John C. Steptoe, a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a member of company A of the famous 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry.  Colonel DeWitt Clinton Baxter organized the 72nd from members of the Philadelphia Fire Department.  The Fire Zouaves suffered heavy losses at Antietam in the fight for the West Woods.  Our writer, John Steptoe, in this letter graphically describes that devastation.  Nine months later he would find himself in the fight for Cemetery Ridge, and then on the third day at the battle of Gettysburg he would be severely wounded in the defense of Pickett’s Charge and die two weeks later. 

·         “We had a fight with the Rebs on the 17th.  Matters presented a military aspect for some time.  We
drove them for about mile in the morning and at last they made a stand in the woods.  They had the
advantage of us as we were in the field.  We had to fall back about three hundred yards.  We then
held our position while the artillery kept up the sport all day in front.” 

·         “It was the hottest time I ever saw for infantry it did not last long.  I came off with a whole carcass
thank god.  Many of our boys fell thick and fast around me and I escaped.”

·         “Ned Fulton was wounded in four places and I fear dangerously in the thighs the ball pass through
one leg and in the other breaking the bone.  His leg will have to come off and perhaps he will lose his
life.  A piece of shell struck him on the foot and a ball on the lower lip.  Those two last wounds are
slight.  He bears it cheerfully and in a soldier liked manner.”

·         “The field was covered with dead and wounded.  We finished burying the dead on Sunday… They was
all Rebs that we buried, ours had been burned the day before.  The Rebs smelt bad both our men and
the rebels turned black after they had been dead a day or two.” 

·         “You say you want me to give you some advice.  Let me say in the first that if get into a fight and have
to fall back keep your face to the enemy and fire as you are a going back.  If you turned your back to
them ten chances to one you will get shot in the back.  Experience has learnt me that much and I seen
it on the field the other day instead of men falling back as they ought to have done they turned their
backs and run for a more comfortable place… Always keep up your spirits and never growl.  It does
not do any good and it disheartens your comrades.  We have some growlers in our company and they
are worse than a sore ass.”

The letter is written in nice dark ink, a full 3 pages long and is in fine condition.  For the Baxter Fire Zouave collector or the collector of great Antietam battle letters, this one is a gem!

#S68 - Price $995

            Transcription:
                                                                                                                                                              Harpers Ferry, Va.
                                                                                                                                                             September 23, 1862

Dear brother,

            I received your letter two days ago and was glad to hear from you.  We had a
fight with the Rebs on the 17th.  Matters presented a military aspect for some time. 
We drove them for about mile in the morning and at last they made a stand in the
woods.  They had the advantage of us as we were in the field.  We had to fall back
about three hundred yards.  We then held our position while the artillery kept up the
sport all day in front.  It was the hottest time I ever saw for infantry it did not last
long.  I came off with a whole carcass thank god.  Many of our boys fell thick and
fast around me and I escaped.  Ned Fulton was wounded in four places and I fear
dangerously in the thighs the ball pass through one leg and in the other breaking
the bone.  His leg will have to come off and perhaps he will lose his life.  A piece of
shell struck him on the foot and a ball on the lower lip.  Those two last wounds are
slight.  He bears it cheerfully and in a soldier liked manner.  The field was covered
with dead and wounded.  We finished burying the dead on Sunday and marched
here on Monday. They was all Rebs that we buried, ours had been burned the day
before.  The Rebs smelt bad both our men and the rebels turned black after they had
been dead a day or two.  You say you want me to give you some advice.  Let me say
in the first that if get into a fight and have to fall back keep your face to the enemy
and fire as you are a going back.  If you turned your back to them ten chances to one
you will get shot in the back.  Experience has learnt me that much and I seen it on the
 field the other day instead of men falling back as they ought to have done they turned
their backs and run for a more comfortable place.  The next thing is if you don’t want
to get lousy wash your clothes often and keep your hide clean.  Always keep up your
spirits and never growl.  It does not do any good and it disheartens your comrades. 
We have some growlers in our company and they are worse than a sore ass.

         
                      I now will bring this letter to a close. 

                     No more at present from your affectionate brother,

                                                                                            John C. Steptoe

                                                                                            To

                                                                                            Fulton Steptoe