II

The men of the 133rd just missed two major battles (besides the one over the future of Lieutenant FlannIgan). The first was the Second Battle of Bull Run, First Bull Run being one of the earliest engagements in the war, one that went horribly for the United States and shocked the country out of its complacence that the war would be a short one. The 133^rd marched toward Second Bull Run but by the time they got close the battle was in full gear. They spent two weeks on picket duty.

Then on September 14 an enraged 133^rd went to meet the enemy in Maryland.

John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;

His soul's marching on!

They will hang Jeff Davis to a sour apple tree!

As they march along!

Maryland was a state that the U.S. had to keep. A “Border State,” it virtually surrounded Washington, D.C. Its loss would have necessitated moving the capital. As it was Maryland’s instability kept Washington and President Lincoln skittish deep into the war. The 133^rd was enraged because some Confederate units in Maryland were threatening neighboring counties in Pennsylvania and the 133^rd was Pennsylvanian.

On September 18, the 133^rd arrived at Antietam, Maryland but the Battle of Antietam had begun on September 17 and on the 18th there was a lull. Then, on the 19th the Confederates withdrew. There is insufficient evidence that Robert E. Lee's decision to withdraw his army was tied to the arrival of the 133rd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Although the men missed out on the fighting Antietam proved instructive, for proximity to the battlefield acquainted them with the corporeal results. As they marched out they saw and smelled the countless decaying bodies of both armies. They bivouacked just a mile away at Sharpsburg.

Any prior deficiency in Francis Flannigan's preparation of the men of Company F was corrected at Sharpsburg for at Sharpsburg they remained for the next six weeks and drilled. And drilled.

"The first thing in the morning is drill, then drill, then drill again. Then drill, drill, a little more drill. Then drill, and lastly drill. Between drills, we drill and sometimes stop to eat a little and have a roll-call."

While the men of the 133^rd were busy drilling at Sharpsburg they experienced another result of Antietam: Abraham Lincoln changed the purpose of the war.

Photo: Antietam.

to be continued.