behind AotW

From the Indianapolis Daily State Sentinel of 27 September 1862, a copy of Colonel William Harrow’s Antietam after-action report and lists of casualties in the battle for his 14th and the 27th Indiana Infantry regiments.

touch for the full text and lists

See the Antietam on the Web pages for the 14th Indiana and 27th Indiana Infantry regiments for links to bio sketches for each of the men on those lists. Be warned, though, that the paper did a very poor job spelling most of their names.

The newspaper was kindly shared online by the Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program from a copy in the library of Indiana University–Purdue University, Indianapolis.

On this day before the 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, here’s a look at the face of one of the soldiers who was there.

He’s William Tillotson, who was a 19 year old farm boy when he had this photograph taken, probably soon after he enlisted as a Private in the 14th Indiana Infantry in June 1861. The too-big hat and uniform make him seem even younger than he was, and but his gaze is direct and sober, even if a little unsure.

Young William was wounded at Antietam on 17 September 1862 by a gunshot to his leg, probably in combat at the infamous Sunken Road/Bloody Lane. He recovered to return to his unit but, sadly, was killed at Gettysburg in July 1863. He was 21 years old.

This stunning hand-tinted tintype is still in the family and was shared to his Findagrave memorial by Bill Marsh.

Sergeant Joseph Warren of Company P, 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry was killed at Antietam on 17 September 1862, probably in the furious combat in the West Woods there that morning. He was originally buried by his mates on the field, but his remains were returned home to his family in October.

(touch to enlarge)

This extraordinary document was kindly shared by descendant Mark Warren from the collection of his father George Cletus Warren Sr.

My transcription:

Dec 14 1866

I certify that on the 2d of Oct 1862 I furnished Zink (Zinc) Coffin and Box for Sargt Joseph Warren of Company P 72 Regt Pennsylvania Vols

$87.00

Supplied Hearse and 7 [C__s?] to the funeral 18.00

and for [___] the Purpose of Digging up the Remains at Antietam Battle field and Bring the Body to Philada [Philadelphia] fifty dollars. in all one Hundred Dollars.

D H Bowen
undertaker
815 S 2 St Philada

The author was David Hand Bowen (9 July 1813 – 27 January 1903).

Here’s Bowen’s entry from page 92 of McElroy’s Philadelphia City Directory for 1866, which is online from the Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network: