Nicodemus Heights

Nicodemus Heights

This page consists of quotes made about actions around Nicodemus Heights during the Battle of Antietam.  It was last updated on December 24, 2011.  There are 11 quotes in this collection.

 

Confederate Quotes

 

“hilarious over the heavy gaps which his grape and canister had made in the advancing columns of the Federal troops.”

A Confederate friend meets Breathed on the battlefield

From  “Defending Lee’s Flank.” by Robert E. L. Krick. The Antietam Campaign. Ed. Gary Gallagher  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press,  1999.

 

“It being still dark many of the men were not found and were left lying in the woods still asleep.”

A.W. Garber.  Situation of the Staunton Artillery at daybreak of Sep 17

From  “Defending Lee’s Flank.” by Robert E. L. Krick. The Antietam Campaign. Ed. Gary Gallagher  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press,  1999.

 

“[Captain Raine] had to take hold of the trail and help…as we could not expect our men to act their part in such a slaughter-house, unless we first laid the example.”

Charles I. Raine. The Lee Battery under Captain Raine fires back against the Union super-battery late in the afternoon

From  “Defending Lee’s Flank.” by Robert E. L. Krick. The Antietam Campaign. Ed. Gary Gallagher  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press,  1999.

 

“ceaselessly active”

Henry B. McClellan describes Stuart’s activities at Sharpsburg

From  “Defending Lee’s Flank.” by Robert E. L. Krick. The Antietam Campaign. Ed. Gary Gallagher  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press,  1999.

 

“I was in constant anxiety for the life of my general, who was always where the carnage was greatest.”

Heros von Borcke recounting his concern over the safety of J.E.B. Stuart

From  “Defending Lee’s Flank.” by Robert E. L. Krick. The Antietam Campaign. Ed. Gary Gallagher  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press,  1999.

 

“My dear fellow, don’t you know that the corn field at the foot of the hill is full of Yankees? And that you ought to have your guns in position now, for if you wait until daylight the hill will be swarming with blue coats.”

Robert Mackall overhead Stuart talking to Pelham the night of Sep 16/17 regarding the placement of the Stuart Horse Artillery

From  “Defending Lee’s Flank.” by Robert E. L. Krick. The Antietam Campaign. Ed. Gary Gallagher  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press,  1999.

 

“Oh, we must stir them up a little and then slip away.”

John Pelham sent to find a weak point on the northern Union flank in response to a complaint from the artillery captains that he had ventured to close to a large union super battery

From  “Defending Lee’s Flank.” by Robert E. L. Krick. The Antietam Campaign. Ed. Gary Gallagher  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press,  1999.

 

“at each point receiving a most terrific artillery fire from the enemy…[at Nicodemus Heights] there were several cannon wheels lying on the ground [surrounded by] dead horses and the wrecks of guns and caissons of he batteries which had preceded us.”

Ned Moore of the Rockbridge Artillery describing the Federal artillery fire as Stuart’s men reoccupied Nicodemus Heights

From  “Defending Lee’s Flank.” by Robert E. L. Krick. The Antietam Campaign. Ed. Gary Gallagher  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press,  1999.

 

“And so we did stir them up, and with a vengeance they soon stirred us out.”

William Poague of the Rockbridge Artillery accompanied one gun on the movement lead by Stuart to attempt to get around the Union right flank in the afternoon of Sept 17.  Pelham fired on the Union super battery near the Poffenberger Farm which almost immediately silenced

From Taken at the Flood Robert E. Lee & Confederate Strategy in the Maryland Campaign of 1862 by Joseph L. Harsh.  Kent:  The Kent State University Press, 1999.

 

“We artillery captains didn’t know the object of the movement, and were disposed to criticize Pelham for turning us loose within 500 yards upon an immense battery.”

William Poague of the Rockbridge Artillery accompanied one gun on the movement lead by Stuart to attempt to get around the Union right flank in the afternoon of Sept 17.  Pelham fired on the Union super battery near the Poffenberger Farm which almost immediately

From  “Defending Lee’s Flank.” by Robert E. L. Krick. The Antietam Campaign. Ed. Gary Gallagher  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press,  1999.

 

“He was constantly riding over the field watching the progress of the action.”

William W. Blackford recounting his concern over the safety of J.E.B. Stuart

From  “Defending Lee’s Flank.” by Robert E. L. Krick. The Antietam Campaign. Ed. Gary Gallagher  Chapel Hill:  The University of North Carolina Press,  1999.