Our war dead are more than numbers (11/11/05)

Veterans come in all sizes, genders, and colors. Some fought in famous campaigns like Gettysburg or Guadalcanal. Some fought on fields that are almost forgotten. I wish to remember a Jay County man who died in a battle that is often overlooked because it was only three days before the bloodiest day in American history. His sacrifice led to arguably the most famous nickname ever given to an American Military Unit. On this Veteran’s Day, I hope you’ll enjoy his story.

James Hamm showed his love for his country by dying for something that most people today don’t understand, can’t appreciate, or simply take for granted ... Union — an idea that our country should remain a UNITED States.

If he was wrong, or his Northern States of America (as it was often called) failed our entire continent would look much more like Western Europe with each section from Quebec to Baja California forming its own country. Hamm gave his life to prove the Southern States of America had no right to secede from the Union and form their own country.

Robert E. Lee had taken his 40,000 man Army of Northern Virginia, and invaded north of the Potomac River into what he considered a foreign country — the USA. He was hoping to capture the Pennsylvania state capital of Harrisburg and destroy critical railroad transportation and telegraph communication systems to the “western states” such as Indiana. Lee felt then he could discuss peace and his country’s independence with Abraham Lincoln plus get foreign recognition from England or France with Harrisburg in his pocket. This was the greatest national crisis since British troops burned Washington, DC fifty years before.

The Battle of South Mountain, Maryland was 14 September, 1862. James Hamm’s 19th Indiana Regiment was ordered to capture Turner’s Gap — a pass in Maryland’s South Mountain range which would help stop the Confederate advance into Pennsylvania. Turner’s Gap was used by the macadamized National Road (present day Alternate Route 40) just west of Middletown, MD.

This was the single most important road connecting the East to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The Rebels had a strong well-protected position as Hamm and his fellow Jay Countians of the 19th charged west up the 1,000 foot rise on the south side of the National Road. One North Carolinian said “Hell is empty and all the devils are here” to describe the fierceness of the battle. USA commander General George McClellan commented while watching their attack that men who could defeat that strong of a CSA position “must be made of iron.” Hence the famous Iron Brigade nom de guerre was born as James Hamm paid his last full measure of devotion while gaining an important victory. The Iron Brigade suffered the highest casualty rate of any American unit in the Civil War including thirteen Jay Countians who gave their lives. Fellow Jay Countians David V. Garrison and John Hester (arm amputated) were wounded, but survived the Battle of South Mountain.

James Hamm will be forever remembered as number 3486. That is the marker number on his grave at Antietam National Cemetery in Sharpsburg, Md. He is surrounded by hallowed ground of America’s bloodiest day, Antietam (a.k.a. Sharpsburg), where more than 23,000 Americans became casualties in less than twelve hours. Please take the time to thank a veteran today, and make them feel like more than just a number for the sacrifices they made and for the life they were willing to give.

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King, a former Jay County resident, now resides in Emigsville, Pa.[[In-content Ad]]