Manley Stacey Civil War Letters

Moncachy (Monocacy) Junction
Md
Sep 17th 62

Dear Father

I know you must be very anxious to hear the particulars of our late Battles at the Ferry.

On saturday morning last, we heard firing on Maryland High commencing about 8 AM, lasting two or three hours, Our Regt was not engaged in that fight About two PM, we observed Signals on the mountain opposite called Lowden Hights [sic], to the Rebel at the west of us. Our Siege Guns commenced shelling them from all points,

At 4,30 the [Long] Roll was beat, & we were ordered into Line, at 6 PM, we marched behind the Breastworks on two the Ferry. There we loaded our Gun & camped on the Ground, fully expecting an attack, in our front & that they would Shell our Camp. At 9 PM we were again called into line and marched back to the Camp again, At 3,30 AM on Sun Morn, we we were called into line & ordered to get 48 hours rations ready, & be ready to move at a moments notice.

Everything went along all night until 1,30 PM, when the Rebels opened on us from 4 different Batteries three in the opposite mountain & one on Maryland Heights, The shelling was terrific, the Shells bursting all around us. We were then ordered to retreat to the Side of the hill, at the rear of our Camp. This had been a thick woods but had been cut down since we camped there. About 3 [the] Batteries opened on us from that side, And the way the Balls whistled, was a caution, If ever I was afraid it was then, balls bursting within a few feet of you & coming from all sides,

At 6 PM we marched to the foot of the hill, in an open lot, & formed in a line of battle, Expecting to be attacked in the course of the night. About 8 PM we changed our position a little, moving to the right when some Rebel Cavalry charged from the woods down on us, causing a complete stampeed [sic], the whole Regt broke some of the Companies [turned], & fired into the others, It was an awful time, I fired my Gun & then ran a short distance & fell on back & loaded & fired again. The firing lasted about 20 minutes when order was again established. Some say it was an Infantry Charge & others it was nothing at all, but more say that it was Cavalry.

There was about 10 killed & 15 wounded, two were killed out of our Company. Knight & [Disbro]. We were not disturbed through the night again. The next morning about 6 the Rebels again opened on us, right in front, Shells were flying & bursting all around, I never shall forget it. About 7, Colonel [ ssi] Came and ordered us to form in line of Battle one [sic] the hill, stack our arms & Surrender, as they had no flags of Truce up.

Talk about swearing, I never heard more, than when the Boys were told that we had surrendered, some acctualy [sic] cried, We then rested on the Ground and in the evening they paroled us.

At 9 AM we left the Ferry for Fredrick MD. we marched 16 miles yesterday camping about 5 miles from our present Camp, we arrived here this morning at 10 AM together with the rest of the 12000 prisoners that were paroled, how long we shall stay here, we can not tell, probably not long. We have got to go either in Balt or Washington & report, then what, I can not tell, We were paroled with the understanding that we should go home, it is doubtful whether we go or not. It is a wonder that our Regt escaped with so little loss.

I saw Jackson, he does not look as I expected he would. he dresses so poorly. I never saw such a miserable set in my life, to call themselves Soldiers. To day we are all here except Crowl. he is nurse in the General Hospital, most likely he will [come] on, I told you about having lost my watch, I have got it again all right Waters was taken prisoner & was paroled, [Just] as soon as I get settled I will let you know where to write to me. I have not heard from you in two weeks very anxious to hear

Best love to all

Manley

Stacey’s sketch of Harper’s Ferry battleground

Other information on the battle at Harpers Ferry:
http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/wv/wv010.html
http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/wv010.htm
http://byrd.senate.gov/speeches/byrd_speeches_2003september
http://blueandgraytrail.com/event/Battle_of_Harpers_Ferry
http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=5396

What is “paroled”? It is a release, or exchange, of prisoners of war.
http://www.civilwarhome.com/prisoners.htm

Today in the Civil War:
The battle of Antietam, the War’s bloodiest battle