The Civil War in America
{ object_type: 'Exhibit Item',embed_type: 'image',embed_detail: 'http://www.myloc.gov/_assets/Exhibitions/civil-war-in-america/april-1862-november-1862/Assets/cw0076p2_th125.jpg',embed_alt: 'Antietam, September 17, 1862',thumbnail: {url: 'http://www.myloc.gov/_assets/Exhibitions/civil-war-in-america/april-1862-november-1862/Assets/cw0076p2_th125.jpg',alt: 'Antietam, September 17, 1862',height: '66',width: '125'} }

See Silverlight version of this item » About this item        

Confederate cavalryman James Steptoe Johnston of the 11th Mississippi Volunteers wrote a long letter to his sweetheart Mary about the heat and confusion of battle he experienced at Antietam (Sharpsburg). Johnston predicted that newspapers on both sides would claim a victory, but that in truth it had been a close, bloody, and hard-fought contest without a clear winner. According to Johnston, a flag of truce brought Yankees and Confederates together on the field, where they discussed a mutual desire for the fighting to end.
* Currently on Exhibit

(Transcription)

The Yankees say they routed and demoralized our Army . . .


Confederate cavalryman James Steptoe Johnston of the 11th Mississippi Volunteers wrote a long letter to his sweetheart Mary about the heat and confusion of battle he experienced at Antietam (Sharpsburg). Johnston predicted that newspapers on both sides would claim a victory, but that in truth it had been a close, bloody, and hard-fought contest without a clear winner. According to Johnston, a flag of truce brought Yankees and Confederates together on the field, where they discussed a mutual desire for the fighting to end.