Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.II, p.302

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History of Cambria County, V.2

302 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Blair counties. It will be observed Capt. Jones' company was in Hooker's corps, which was placed on the extreme right of McClellan's line, facing Stonewall Jackson's troops. Capt.Gardner and Lieut. Dunnegan's company was in Mansfield's corps, immediately in the rear of Hooker's.
    The battle began at early dawn. Hooker's corps started before daylight, and as it approached the corn field a very little incident occurred which may have determined the result of that great conflict. It was the 17th day of September, and the corn was in its fullness, ready to be cut. As our men approached the sun was just rising and casting its rays on the field, caused a glistening unusual for a field of corn. Upon investigation it was found to be the bayonets of the enemy, who were concealed therein, as Stonewall Jackson had there placed his troops during the night. They were standing "present order", awaiting the command from their chief to slay their enemies. But not so.
    Hooker immediately halted his command and brought all his spare artillery to the fore. Instead of marching through the field, he opened with grape and canister, and such a slaughter of human life was never known in a battle. In less time than it requires to record this event more men fell dead and wounded than in any other battle of the Civil war. It was a terrific carnage of death. Hooker says of this event that "every stalk of corn * * * was cut as closely as could have been done with a knife, and the slain lay in rows, precisely as they stood in their ranks a few minutes before." And further: "It was never my fortune to witness a more bloody, dismal battle field."
    Stonewall Jackson, in describing the terrible assault, said: "More than half of the brigades of Lawton and Hays were either killed or wounded, and more than a third of Trimble's, and all the regimental commanders in those brigades, except two, were killed or wounded."
    Capt. Linton's company of cavalry was supporting the artillery on a little eminence which crosses the Porterstown pike, and being on both sides of the road, it filled the gap between Sumner's and Burnside's corps.
    The battle raged with all the fury of American troops from dawn to sunset. The fierce fighting north of the Dunker church took place prior to 10 o'clock, when the contest changed to the center and left. Gen. Hooker was severely wounded about 9

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302	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Blair counties. It will be observed Capt. Jones' company was in Hooker's corps, which was placed on the extreme right of McClellan's line, facing Stonewall Jackson's troops. Capt.Gardner and Lieut. Dunnegan's company was in Mansfield's corps, immediately in the rear of Hooker's. The battle began at early dawn. Hooker's corps started before daylight, and as it approached the corn field a very little incident occurred which may have determined the result of that great conflict. It was the 17th day of September, and the corn was in its fullness, ready to be cut. As our men approached the sun was just rising and casting its rays on the field, caused a glistening unusual for a field of corn. Upon investigation it was found to be the bayonets of the enemy, who were concealed therein, as Stonewall Jackson had there placed his troops during the night. They were standing "present order", awaiting the command from their chief to slay their enemies. But not so. Hooker immediately halted his command and brought all his spare artillery to the fore. Instead of marching through the field, he opened with grape and canister, and such a slaughter of human life was never known in a battle. In less time than it requires to record this event more men fell dead and wounded than in any other battle of the Civil war. It was a terrific carnage of death. Hooker says of this event that "every stalk of corn * * * was cut as closely as could have been done with a knife, and the slain lay in rows, precisely as they stood in their ranks a few minutes before." And further: "It was never my fortune to witness a more bloody, dismal battle field." Stonewall Jackson, in describing the terrible assault, said: "More than half of the brigades of Lawton and Hays were either killed or wounded, and more than a third of Trimble's, and all the regimental commanders in those brigades, except two, were killed or wounded." Capt. Linton's company of cavalry was supporting the artillery on a little eminence which crosses the Porterstown pike, and being on both sides of the road, it filled the gap between Sumner's and Burnside's corps. The battle raged with all the fury of American troops from dawn to sunset. The fierce fighting north of the Dunker church took place prior to 10 o'clock, when the contest changed to the center and left. Gen. Hooker was severely wounded about 9