We Just Rolled Them: With the 12th Ohio on South Mountain

Thomas Williams’ account of the 12th Ohio Infantry regiment’s participation at the Battle of South Mountain is a classic case of writing through the pain. As he wrote, his left hand throbbed as one of the fingers had been shot off during the engagement.

          “I am well at the present time with the exception of a sore hand,” he wrote to his brother back in Ohio. “In the evening, I got tapped with a ball which took off the finger of my left hand, the one next to the little finger. It is very sore at present. It will have to be cut off again, which will be a very painful operation.”

          The Ohioan took pride in how his fellow Buckeyes handled the enemy in battle. On September 14, 1862, the Kanawha Division under General Jacob Cox struck the Confederate lines held by General Daniel Harvey Hill’s division at Fox’s Gap. “I never before the ground covered with dead as it was with Secesh where we charged,” he commented. “We were so close to them that we could not well miss them when we fired, and we just “rolled” them.”

          Private Williams' account of South Mountain first appeared in the October 2, 1862, edition of the Highland Weekly News published in Hillsboro, Ohio.

 

A contemporary depiction of the charge of the 12th and 23rd Ohio regiments at Fox's Gap gives some indication of the rolling terrain and close quarters fighting that characterized this engagement. "We made three different charges during the day and drove the enemy every time," our correspondent noted. "Once we got close enough to prick some of them with the bayonet." 


Middletown, Maryland

September 16, 1862

Dear brother,

          I am well at the present time with the exception of a sore hand. I suppose you heard of our severe engagement with the enemy on last Sunday, the 14th Instant. In the evening, I got tapped with a ball which took off the finger of my left hand, the one next to the little finger. It is very sore at present. It will have to be cut off again, which will be a very painful operation.

          Brother John escaped unhurt, so did Sylvanus Cox, or at least had up to yesterday evening. Thomas Stonestreet was killed; he never moved after he fell. Our regiment has suffered a great deal up to the present time. In our company alone, I know of 4 killed, 7 wounded, and 8 taken prisoners- the latter were sent ahead as skirmishers. Major [Edward M.] Carey was wounded as was Captain [Rigdon] Williams of Co. F while Captain [William W.] Leggett is reported killed [Leggett died of wounds September 20, 1862]. An officer in Co. G [Captain Joseph L. Hilt] was wounded. So, you may know that there was a big loss. I don’t know whether our division was in the engagement today or not. It was not yesterday as it was resting. [Other members of Co. K killed at South Mountain included Sergeant Edmund L. Hughes, Privates Cornelius McGuire, Andrew D. Wittenmyer, along with Thomas Stonestreet.]

          General [Jacob] Cox’s division was in the advance so we were in the fight all day Sunday. We made three different charges during the day and drove the enemy every time. Once we got close enough to prick some of them with the bayonet. We took a great many prisoners during the day and I suppose our regiment alone took about 300. John captured one fellow. When he had his gun half loaded, he ran up to him with bayonet presented and told him to “hand over his traps.” The Rebel replied, “Here, I am a prisoner” as he handed over his traps and John marched him off with the rest, half scared to death.

          In the last charge just before dark I was wounded while within 15 feet of the Rebels who were behind a stone wall. After being wounded, I went to the rear but the regiment pushed on and drove the Rebels again. I was sent to the hospital at Middletown where I now am. All of the wounded who are able to walk will be sent from here soon to give room for those who are badly wounded, but where I cannot say. There are over 200 wounded in this hospital and there are 9 or 10 more hospitals in town.

Colonel Carr White, 12th O.V.I.
(L.M. Strayer Collection)

          The prisoners say they never saw men fight like our division did there and there was not such fighting done before Richmond. We didn’t stand off and let them shoot at us, but as soon as we could get sight of them, we would charge and they couldn’t stand. Our division has won great praise among the officers. General Cox thinks he can go anywhere with it as he has such confidence in the bravery of the men. And Colonel [Carr] White thinks there is not another such regiment as his “gallant 12th.”

          I suppose you saw an account of our advent into Frederick City. I tell you we went in there nice. The citizens of Maryland are nearly all Union people and they are very clever to us. I have seen many pretty places but never as pretty a country as that between here and Washington, no exceptions whatever.

I tell you I have seen sights before but this is the greatest I ever saw. I never before the ground covered with dead as it was with Secesh where we charged. We were so close to them that we could not well miss them when we fired, and we just “rolled” them.” Those that the balls from our guns hit were nearly all killed.

When you write again John, direct as before. I cannot tell you yet how to direct to me, but I will write again as soon as I learn where I am to remain until my hand gets well. My love to all, and remember me as ever your brother,

Tom

          Thomas Williams would eventually recover from his wound, but his services with the army would come to an end as he was discharged on a surgeon’s certificate of disability on December 11, 1862.  

 To read other accounts of the fighting at South Mountain, please check out these posts:

Last Words: On the eve of Antietam with Colonel August Coleman, 11th Ohio Infantry

Cold Steel did Great Execution: With the 23rd Ohio at Fox’s Gap

With Hayes at Fox’s Gap

Seven Holes in His Hide: A Wisconsin Iron Brigader at South Mountain

How the Iron Brigade was Wrought: Gainesville through Antietam with the 2nd Wisconsin

Losing a Quarter of the Division: The 2nd North Carolina at South Mountain

A Fighting Chaplain at South Mountain

Source:

Letter from Private Thomas Williams, Co. K, 12th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Highland Weekly News (Ohio), October 2, 1862, pg. 2

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