This is the first letter I will post, for no specific reason. Carman used letters like this to fine-tune his manuscript, although he was mostly interested in the locations of regiments more than the personal experiences of the soldiers. There are hundreds, thousands, of letters like this one, some good, some less useful, in the files. This one struck me due to the personal account of the writer. Carman ignored it, but I find it compelling.

Lewis Reed
Rockland Mass.
April 13, 1894
Dear Sir,
Yours April 12 at hand. In answer to your letter I shall not attempt to write the history of the 12th Regt. for others have done that already and as you write that you have heard from George Kimball I feel more like not writing at all. I think Kimball is better posted on matters pertaining to the part of 12th Regt. took in the battle of Antietam than any man in the Regt. I do not remember that exact position of Co. “A” in line, Kimball’s Co, Company “G” my Co, was on the left of Color Co. “I”.
An account of the Regt. forming on the evening of Sept. 16, 1862 near Poffenburger house and advancing to position near the east end of what is called the East wood. I presume you are familiar with all the particulars so I will not write about it in detail. Only say that at dark we were there and at the time. I was a Corporal, acting Sergeant. I was present and on duty with my company. We lay on our arms during the night skirmishing going on directly in front. We advanced very early on the 17th not later than 6 a.m. I think in a south westerly direction through a corn field the enemy was directly in our front. We followed our skirmishes, two Co from our Regt, for a short distance. When our skirmishes rejoined the Regt I think Thompson’s Battery followed close in our rear. We were under heavy fire from the start. We advanced a short distance and come to a low wall with an old fence on top. I do not know just how far from our line of battle at the start. I hope to find the line of that old wall some time. We were losing men about this time from a rebel Battery on our right. We advanced beyond the wall to open field, corn cut down at that time, in plain sight of a high fence and a rebel line of battle in the act of advancing beyond the fences toward us. We were under very heavy fire muskets and cannon ball, and men falling very fast. Being in the position of a Serg. I did not fire but once. The rebels did not get beyond the fence. My comrades were falling. I saw Capt E P. Reed as he was wounded in the hand. My friend and tent mate, Benj Curtis, fell never to rise again. I saw the Roulett building [sic: Mumma]burning also the dunker church on my right front. I also noticed heavy fighting on my right 10th Maine, 2nd Mass and thousands of others Our Lt. Cushing, while going to take command of a Co on our left was killed.
It probably was not many minutes after my comrade Curtis fell before I found myself on the ground with a strange feeling covering my whole body. I did not seem to be suffering much and I remember someone attempted to help me up and then left me afterwards I learned it was Nat Phillips of our Co. I do not know how long I laid in that condition. I was wounded on the right side of my neck just above my collar bone. My right arm was useless. With my left hand I found my shirt and blouse filled with blood and I supposed it was my last day on earth. I had the usual feelings of home and friends and thousands of thoughts ran through my mind at once. After a while the thoughts came to me to try and get up and away from the sad scenes about me. With my left hand I loosed my cartridge out and knapsack and all that would burden me and with other things I left a canteen full of water and it happened I did not suffer much for the want of water but I have thought since that under like circumstances I would not leave my canteen again. I hope it helped some poor fellow out of suffering. After many attempts I got on my knees and tried to get on my feet but not yet. I was obliged to wait a while. I have no idea of time, all I know is after many trials I got back to the wall and got through a pair of bars into the woods. How many time I fell getting this I do not know but I fainted many times. Once into the woods I got help, I hope you or someone may sometime show me about where this pair of bars was in the wall. Later Capt Hastings George Hayden and Edwin Lewis of Co “H,” 12th Regt. Rear guard, took charge of me and carried me to a straw stack and a surgeon dressed my wound. At the time I was so weak that I could not stand.
After my wound was slightly dressed the Rebel shells were coming so thick and fast all the wounded with me were carried to the rear in ambulance. I do not know who owned the farm barn that I was first carried too later towards night I was carried to the White House so called. From the White House after two or three days all the wounded belonging to the 12th Regt. were carried to Middlekoff farm and we filled the house and barn my place in the barn cellar on straw. I remained there about ten days and then sent to Alexandria Va. Most all in my Co. were either killed or wounded. I will give you the address for some and their experiences I suppose will be different from mine and when you get them together I should like to read theirs.
Maj. E.P Reed North Abington, Mass
Capt. Moses N. Arnold No “ “
Justin Meserve “ “
John Hutter “ “
Henry Dawson Rockland “
Nat Phillips “ “
Francis N. Poole “ “
Chas. N. Hastings So. Weymouth “
Benj. F. Cook Gloucester “
I am very much interested in the Antietam Battlefield. I have visited the field three times since the 17th Sept 1862 and intend to go once more sometime perhaps when the state marks the Regt. lines for monuments. I find East Woods has been cut in such a manner that I think it would be hard to make the place look right without all Regt’l. have representatives and all meet together on that spot. Please inform me what Regt you were in and how you are so much interested in the Battlefield of Antietam.
Very Truly Yours,
Lewis Reed
Lewis Reed — Corpl –Res. East Abington; stitcher; 19, enl. April 29, 1861; must. June 26, 1861, wounded Sept 17, 1867 at Antietam, disch. for promotion. Oct 17, 1863. commissioned 2d lieut; July 9,1863; mustered in Nov 26,1863; commissioned 1stlieut Feb 4, 1864; mustered March 26,1864; commissioned. Captain, Jun 19,1865 must. July 17 1865, must.-out Aug 20, 1865 as Captain of Co “K” 54 Mass Inf.
Lewis Reed started out in company G of the 12th Massachusetts infantry as a Corp’l. He finished his military career as a Captain of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Co “K” in Aug. 20,1865. He was wounded at the battle of Antietam and that’s when he was discharged for promotion to the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. After the battle of Antietam he was sent to the Frederick hospital, but there was no record of what happened while he was there. Massachusetts Adjutant General Reports.
8 Comments
Very cool letter, thanks Tom. I found a photo of Lewis a while back in: Emilio, Luis F., A Brave Black Regiment, Boston: Boston Book Company, 1891 — I have a scan on AotW.
Cool, thanks Brian. There are so many connections with these guys.
Lewis Reed was my great grandfather, and I have a framed photographic portrait of him hanging in my living room. He passed away in 1925, and is buried in Spring Lake Cemetery, Rockland, Mass. His grave is about 4 or 5 gravesites to the left of my father.
I know that his sword is out there somewhere, a gift from his friends of East Abington on the occasion of his commissioning, and that it is in the hands of a privates collector. I have made several inquiries as to it’s location and condition, but have received no responses.
Thank you for posting this letter, as it is the only known correspondence from “gramps” of which I am aware. If you know of more, please let me know.
Cliff,
Thanks for your comment, and I am fascinated about the sword issue, will keep my eyes open for you. There are four Lewis Reed leters in the Gould Papers, although the one posted here is the most detailed about the battle. If you can provide a surface mail address I can send copies of what I have. You may send it as a message to my facebook account if you’d rather not post this info.
Lewis Reed was my husband’s great-great grandfather on his mother’s side. My husband is Robert Stetson McFadden and his mother’s name was Phyllis Reed Gowell. Her mother was Cora Bryant and her father was Bert Gowell. I suspect that Cliff Bryant is a cousin to my husband. Phyllis Reed Gowell McFadden, was born and raised in Massachusetts. She met my husband’s father during WWII when he was stationed on the east coast. When my husband was younger, the family made trips to Mass. to visit his grandparents. On one of our trips to Boston, we actually took some time to go to Rockland and visit the grave of Lewis Reed. I don’t believe that Cora was buried there. Lewis Reed had a son (wh0, I believe, moved to Oregon) and a daughter. His daughter was Cora’s mother.
In talking with a friend the other day, he noticed the photo of Lewis Reed–he was my great, great grandfather on my mother’s side–and started to talk about the GAR hall in Hingham, where he has a house. The comments above are from cousins–my mother knew the family genealogy and connections quite well and did some compiling of information. I have a drop-leaf table with sandwich glass drawer knobs that my mother passed down to me. I would be happy to send photographs of those things to you. As a former history teacher (and author of a recently self-published alternative history of the USA following the Confederate victory at Gettysburg and successful secession; Indpendence) I am always fond of dabbling in the past.
Thank you Glenn. I would indeed be interested in photos. Reed wrote some very interesting letters to the Battlefield Board. Of the 2,800 letters, notes, marked maps, etc, his are some of the best.
Thank you Glenn. I would indeed be interested in photos. Reed wrote some very interesting letters to the Battlefield Board. Of the 2,800 letters, notes, marked maps, etc, his are some of the best.