Lieutenant James Peacock of the 59th New York Infantry took part in John Sedwick's assault toward the Dunker Church with his regiment at the Battle of Antietam. Once arrived, his unit's division advanced headlong into the West Woods adjacent to the church, where they were slaughetered by a Confederate Counter-Attack led by Lafayette McLaws.

In this quote, James Peacock is referring to the vast amounts of Union soldiers who fell around his as Confederate fire enveloped his regiment, forcing it to retreat.