My Dear Pittman,
I am anxious to know the hour of the day Sep 13, 1862, that Gen. Lee’s lost order No. 191 was handed to you by Leiut. Col. Colgrove and at what hour it was delivered to Gen. McClellan or to his headquarters. I am compiling a history of the Maryland Campaign and the information is important to me.
How is the world using you? As time goes on I see less and less of the old comrades and they gradually drop out of sight. Whenever you come this way, inquire for me at the War Dept Washington, where I am generally to be found, barring a few weeks in the summer, when I am on the old gory field. With the best of wishes, I am
Yours Sincerely
E.A. Carman

(in another hand)
Arrived 5/7

Raleigh NC 1 July, 1899
Gen. E A Carman,
Washington DC
Dear Gen’l,
I have your favor of the 19th inst. And fear I have forgotten many of the details of the engagement of our Regt. (23 NC Infantry) on the 14 Sept. 1862 at South mountain.
I think I can recall the position of the Regt. in the fight. Garlands Brigade filed off from the pike into a mountain road on the right and on or near the top of the mountain. It was haulted in the road about ¾ mile of a mile or more from the pike and it now occupied the extreme right of the line. After sending forward the Sharp Shooters Gen’l. Garland ordered Col. McRae of the 5th NC to support them with the 5th came 12th NC.
Within a half hour the Sharp Shooters became engaged with those (sharpshooters) of the enemy and as they began to retire Col. McRae went their assistance with the reg’t named but these were soon overwhelmed with a superior force and were retiring in some confusion and it was evident that the main line of the enemy was advancing.
A little to the left of this position of these was an open field and the 23rd NC was ordered from the Mountain Road where it had haulted. On a line of an old stone fence partly thrown down and that movement was made a few moments before the gen’l advance of the enemy, which drove the sharp shooters and supporting troops back to our main line. These we ordered to form on the right of the 23rd Regt. but in this moment there was so much confusion that many did not stop at the line. So that the few who did stop were so that the few who did stop were so mixed officers & men that it was impossible to tell whether these men were of the 5th or the 12th. The line of the 23rd was assaulted several times without any apparent effect, but the enemy, his ( ) a gap between the 23rd and the 13th which was next on its left, charged in between the two reg’ts. And making a flank attack drove back the 23rd and it retreated down the side of the mountain. There was fence between the 23rd and the other reg’t. of the brigade. The 5th & 12th having practically ( illegible) and straggled down the mountain so the 23rd was practically cut off.
The position of the other reg’ts was about on a line with the 23rd, the 13th next to it on the left and the 20 on the left of the 13th.
I think the attack of the 23rd Ohio was made forcefully to cut off these troops on the extreme right of the army. The 13th NC Reg’t changed its front towards the right and were not driven away in the attack on the position of the 23rd.
I hope my herein sent you may be able to read and understand this. I am a busy man don’t remember much. Will be glad to help you when I can.

Yrs Respectfully,

VE Turner

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 1^stlieut 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 12^th Massachusetts infantry as a Corp’l. He finished his military career as a Captain of the 54^th 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 54^th 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.