See You In The Field

  September 17, 1862- The Battle of Sharpsburg- known as The single bloodiest day in the Civil War. The Sixth North Carolina State Troop fought there! I walked in their Footsteps 150 Year later... The 6th North Carolina State Troops on the reenactment battlefield of Sharpsburg at sunrise on Sept. 8, 2012 A Brief History of the Sixth North Carolina State Troops at Sharpsburg (Anteitam) The 6th North Carolina State Troops arrived in Sharpsburg on September 15, 1863 tired and hungry, after spending the previous day fighting to block the Federal army from passing through Boonesborough Gap, and then acting as a rear guard as the Confederates consolidated at Sharpsburg.  Law's brigade was posted on the Hagarstown Pike with their right posted at the  Dunker Church  and the line extended along the turnpike. The other regiments in Law's 1474 man brigade were the 4th Alabama, the 2nd Mississippi and the 11th Mississippi. 1  Regimental strengths for the Sixth NC at this battle are not ea

Copyright (C) 2012 by Historian Rick Walton John Hutton, showing his 1962 Centennial Medal at the 150th Anniversary. "Hey Rick, I got something to show you."  John Hutton had followed me through the shadowy gloom of our bivouac as the setting sun extinguished the last rays of light. I had just arrived and was setting my gear down. I was anxious to get settled in but it was already too dark to put my tent up and I knew John was a treasure trove of interesting facts and artifacts. He held a small object clutched in his hand. As I got closer, the last rays of light glinted off  something metal. "They gave us these when we came up here in '62" said John placing it in my hand. It was a medal, suspended from a blue and gray ribbon. On the front of the Medal was a picture labeled "Historic Dunker Church". Ironically, this is where the 6th North Carolina and Law's brigade happened to be posted during the battle. Around the outer edge were inscribed the wor

"You have got to be kidding!"  said a surprised reenactor trying to cook his breakfast over a smoky fire. It was about 6:45 and barely light enough to see. I had just ordered the men to get ready for drill. Sgt William O'Quinn and Lt. Walton on the reneactment battlefield of Sharpsburg at sunrise on Sept. 8, 2012 The bugles, fifes and drums had blared reveille in the darkness just before 6 AM. I had stretched myself and checked to see what might have seized up after a night sleeping on the hard ground. I found myself surprisingly limber as I sat up and put my wool blanket aside. I had laid down on top of the blanket to have a little cushion between me and the ground, but sometime during the night I must have gotten chilly and pulled my blanket over me. I stumbled through the dark camp as men were getting dressed, starting fires or just trying to grab a few more minutes of shut-eye. I found the First Sergeant and we compared rosters to make sure all the men were accounted

The 6th North Carolina State Troops on the reenactment battlefield of Sharpsburg at sunrise on Sept. 8, 2012 Is it the Battle of  Antietam  or The Battle of  Sharpsburg ? Both names refer to the same terrible battle fought on  September 17, 1862  and often referred to as the the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. How you refer to this battle may indicate your loyalties. Southerners refer to it as Sharpsburg, after the town near where it was fought. Northerners  refer to it as the battle of Antietam after the creek that separated the armies at the center of the battlefield. Since the Yankee's won the war, lots of history books refer to it that way too. (To the victor goes the spoils). But with about 23,000 casualties between the two armies, there was no victor on this battlefield. Historians generally consider the battle a draw, although many arguments exist that McClellan lost his opportunity to wipe out the Confederate army and end the war. On the other hand, Genera

Author with the Sixth North Carolina State Troops Third Bunting issue cotton/wool flag issued in 1862 and most likely carried at the battle of Sharpsburg. Flag is on display at Gettysburg. Members of the 6th North Carolina State Troops, Co. I will be traveling from throughout North Carolina and Virginia to Sharpsburg , Md. this weekend (Sept 8-10, 2012). We will be participating in the 150th anniversary reenactment of the battle of Sharpsburg. For many members this is a return trip, having visited 5 years ago for the 145th anniversary. Some have even attended as far back as the 130, 135th and 140th anniversaries. We have been informed that we will be the color company for the Carolina Legion, which prompted me the wonder about the flag. What colors did the 6th North Carolina wave above them on that warm September day as they traveled back and forth across Millers bloody cornfield in Sharpsburg? I have been researching the 6th North Carolina State Ttoops for nearly 20 years and  have on