The 24th and 184th New York State Volunteer Infantry Regiments:
A Review of the Scriber Family in the Civil War
Part Three
By Kent Scriber

After the Confederate victory at Bull Run, General Robert E. Lee decided to take the offense and invade the North by entering the western part of Maryland with the intention of moving eastward toward Washington, D.C. The Army of the Potomac, under reappointed General George McClellan countered by moving towards Sharpsburg as well. As Lee moved his Army through Harpers Ferry, Va (then WV), Frederick, Md, and to Sharpsburg, Md. The Union Army moved toward South Mountain, Md. There were 3 gaps through the mountains. Crampton’s Gap was located furthest south, Fox’s Gap was further north, and Turner’s Gap was the furthest north located near Boonsboro, Maryland. The 24th NY Infantry fought its way through Turner’s Gap on September 14th, 1862 and prepared for battle near the Antietam River near Sharpsburg. At Turner’s Gap the total of Union casualties reported was 325 killed, 1403 wounded, and 85 missing.

South Mountain, Md (NYS 24th Infantry fought through Turner’s Gap in Hooker’s Corps)

Battle of South Mountain (White arrow indicates 24th NY approximate position)

The 1st Division (under Brigadier General Abner Doubleday) of the 1st Corps (under General Joseph Hooker and Brigadier General George Meade) attacked early in the morning from the North Woods. The First Brigade led by Col. Walter Phelps fought through the Miller Farm “Cornfield” on the 17th of September. Throughout that day a total of 6,000 Union and Confederate soldiers became casualties at that very site. It was here that nurse Clara Barton first went onto the battlefield to assist wounded Union soldiers. Other major battles near Sharpsburg, Md that same day resulting in heavy losses occurred at the sunken road, later named “Bloody Lane” and at a bridge crossing the Antietam River (later named “Burnside’s Bridge”). On September 21st, 1862, Lewis Benedict (Full Corporal, Company H, NYS 24th Infantry) wrote a letter to his brother to inform him he was still alive and recently in 3 “smart fights” (2 days at Bull Run & South Mountain). Apparently he was asked to stay behind after South Mountain to guard some knapsacks, care for some of the wounded, and did not fight at Antietam. He stated that he heard only about 10 of the 60 men from the company came out of the battle. A few weeks after the single bloodiest day of the Civil War (>23,000 combined casualties), Lewis Benedict wrote to his sister from Sharpsburg, Md. The letter, dated October 11th, 1862 and said “They is only 3 of us Schroepple boys here with the regt, they are S.J. Scriber, Henry Limbeck and me. The rest are wounded or got the Rheumatics…”. According to one report from William Fox of the 107th NY the brigade composed of the 22nd, 24th, 30th, and 84th (14th Brooklyn) New York regiments was the first to be called the “Iron Brigade” because of its brave fighting at South Mountain and Antietam.

Battle of Antietam (Number 1 indicates “cornfield” where NY 24th fought)

“ Through the Cornfield” (Originally published in Harper’s Weekly, Oct 4th, 1862)
Battle of Antietam (September 17th, 1862)

Map of Battle of Antietam (24th NYS in center)

Marker from Antietam Battlefield (Located near “Cornfield”)
U.S.A.
First Army Corps
Phelps' Brigade, Doubleday's Division
Col. Walter Phelps, 22d New York Infantry,
Commanding.
Organization
22d, 24th, 30th and 84th New York Infantry,
and 2d US Sharpshooters.
(September 17, 1862)
Phelps' Brigade formed line at 5:30 A.M. on September 17, and moved in support of Gibbon's Brigade. When Gibbon deployed 135 yards north of this in the cornfield and on the plateau west of the Hagerstown Pike, Phelps' Brigade (425 officers and men) halted 25 paces in his rear, in the cornfield. After Gibbon advanced and became heavily engaged on both sides of the pike, Phelps moved to the support of his left and fought on this ground. The subsequent movements of this brigade conformed to those of Gibbon. After heavy loss it retired to the fields north of D.R. Miller's and thence beyond Poffenberger Lane.

Early Movements at Antietam (24th Infantry was with Phelps)

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