By Eric Mease – originally published in the Cecil Whig
150 years ago, the bloodiest one day battle of the American Civil War was fought near Sharpsburg, Maryland. It came to be known as Antietam. Two great armies, numbering upwards of 100,000 warriors, clashed in a great tempest that left 23,000 casualties. But these brave men did not die in vain. For their sacrifice meant freedom for over 4 million lives, black Americans all, through the Emancipation Proclamation, issued some four months later.
Cecil Countians were among the living and the dead at Antietam.
“The Quartermaster of the Purnell Legion (said) that Lt. John McCauley was safe – he commanded his company in the Battle of Antietam on Wednesday last,” wrote Cecil County Orphan’s Court Chief Judge James McCauley of his son, John, in his September 24th daily diary entry. The next day, September 25th, we learn scant details about the clash of armies from Judge McCauley.
“Got a letter from John today – was in the Battle of Antietam. (Was) under heavy fire – he and his men came off safe with the exception of John W. Miller slightly wounded by the explosion of a shell. They are near Harpers Ferry on the Maryland side – sent him $25….”
Two days later, the Cecil Democrat ran the first casualty lists from the 5th Maryland Volunteers which was made up of companies from Cecil County. Forty-two men were listed as killed, 142 wounded, and 26 missing. The Second Delaware Regiment, also populated with volunteers from Cecil County, suffered higher casualties. The Democrat quoted early reports as saying “We understand the loss in the Regiment will reach upwards of seventy killed and wounded; as the regiment only took about 400 into action, the loss is very heavy.”
Judge McCauley’s son, John, commanded Company “H” of the 5th Maryland Volunteer Regiment. It was part of the so called “Purnell Legion.” The September 27th edition of the Cecil Whig captured the feelings of the families back home.
“The Purnell Legion. – This body of Maryland troops were in the terrible battle of Wednesday, Sept. 17th. As company “E” was principally filled by volunteers from Cecil and company “H” party composed of men from Cecil, there is much anxiety in the county to hear from them.”
Judge McCauley apparently shared the letter from his son, John, with The Whig.
“By letter from Lt. McCauley, who had charge of company “H” we learn that they were under heavy fire for seven hours, and came off safe with the exception of John W. Miller, slightly wounded in the face and arm, by the explosion of a shell.”
“Snow’s Battery” came from Port Deposit, Cecil County, and was attached to the 2nd Delaware Regiment. Snows was also at Antietam. Lt. Theodore Vanneman commanded the battery and reported that “on orders of General Franklin, moved to the right and in front of headquarters in a corn field, and ordered to shell woods in front, where an enemy battery stationed near a school house opened on us. We fired 300 rounds and with the help of other batteries silenced it. We suffered no losses. All the officers and men behaved with commendable bravery.”
That “school house,” was really a church, Dunker Church.
A monument on the Antietam battlefield, near Dunkard Church, refers to Snow’s Battery, “The Battery under the command of Lieut. Theodore J. Vanneman, occupied a position on the edge of the East Woods 240 yards north from this marker.” Monuments also memorialize the efforts of both the Maryland 5th and Delaware 2nd Regiments.
All of the McCauley diaries, including those around the Civil War, and both the Whig and Democrat newspapers are available at the Historical Society of Cecil County.