Blood & Iron at the Battle of South Mountain | History Traveler Episode 246
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2022
- After finding Special Order No. 191 (see last episode), George McClellan and the Army of the Potomac are pursuing Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia west through Maryland. The path that will eventually lead these armies to Antietam will first take them through three gaps in South Mountain. It is here where two future presidents will fight and also where the legendary Iron Brigade got it's name.
This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory...
Check out @VloggingThroughHistory to see the other side of the collaboration that we did at Antietam.
Battle maps provided courtesy of @American Battlefield Trust .
Support the effort to expand history education on PATREON: / historyunderground
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All drone flights conducted by a Part 107 licensed pilot.
Not many people know about South Mountain and what led up to what would be the battle of Antietam. I love following in the soldiers footsteps because these stories aren’t always told. 👍😊
Thanks! And yes, this one typically gets overshadowed by Antietam. Hopefully people will be sharing this one out!
So true. It was barely mentioned over the years and treated like it was just a skirmish. Battle of South Mountain had over 5,000 casualties. It’s seems to be getting more recognition in recent years and more of the battlefield is being preserved. Thank you American Battlefield Trust!
I love history, especially Civil War history. The damn war could have been over, thankfully finding Lee’s set up, movements. Union had them licked, one more push and it would have been over. Mac let them get reinforced by Jackson and so the war continued
I honestly had not heard of The Battle of South Mountain and I have followed the Civil War very closely. Makes me wonder how many other Battles we haven’t been told about.
And monocacy too. I miss living in the area growing up I'm now in south Carolina but Frederick I
Will always be home
You’re the Bob Ross of history!! Well done.!!
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⭐ If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out.
Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com. Thanks!!!
Go see Gettysburg museum of history in person too! My favorite museum ever
Fun fact related to the Iron Brigade. The 101st Airborne Division traces its lineage to the Iron Brigade. The background of the 101st patch pays homage to the Iron Brigade as it represents an inverted black hat similar to the ones they wore. Additionally, the “Screaming Eagle” of the 101st is based on a real animal. The 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment actually had a pet eagle that they tethered to a battle standard and carried into battle. The eagle, understandably frightened, would scream during battle. It served to motivate the men. The eagle was named “old Abe” and is now permanently immortalized on the sleeve of every 101st Airborne Soldier!
Thanks for the video. Earlier this year, I went to the Antietam battlefield, but didn't get a chance to go to the South Mountain gaps. I have a direct ancestor in the 17th SCV of Evans' Brigade and in the 6th SCV of Jenkins’ Brigade, which were at Turner's gap. Evans' and Jenkins' Brigades were sent in to reforce the line at the gap, after Union forces initially broke their lines, and able to stop further Union advance, with the help with other Confederate units. Next day, they ordered to withdraw.
Learned a lot in this episode, when I was in school we completely skipped this part and went straight into Antietam.
It commonly gets glossed over if it even gets mentioned at all. Hopefully this video helps to fill in a few gaps for people.
My Grandparents Lived and My Mother was Born in a House a little ways up the Road heading into Boonsboro, the House is literally just Feet off of the National Road, I Spent a many Summer Days Up the Mountain at the Memorial and Playground......My Grandad helped Build the Monument as Well, Thanks for this.....Funnily Enough the Military led My Daddy to Camp Lejune and Our Family Settled and Lived in North Carolina ❤
Very well done sir. Often overlooked action. One of my kin James Albert Sherrill was in the 12th NC and killed in wises field near that monument. The story is that he was one of the last to fall back and was wounded. Laying in field a drunken Yankee came upon him and bayoneted him to death as he lay there. I was there for the dedication of that monument and have been there numerous times. Awesome that you did this. Once again well done sir.
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im from Indonesia and love to watch Americana war or western movie, and finally found this channel to saw REAL PLACES i saw on history movie and found real story about that, keep it up and thx to share! 👍
Thanks! So glad that you’re enjoying the channel.
John Gibbon is one of my favorite Civil War generals. He learned early on that volunteers needed praise as well as discipline and did the 'carrot/stick' approach to training. His insistence on non-stop drilling, ordering his troops special gaiters and Hardee hats to make them feel special, (the troops hated the gaiters-white canvas that constantly needed cleaning in which one night some mischievous soldiers put gaiters on Gibbon's horse) laid the foundations of the 'Iron Brigade'. Gibbon also held non-stop clothing and kit inspections as he knew green troops tended to throw away blankets and extras on long marches that he knew they'd need, so each soldier would be charged for missing items. The fact that these troops were Westerners consisting of frontiersman, lumberjacks, trappers, mountain men and pioneers made them a very tough bunch. Having a West Pointer in command and having combat tested officers like Rufus Dawes helped create the legend. My favorite bit of Iron Brigade legend was a Confederate at Gettysburg heard to say "T'aint no militia! It's them damned black hat fellers!" as he knew it meant a knockdown punch out fight would happen.
Same here! I’m learning as much as I can get my hands on about Gibbon. Reading Gibbon’s book right now. Just got back home from a week at Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry and Antietam.
I live within 20 miles of this National Battlefield. I have been able to appreciate these lands for some time. Thank you for sharing your hard work.
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Most of this battlefield is state owned/maintained by the Maryland Park Service (with the help of the Battlefield Trust) or private property. MPS has two museums for South Mountain; one at Washington Monument State Park and the other at Gathland State Park (Crampton's Gap). NPS has only a few pieces of land at South Mountain, one being at Fox's Gap.
This is such an important part of American history and the Civil War. I Salute the Iron Brigade 🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸
Tough men, for sure.
Folks, gather your family 'round and watch this this HISTORY Channel! JD,, You bring history into my home as well or BETTER than any show I've ever watched! You bring out particulars that makes a history buff say, I gotta look that up! Jesse Reno,, was he shot by the enemy or by friendly fire?? Look it up folks! :) You're making history come alive like it should be taught in a classroom. Another point you brought out is the fact that things change over time like TREES!! Things don't look the same as they did back in the 1860's. I wish people visiting the sites would understand that better so thank you for bringing that up!
Thanks! I really do appreciate that.
South Mountain is one of my favorite places to explore. You step back in time; the land hasn't changed too much.....
Definitely. Doesn't get a whole lot of traffic either.
Again..better than any book could show, i'd love to do a soldier march trail hike and camp along the same paths that they took to these fights, it would really be an immersing experience!
That would be something else.
I’ve been to the Hayes museum in Fremont Ohio and have seen the coat Hayes was wearing when he was wounded. The story of his wife Lucy coming to his aid was interesting. She initially couldn’t find him so she cared for wounded troops until they were eventually reunited and she personally supervised his recovery.
Definitely need to check that out.
Wonderful video, a few years ago I was at Sharpsburg unfortunately I was unable to get to South Mountain. I enjoyed seeing the general garland monument and the Stonewall that the Confederates fight behind. My great grandfather fought somewhere behind that wall. He was in the fifth North Carolina.
Thank you, great video. Most historians seem to forget the Iron Brigade at South Mountain or just a brief mention. But the Black Hats forced the rebel forces to withdraw from their positions on the National Road just as the sun was setting.
Hard fighting guys for sure.
I visited South Mountain. Very underrated CW battlefield. Love the presidential connections to this place. The NC monument is awesome and in such a fun place. That stonewall is original from what I know. I love stonewalls..
Me too!
My GGGgrandfather was in colquitts brigade -13th alabama-he was killed the first day of antietam. Cool that you mentioned them. And great to know a little about this battle and who he fought against.
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I love this. I am a native Ohioan and I had no idea Hayes and McKinley fought in the Civil War
I’ve been blessed to walk several Civil War battlefields and even Omaha Beach alone, but always came away underwhelmed by just reading the trail side placards. These events are so much richer when told by a docent such as yourself.
Thank you. Appreciate that.
The Appalachian hiking Trail runs along South Mt and thru all the gaps. Very interesting walk, enjoyed all the history plaques.
My 3rd great grandfather served in the 20th NC company E. Awesome to see his outfit on this episode keep it up buddy love your channel and so does the fam.
Edgar C. Price, I was just in NC to go to Fort Fisher where my 3X Great Grandfather, who was in the 203rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Brigade who died at the second campaign at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865. He is buried in a common grave in a Federal Cemetery in Wilmington, NC
Really excellent JD. We were in the area for Antietam 160, visited all the sites but sorry to say we missed Middletown. Thanks for the excuse to go back!!
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I grew up here, somewhere else now, and wow did I take how truly amazing and historic where I grew up was
All very interesting. You've ignited an interest in the American Civil War & American history for me Fascinating. Thank you. From Cornwall, England.
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As someone who loves history.i really like the stories and details you present.and the fact that it is just history and the human elements. The on site footage gives a feel of what it was like at the time.
Thanks 🙏🏼
I highly recommend touring the South Mountain Battlefield before you tour the Antietam National Battlefield. Understanding the Battle of Antietam Creek will be much clearer to the visitor. Outstanding video, JD! Love your channel....
100% agree.
As a descendent of D.H. Hill it's always great to hear his history and involvement in the war. I have searched long and hard for information and quality videos which include him but its not nearly as prevalent, unfortunately. Great job JD and if you ever find yourself teaching about the seven days battles or if you venture into the Revolutionary War, I would be glad to guide you around my hometown of Hanover county VA.
Thanks!
I like to follow DH Hill since he has a strong connection to Charlotte NC did you hear they are changing the names of streets named for civil war generals and Hill street is one. The only proof they have of it being named for DH is a very old city council meeting where at the end they say something about let’s name the street for general hill.kinda messed up,how the found this paper.
@@volleybiggs I think it is wrong to change names, take down memorials, etc, because it is eraseing history. I live in Texas and they are doing it here as well. Those things happened, they can not change that.
@@sandidavis820 please explain how taking down monuments to traitors, changing names etc. is erasing history? No other country on earth has immortalised traitors like the US has. It’s absurd the streets, schools, parks, military installations were named after them.
@@theRappinSpree No matter how hard they try, they can NOT erase history. It happened, yes some of history was not good, but it happened and those people lived and to change the names is like saying they didn't exist, it's wrong.
There were actually multiple Iron Brigades in the Union Army during the war.
John Hoptak has a good monograph on the battle of South Mountain and discusses this in a couple of paragraphs. Thank you for your videos, I don't get to visit sites like I used to.
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Excellent video JD, now you added another place for me to go when I visit Gettysburg. I am planning a 7 night 8 day history orgey🤷♂️. And now you added more to the party, thanks…….
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You never fail to show me something new! I consider myself pretty good at civil war battles but have never heard of South Mountain! Keep up the good work, love your content!
Thanks!
Great Civil War music in the background.👌
Thanks!
@@TheHistoryUnderground Your welcome👍
I follow your travels and it gives me the pleasures to relive the battles my family fought. My 6 great uncle Gen. Henry Wager Hallock. His friendship with McClellan . You are the only host that brings this back to real life. Hallock and Lee were friends at West Point as all of them at that age and the war divided them. It was a hard war to fight. Thank you Sir for your love of history.
Interesting! Thanks!
@@TheHistoryUnderground your welcome
Outstanding work JD. We enjoy how you put all your work together and make it so understanding.
I appreciate that! Feel free to share it out with a few others!
Thanks JD for laying the groundwork for the Battle of Sharpsburg.
Absolutely! We'll finally get to Sharpsburg in the next episode.....kind of.
This was great! I wasn’t able to visit South Mountain my last trip to the Antietam area. This video helps me understand that campaign more prior to Antietam.
Glad it was helpful! Certainly an overlooked place.
Brilliant video. Thank you! That Harpers Ferry-South Mountain-Sharpsburg corridor is truly astonishing. Shortly after the battle ended, McClellan claimed it as a success and the deciding battle of the campaign. Just a few days later he would be fighting the Battle of Antietam.
Thanks! Really love that whole area. Wish that I could get up there during the fall.
The future presidents that were present alone is worth the commentary.
Pretty crazy that two future presidents fought in the same battle and were in the same regiment.
Another dandy! Good work bud
Thanks!
The American Civil War was Hell..... In 16 days we can make sure we don't have to live through another one. Thanks to The History Underground for another great watch......
thank you once again J.D for this video. I am learning so much of the civil war that I had either forgotten or never knew. appreciated.
Thanks! So glad to hear it!
lovely storey and a lovely reflection of again people dying and then remembered like that
Thank you for this history lesson, J.D.
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I wonder how many of the folks in the cars even remotely know what happened right there? I love to see pictures with marker buildings that you can see today. Soldiers from then are still there if you could only go back in time. A great video, I had not heard of South Mountain but the story needs to be told. Looking forward to the next episode.
I have honestly been learning more here than I ever did in school! Love your channel
I know you've heard this before, but your editing is outstanding and this video is no exception 👍 You've definitely given me another place I'd like to visit and I'm sure there's more of that to come in this series.
Thanks! One of these days, we'll actually get to the Antietam battlefield in this Antietam series. lol
Thank you for sharing. I enjoy hearing the stories you tell because it isn't the stuff in history books. It makes history more personal because you give the background.
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Awesome job JD! I’ve visited all the locations in this video and it doesn’t take much imagination to visualize the troops marching through Middletown, MD. The town hasn’t changed much since the Civil War.
Pretty cool place.
Very interesting. Did'nt know the details about South Mountain. Can't wait till the next vid 👍
More to come! Thanks!
love your vlogs. years ago, after spending most of the day visiting Antietam battlefield, i stopped in Burkittsville for lunch . chatting with some locals, they told me i needed to visit Gathland state park, just up the road, a part of Cramptons Gap. it's home to the National War Correspondents memorial, built by civil war reporter George Alfred Townsend. beautiful place
A great Narrative of the battle of South Mountain. You definitely do your research in these documentaries. Thank you for sharing!
Many thanks! Hope that it helps to explain the battle a bit more.
Thanks for bringing to light this very important battle. For me a great "What If" is how much quicker the IXth Corps would have gotten across Antietam Creek on Sept.17th had Reno been in command and would it have turned the tide of the battle and possibly the war if the IXth Corps had slammed into Longstreet's flank 2 hours sooner.
In the middle of studying the Maryland Campaign and came across your video..first one of yours I've watched. Outstanding man! Love your editing and the way you present the info. Looking forward to diving down the History Underground rabbit hole.
Awesome! Hope that you enjoy the content. Got a lot of topics subdivided on the Playlist tab.
Like your coverage of the Antietam battle and what lead up to the battle!
Man JD, your videos are absolute GOLD. So very good. Thank you for taking us along with you!
Thanks! That means a lot. Hope that you continue to enjoy the series!
@@TheHistoryUnderground - JD, I have zero doubt that I will. In fact, I've gotten to the point where I click on your videos and before I even watch the first second, I just go ahead and click like because I know I'm going to... 😉😁
JD, your videos are wonderful and carry with them such magic and history that I am always thrilled and moved by the end of each of them.
Another great history lesson thank you so much for doing these
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@14:54 Good ole Iron Brigade, though guys for sure!
Definitely!
Such great narrative easy to understand and follow. Thanks for the work you put into this.
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Thank you so much for all of your videos. I find American history fascinating and you truly do an exceptional job of covering the stories and events that shaped your nation.
Thanks!
Great town, I spent summers in Boonsboro as a young boy. I immersed myself with the battles fought in the area. Great segment, well done.
This is a great video. My son and I spent a couple days this summer hiking the Appalachian Trail thru the State of Maryland and went right thru the battlefield. You have a new subscriber.
That is awesome! And thanks for the sub!
Great stuff as always!
Thanks!
Your videos are awesome! Thank you for your enthusiasm and expertise! 👍🏻👍🏻
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@@TheHistoryUnderground 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻
Great job JD! I am planning a trip up to Antietam and I am using your videos as a primer for my wife and kids. Keep up the good work!
Awesome! Thank you! Got a lot more coming. Also be sure to check out the work from Vlogging Through History.
beautiful beautiful landscape
Very much so.
An amazing video! Very informative and love how it sets the scene of the battle of Antietam. Ready for the next video! Thanks for all your work you put into a video.
J D.....thank you for your historic presentation of the Civil War. Your knowledge and dedication to informing your viewers of the facts that pertain to this battle is very much appreciated by history enthusiasts like me. You have given me information that will make me do research later on this battle. For that I thank you.
So glad that you're enjoying it. Thanks for watching!
Love these last two videos so much. I live near South Mountain and I've hiked these areas many times, and have studied the battle a bit. Your interpretation and details you provide are amazing. I cannot wait to get back up to Fox's Gap.
Thanks! Pretty amazing place.
My great grandfather was in the 12th Ohio and later the 23rd Ohio. Thanks for making this video! Hope to make it to south mountain soon!
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descendant of John Porter Hatch. He received the medal of honor for his actions in this battle. Very proud
My third great grandfather, E. F. Howell was from Montgomery County, North Carolina. He was killed near the stone wall.
Wow!
Excellent video as always!
Thanks JD, learned something new. Thanks for the great work y'all do.
Glad to hear it!
Great Job JD! I learned a lot and even more to research and return too! I couldn't help myself when about 5 minutes in I thought, there he goes crunching leaves again!!!! ;-) Enjoyed the history and the stories you do not get if you go out on your own! Keep up the great work and can't wait for the next one!
Thanks! We'll get to Antietam eventually. lol
HEY, JD Thank you for Doing such a great job On the civil war videos you make them down to Earth no big military words and just easy for everyone to understand what happening In the Battle or what ever your talking about ok just wanted to say Thanks
Again Take care stay safe God bless and will see you on the next video adventure
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Excellent work JD. Great video 👍🏼😎
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Well done MrJD☺️👌🏽
Thanks!
Crampton's Gap is well worth a visit, sad it didn't get featured here.
Wish that I would have had more time. Maybe one of these days, I can do this full time.
Excellent as usual! I have a keen interest in the Iron Brigade and Rufus Dawes of the 6th Wisconsin. A great book is Rufus Dawes accounts of his time with the 6th. The veterans museum in Madison Wi has an excellent display of Iron Brigade relics. Thanks to you
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I have to think it can’t be easy to hold that camera for so long! If you don’t play tennis you probably should! You’d have a hell of a power serve !
Yet again, you present the humanity of war - warts and all. Also, the maps help me understand the disposition of the troops under the leaders you describe. Thanks!
Thanks! So glad that you enjoyed it.
Thanks JD. Did not know about the battle of South Hill.
Definitely helps to frame up the next battle at Antietam.
Fantastic video!
Thanks!
My Great, Great Grandfather John Zurcher was injured on Sept 14 1862 at the Battle of South Mountain, I'm glad he wasn't at Antietam a few days later!!!
JD, you’ve done it again!! Brilliant video. I’ve watched you for a while now and I believe I’ve seen every vid. Awesome since day 1. Keeping history alive for the young folk who know not.
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“Loud cheers were frequently given when some particular regiment or brigade passed by. Especially when…the 1st Corps came along with the ‘full moon’ on its banners, and as the great Western or Iron Brigade passed, looking like giants in those tall black hats…And giants they were, in action…I look back and see that famed body of troops marching up that long muddy hill unmindful of the pouring rain, but full of life and spirit, with steady step, filling the entire roadway, their big black hats and feathers conspicuous…”
-Captain Charles Stevens,
Berdan’s Sharpshooters,
May 1863
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Great job J D I enjoy your videos very much 😊
Thank you very much!
Thank you👍❤️🇺🇸
Thank you for watching.
Liking how you mixing up WW II and Civil Wars.
Thanks! I have a wide range of interests which is probably reflected in the channel.
Great content as always. In Frederick, MD you also have the Monocacy Battlefield along with the defense of Washington at Ft. Stevens and the Battleground National Cemetery in D.C. also some unknown confederates were buried just outside D.C. in Rockville, MD. Could be some 1864 content in the future in the same region.
Thanks for this, really enjoy learning about engagements that aren't really covered much. I grew up in the East going to Manassass, Gettysburg, Antietam etc.. since moving further west I've been exploring the battles in Missouri, Arkansas and Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Really enjoy the personalities that participated in the battle of Honey Springs
My great great grandfather was part of the 1st Maryland Artillery and was in this battle.
thank you for all that you provide, this is very well presented. Probable that the firing about dark that felled Reno was of the poorly named, "friendly" variety. About 1/4 of McClellan's force had not "seen the elephant," or in today's parlance, been in battle. Sadly, it was true of the men that spooked and fired into Reno, and didn't become known until well after the war. One interesting accompaniment to the Iron Brigade was a smooth bore tube of Battery B 4th US Artillery, manhandled up the National Pike to fire on Colquitt's Georgians behind the stonewall you very accurately describe down from the gap. No small feat, it's a steep climb up the mountain. Again, thanks, here, Normandy, and the islands in the Pacific.
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Thank you so much for all your work so informative and aducatioal as usual.
Thanks for watching!
Editing and narrating are spot on. It is a disappointment if you did not get to Crappens gap not only is it a third site of battle of south mountain, but it has the only war correspondent Memorial. Also, when you come to Antietam try to seek out Dennis Frye, he is probably one of the most knowledgeable guides in the area for Antietam
I'll have to catch that on the next trip. Thanks!
love your videos there very informative.
I appreciate that!
JD, the two future presidents is a great story....swing by Carnirex Ferry battlefield in WV to see an interesting battlefield where they campaigned.
Nice job. Thanks for bringing the battle to light.