Dear Sir:

Will you kindly favor me with a certificate of the record of service of Harry H. Stewart who served in Company A, the Second Maryland Volunteers and was killed in Antietam. I should be greatly obliged also if you could tell me if there is published history of the war record of the Second Maryland. Yours truly, [H.S. Thompson]

Mr. H. S. Thompson
89 State Street
Boston, Mass

Sir:

Replying to your letter of the 4th inst I have the honor to inform you that the records of the Second Maryland Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War gave the following information regarding Harry H. Stewart. Harry H. Stewart, First Sergeant, Company A, Second Maryland Volunteers Infantry, enlisted June 13, 1861 killed in action September 17, 1862 at Antietam Maryland. Replying to the second paragraph of your letter you are informed that there was a published history of the Maryland Volunteers in the Civil War but the supply is now exhausted. Respectfully, E.L. Woodside Colonel and Adjutant General Acting Assistant Adjutant General

Dear Sir,

Yours of the 21st making inquiry for Harry H. Stewart received. When I was sergeant major Harry was my clerk. When I was promoted at Newbern, North Carolina, he was, if I remember rightfully, put in my place at least, I remember loaning him my sword, an heirloom, to act as sergeant major. Harry wore it when he fell and it was lost. I was not with the regiment at the Battle of Antietam; had been left behind at Alexandria and only reached the regiment on the 18th - the Battle was the 17th. We were at once, on retreat of Lee, sent to the river as pickets and did not get an opportunity to go to the hospitals or indeed in those busy times find time to look for our dead or wounded. The ambulance corp looked after the rear. All soldiers were needed at the front. Had I looked for my sword which I did not in fact thought little about it at the time would now be able to give you a detailed account of your relative. The sword was an old style side sword (?word) as a non-commission officer's sword but useless for a line officer. It had been made a present to a relative who gave it to me. I loaned it to Harry as I would have done had it been of twice its value and it had some intrinsic value and my chief regret of its loss is the added value of it having been carried by such a gallant solider as Harry Stewart. You can pride yourself on your uncle and his record. I presume you uncle is buried at Antietam National Cemetery in Charsburg, Maryland. Apply to the superintendent and if his grave is not there apply to the ..... Major General USA Washington DC as to his place of burial. I never until now thought that he had been sent home. Antietam National Cemetery is a beautiful spot and a soldier could wish no better burial place. It is immediately on the battlefield. Tom Matthews was Harry's chum. I've lost his address that is since the fire in Baltimore. Tom has moved. I do not know where but if you wish . . . through me I'll see he gets the letter in the first over into Maryland. Matthews was close to your uncle when he fell I'm quite sure. He was wounded himself. Our regiment made the famous charge on Lee's left at the Burnside Bridge. Out of 150 men in the charge 70 were killed or wounded. The record stands on the abutment of the bridge in enduring granite. Sincerely regret not meeting you in Boston. Ms. T was with me. We have a ... enjoyable time. No people could have done more for us than was done by the Bostonians. Don't give up your inquiries until you are satisfied. I'll aide you in any way. You can't weary me. Let me hear from you. I will make inquiries on my own . . .

{This letter was most likely written by Colonel Benjamin F. Taylor, last commander of the Second Maryland, who in September 1904 was serving as Assistant Superintendant at Arlington National Cemetary. Taylor was Sergeant Major of the unit in the days just after its organization in October 1861. This letter goes a long way towards explaining why Taylor's account of Antietam in his book relies on accounts from others ...