Second Day at Battle of Shepherdstown-- Part 3: A Medal of Honor and the 20th Maine Sees the Elephant

Union General Fitz John Porter, seeing these new Confederates arriving on the field and in sufficient numbers to be a cause of concern, then ordered a withdrawal.

The regular Federal troops got out with no difficulty.  But, Private Daniel Webster Burke of the 2nd U.S. Infantry that one abandoned Confederate cannon in the Virginia side had not been spiked.  He got permission to spike and crossed the river under increasing Confederate lead the whole time and he finally had to halt his effort.

In 1892, Burke, who had stayed in the Army and attained the rank of  colonel was awarded a Medal of Honor for is feat.

Also, along with the 118th Pennsylvania, another Union regiment, the 20th Maine was seeing the elephant as well.  Ten months later they would win immortal fame for their stand on the crucial Little Round Top at another bloody battle.  Today, their second in command, Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain had borrowed a horse and was in the middle of the Potomac directing withdrawal when a Rebel bullet struck his horse and down he went into the water.

He managed to get to the Maryland bank of the river, wet, but still in control.  The 20th Maine did well in their first engagement despite some initial fear and confusion,  Three men were wounded; one man accidentally shot himself with his musket.

--Old Secesh

Some More About the Battle of Shepherdstown

From the American Battlefield Trust  "Book:  A History and Guide to Civil War Shepherdstown."  An interview with Nicholas Redding who wrote the book.

What happened at the Battle of Shepherdstown --  why couldn't the Union finish the job?

One truism of war is that a river is a terrible obstacle to overcome, regardless  of your strength.  Napoleon knew it.  Washington knew it. Lee knew it.

Fitz John Porter learned it the hard way at Shepherdstown.

Following Antietam, with most of the Confederate Army safely back across the Potomac River and in Virginia, General McClellan slowly began his pursuit.  On September  19, he first sent Gen. Alfred  Pleasanton's cavalry, and later Gen Fitz John Porter's Fifth Corps to harass the retreat. 

Arriving that afternoon, Porter found a small  Confederate force across the river, in the incapable hands of  Confederate General William Nelson Pendleton.  Union troops sent across the river shook Pendleton's resolve and sent him running  for support.  Nightfall stopped all action.

--Old Secesh

John Banks Looking for Lt. Crocker-- Part 3: 'Shell and Be Damned'

So, here you have an inexperienced group of soldiers pinned down by fire from Confederates above them and starting to get shelled by their own artillery from across the river.  Friendly and unfriendly fire.  Captain Frank Donaldson of the 118th Pennsylvania wrote later:  "A cry of horror went up from our men, heard across the river."

Lt. Lemuel Crocker had been one of the fortunate members of the 118th and made it across the river to safety in Maryland.  It was too much for his honor to do nothing so decided to start crossing that river and rescue wounded comrades and retrieved the dead as well.

Although in the army for less than a month, the lieutenant "absolutely covered with blood and dirt" was carrying a soldier to the riverbank when he was approached by an aide for 5th Corps commander Fitz John Porter.  He yelled at Crocker to stop or battery will open fire to persuade you.

"Shell and be damned," replied Crocker, who went on and continued his work on the Virginia side of the river.

On one trip across the river, he was confronted by a Confederate general and his staff, Crocker -- a large, muscular man with a hick beard -- told them "humanity and decency demanded" that Union dead and wounded be cared for properly.

The Confederates allowed him to continue his efforts, or, as Banks wrote:  "And so this Civil War bad ass proceeded with his rescue and recovery mission.

Taking No Guff from Anybody.  --Old Secesh

Battle of Shepherdstown (Civil War) and Battle of Princeton (American Revolution)

I must admit that I was entirely unaware of this Battle before I wrote about it in this blog.  On the scale of the Battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, it was not a huge battle, but important in the Maryland Campaign.

The two commanders were Fitz John Porter for the Union and  William N. Pendleton on the Confederate side.

Casualties for the North were 366 (73 killed, 163 wounded and 132 captured or missing).  For the Confederacy 307 (36 killed,  267 wounded and 6 missing or captured).

From what I've read, this was not William Pendleton's proudest moment.

Of course, learning new stuff is a big reason I started this blog.

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BATTLE OF PRINCETON

This was a key battle during the American Revolution and, like with the case of the Battle of Shepherdstown, one that I was unaware of.  It was a follow up to George Washington's much more famous crossing of the Delaware River and surprising the British at Trenton the day after Christmas, December 26, 1776.  The Battle of Princeton took place January 3, 1777.

I have been writing about this one in my Cooter's History Thing blog.

Like I Said, I Do These Blogs to Learn Stuff.  --Old Secesh

Battle of Shepherdstown-- Part 1: A Rear Guard Action

Since I had never written about this battle before this week and actually wasn't even familiar with it, I will write about it here.

From Wikipedia.

Also known as the Battle of Boteler's Ford, took place September  19-20, 1862, in Jefferson County, Virginia, (now West Virginia), at the end of the Maryland Campaign which resulted in the Battle of Antietam

After the Battle of Antietam, there was an improvised truce for  both sides to recover and exchange their wounded.    Lee's forces started withdrawing across the Potomac River on the evening of September 18 and expected to be pursued by the Union Army.  he left behind a rear guard of two infantry brigades and 44-45 cannons under Brigadier General William N. Pendleton to hold Boteler's Ford.

Shortly before dusk on September 19, Union Brigadier General  Charles Griffin sent two regiments, the 1st U.S. Sharpshooters and the 4th Michigan, across the Potomac at Boteler's Ford.  They attacked Pendleton and captured four artillery pieces before being recalled.

Early on September 20,  Union Gen. Fitz John Porter sent two brigades across the Potomac for a reconnaissance in force.

Then, the fighting really took off.

--Old Secesh

Battle of Shepherdstown

From the December 2021 American Battlefield Trust calendar.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA

622 acres saved.

Still reeling from America's deadliest day at the Battle of Antietam -- the Union and Confederate armies clashed again at Shepherdstown on September 189-20, 1862. 

As Lee's Confederate Army slopped back into Virginia following the battle, he had strategically left two infantry brigades at Shepherdstown to guard Boteler's Ford on the Potomac River.  So, when elements of Union Major General Fitz John Porter's V Corps pushed across there, a battle ensued.

The Trust along with the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission has added 622 acres of hallowed ground at Shepherdstown.

I just read an article in the December Civil War Times by noted blogger John Banks about his trip there.  Done, of course, in his distinct style.

Of Course, Shepherdstown was in Virginia at the Time.--Old Secesh

McHenry County Civil War Round Table Discussion Group Meets Saturday

The Discussion Group of the MCCWRT meets tomorrow, Saturday, February 27, 2016, at the Panera Bread Company in Crustal Lake, Illinois, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The discussion topic is "Bad Generals" so it will be of interest.  I am thinking possibly Union Gen. Fitz John Porter who was accused of disobeying orders and cowardice.

He was from a naval family.  His father was David Porter, War of 1812 hero, and brother of Admiral David Dixon Porter and Commodore William D. Porter and his foster brother was David Farragut.

Although his court martial seemed to have a whole lot of political intrigue.

--Old Secesh