Please join us!

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the 150th Quad-State Committee, from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland, are planning and coordinating a range of commemoration events … dramatic productions, exhibits, academic lectures, special tours and much more.

(logo from johnbrownraid.org)

SHAF members are encouraged especially to act as volunteers to assist visitors gathering for and attending the “Proceed to the Ferry” event at and near the Harpers Ferry Park on Friday, October 16th.  Please contact SHAF President Tom Clemens if you’d like to help.

This exciting event will precisely coincide in place and hour with John Brown’s 6-mile travel from the Kennedy Farm to the Ferry on the fateful night of 16 October 1862, as his Raid on the Federal Arsenal began.

A complete schedule of commemoration events at the Park are online from the Park Service webpage and more about the special hike from johnbrownraid.org.

A reminder for all about SHAF’s next Battlefield Work Day.

It will be Saturday, November 14th, and we’ll meet at the Visitor’s Center Parking lot at 9 o’clock am.

Bring gloves, water, and dress for both the work and the weather. We plan to work for 3 or 4 hours but will cancel if there is a steady rain or other severe weather.

If we have enough volunteers we’ll plan to work both at clearing brush and debris along the Piper Farm Lane and planting saplings as part of the restoration of the East Woods.

Contact SHAF for more information.

For more details on the tree planting program call 301-432-2243 and ask for Joe Calzarette, Natural Resources
Manager.

The September 19 tours of the Shepherdstown Battlefield, sponsored by the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association and including a guided wading of the Potomac at Boteler’s Ford, are filling up fast.

Reservations are required.

Make a reservation now by visiting http://www.battleofshepherdstown.org/Hats.html.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RIVER WADING SEPTEMBER 19, 2009

2:30 Wading - Please arrive at 132 Trough Bend Lane between 2 & 2:15 PM

3:30 Wading - Please arrive at 132 Trough Bend Lane between 3 & 3:15 PM

DIRECTIONS TO 132 Trough Bend Lane
From Shepherdstown: 
Leave Shepherdstown by driving east on German St. Continue over the RR tracks and past the Day Care Center. German St. then becomes River Road. After climbing a hill & descending to the river, the road is parallel to the Potomac River. Drive about 0.8 miles to Trough Rd. Turn right onto Trough Rd and continue 1.1 miles to Trough Bend Lane. Turn left onto Trough Bend Lane; 132 is the first house on the right.

From Harper’s Ferry: 
From the intersection of W. Washington St. and Rt. 340, drive on Rt. 340 South 1.7 miles and turn right onto Rt. 230 North towards Shepherdstown. Take Rt. 230 North 7 miles. There will be a STOP sign where Rt. 230 merges with Flowing Springs Rd.; just after the STOP sign turn right onto Trough Rd. Continue on Trough Rd. 1.5 miles to another STOP sign. Turn right and turn left immediately; this is still Trough Rd. Continue 0.6 miles and turn right onto Trough Bend Lane; 132 is the first house on the right.

PARKING
Park your vehicle on Trough Bend Lane and you will be driven to the Maryland side of the Potomac to begin the tour.

MISCELLANOUS
The river at the ford is usually about 2-2 1/2  feet deep and the river bottom is relatively smooth. You will probably need bug spray, foot wear for the river and hiking boots on the trail. The tour will last about 1 ½ - 2 hours and will end near 132 Trough Bend Lane where you will be able to recover and relax with hamburgers, hot dogs, beer, wine and soft drinks.

TELEPHONE CONTACT FOR ED DUNLEAVY
Home Phone: (304) 876-7029 
Cell Phone: (917) 747-5748