~ Civil War Letter Fragment of Thomas S. Taylor, September 1862 ~

This letter fragment notes troop movement and engagements of the 6^th Alabama Regiment from approximately September 1^st through September 16^th 1862. The letter was written to his father Thomas Creed Taylor. It describes vividly the 6th Alabama’s engagement in the defense of Turner’s Gap, near Boonsboro, Md. and the 6^th role at Sharpsburg (Antietam). This double-sided four-page fragment starts with the crossing of the Potomac River, probably at White’s Ford near Leesburg, Va. and ends with the Battle of Sharpsburg.

At this time the 6^th Alabama was in General Rodes’ Brigade assigned to General D. H. Hills Division consisting of 5 small Brigades assigned to defend the Blue Ridge Mountain pass Of Turner’s Gap while Jackson attacked the Federal Garrison at Harper’s Ferry. Hills Division consisted of about 5000 men. This was deemed sufficient to hold against the advancing Federal force thought to be only one brigade. However, unknown to the Confederates General Lee’s Battle order 191 had fallen into the hands of Union General McClellan divulging the location of the badly divided rebel troops. Therefore instead of protecting the mountain passes against a simple Brigade of Federals, General Hill faced the entire Federal Army of the Potomac with four full Corps, 32 Brigades, about 80,000 men. General McClellan attacked early on Sunday morning, September 14th. Using the terrain, slow retreat, and extreme valor the men of the 6^thheld the Federals until nightfall enabling General Jackson to capture Harper’s Ferry. On the next day, September 15, 12,500 union soldiers surrendered. This was the largest surrender of Federal soldiers in the war. Hearing that Harper’s Ferry would fall, Lee turned from the movement back towards the Potomac and took a stand along Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg Maryland.

9^th Page First page of fragment

Nothing of importance took
place until we reached the
mighty Potomac River. Here we
are on the banks of this mighty
river pulling off our clothes
& wading through the water.
Imagine the laughable scene
some are taking it coolly with
their clothes on, others are
entirely naked. All are merrily
crowing just at sundown.
We have crossed and are in
yes my Maryland, the rebel
heels are on thy shore. All are
jolly & full of life. We slept
during the night between
the River & the Chesapeake &
Washington Canal.
This night brought this passage of scripture
very forcibly to my mind (biz) &
the foxes have holes & the birds

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of the air have nest but the
son of man hath not where to
lay his head. I hardly had room
between the river & Canal that
night to sleep. Well we dodged
around 12 or15 days, passed through
several small villages in which
some of the women made a
faint sign of secession but
the men looked sad & longed
faced. On Sunday morning
of the great battle of South
Mountains, I was thinking as little
of having a fight that day as
I do of having any this morning.
I believe I was cooking breakfast.
We were all seemingly resting
very quietly when we got orders
to fall in. We double quicked
toward Boonsburough. We passed
through this little place & went up

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a mountain there we waited
for the coming of the enemy.
Our boys all seemed quiet &
calm some roasted irish potatoes
some one thing some another
Presently the cannon began to
open it thundering mouth. We
moved a little in order to get a
better position. There we could get
a plain view of our forces who
were steadily advancing. You must
remember that our Division
was all that we had here. There
were at least a brigade coming
against our Regt. There were
at least 5 to one of us. We moved
again. Now their skirmishers are
firing on us. Some of our company
are killed & wounded. We begin
the fight in good earnest. One
fellow, a yank is behind a rock

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& is shooting at us doing damage
at every fire. I took a pull at
him & think I stoped him
forever. He reeled & fell. We
moved again. Now we stop &
are almost surrounded. Our
men are falling all around
We skedadle & halt fight &
then skedadle again. We get
behind a big pile of rocks
here a terrible conflict begins
We are almost surrounded by
superior numbers. But we
hold our ground & a good
opportunity presents itself for
us to skedadle again. We do
so but leave some of our
brave boys behind. What a
terrible thing it is to be in battle.
We march all night, rest
next day near Sharpsburg. Here we

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rested until Wednesday, that we
did not fight anymore until
Wednesday but we were facing
the enemy all the time & and could
see their whole movements some
times a cannon ball would
come flying over towards us
our men would sometimes
send one at them. Our
company was on picket Tuesday
night we were up all night
nearly. At daybreak the enemy
opened up on us to the left of
where our Brigade was. At
sunup our breakfast came
to us we were eating when
General Rhodes ordered us
to a different place. We did
not like to move because we
had made ourselves breastworks
of a fence by tearing it down
& piling the rails in the corners

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of another fence. Well we put
any grub in our haversacks
fell into lines & moved about
250 yards & halted in an old
road that run through a corn
field. By this time the enemy
could be seen march slowly
but steadily on to us. I knew
we had to fight & made up
my mind to give them the best
that I had when they got
near enough. Coln Gordon gave
the command to fire on them.
This we did & we continued to
fire. This was the hardest fight
I ever was in. When the battle was
at it hottest I could see column
after column advancing toward
us. I think I saw 4 flags. This
would be 4 Regiments the enemy

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got up once within 30 yards of
us. I thought they had me
this time, but determined that
my life should cost them dearly
I could see my brave companions
falling on the right & left. Coln
Gordon was wounded & all our
whole company nearly. Lt. Perry
was killed. There were about
8 or 10 of us left of 2 Companies &
I began to think if leaving
The few of the Regt left had
all gone our whole Company
going with 3 or 4 exceptions. I
hung my head & breathed a
prayer to God for my deliverance.
I waited a moment & then I
started I came off safe & unhurt.
God be praised I felt thankful
& would have been willing to
have fallen on my knees &

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publicly thanked Him for my
deliverance. I believe that
nothing but the mercy of God
saved me. My dear father I
vowed the most solemn vows
that day I intend to serve god
the remainder of my days
I am not afraid to die, no I
feel that to die would be my
gain ,But I want to live
for my dear wife & children
& to be more useful to the
world & I believe I will
live to see the end of this
war. I have passed through
so many trying scenes & I
have always felt that God was
with me. I try to be a true
Christian in camps but
I have many trials & temptations
that you know nothing of.
Pray for me at all times.
Pray continually that I maybe
faithful.

© Copyright: February 21, 1999
H. E. Cross, Jr.
All Rights Reserved 

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