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Civil War Veterans, 1937
In 1937, in preparation for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, the
organizers of the National Antietam Commemoration sent a questionnaire to all
known living veterans of the Civil War. It was believed that only one hundred
veterans of Antietam were still alive, so the letter was sent to all veterans,
not just those who had been at Sharpsburg. The former soldiers and sailors were
invited to attend the re-enactment of the battle, and asked to name the unit
they had served with during the war. A number of the responses have survived,
along with photographs that veterans sent.
George Dellinger and Daniel Miller,
Boonsborough Museum of History
The lack of support for the events at Antietam is in direct contrast with the
75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg a year later in 1938. 1800
veterans and their escorts were provided with transportation, meals, housing in
a 9’ x 9’ tent for each man and his companion, a hospital, post office, stadium
and 40 buses to transport the veterans from the battlefield to the town (Earp,
2003). The Gettysburg Reunion had been years in planning, and in 1935 the
reunion was supported by the leadership of the two main veterans’ groups, the
United Confederate Veterans and the Grand Army of the Republic (Roy, 1950). By
contrast, the Antietam Commemoration seemed less well prepared, at least for
the veterans, and fewer than 50 veterans attended Antietam in part, it would
appear, because little assistance was provided and the GAR and UCV leadership
were not asked to be behind it.
Miles Morrison and his wife, Amanda,
Boonsborough Museum of History
Also in this collection are more in-depth reports by men who fought at
Antietam. Wales Porter from Connecticut recounted the struggle at Burnside
Bridge, recollecting that “the Confederate soldiers had all but one cannon
covered with brush and as the attempt was made to charge them they uncovered
approximately five more batteries, with the result that the Union men had to
seek refuge back of a board fence.” Calvin Blanchard, a Pennsylvanian, reported
he was listed as mortally wounded, lay all night on the battlefield at
Antietam, was in the hospital in the Dunkard Church when President Lincoln
visited the injured and still “ran away and hoofed it on the Towpath of the
Canal to Harper’s Ferry and joined my regiment.” James Hill reported that he
was part of the 3rd. Wisconsin and “was stationed in Fredrick City the winter
of 62 and 63. We captured a few members of the Legislature thus saving Maryland
to the Union.” Casper Wallace of New York described being taken prisoner at
Harper’s Ferry, hearing the guns of Antietam and seeing Jackson’s troops on the
march.
Western Maryland Regional Library is most grateful to Doug Bast of the
Boonsborough Museum of History for making the materials available. Additional
material was provided by the Western Maryland Room of the Washington County
Free Library. The Massanutten Regional Library assisted with research.
Additional resources
Earp, Charles A. (2003). The 75th reunion at Gettysburg, my interviews with the
veterans. Linthicum, Maryland: Toomey Press.
Roy, Paul L. (1950). The last reunion of the Blue and Gray. Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania: Bookmart.
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