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
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