Antietam, Maryland - July 14, 2006

Today was a very interesting day for driving and battlefield visitation. It started out by leaving Gettysburg on "Emmitsburg" road. This is the same road that was crossed by 12,500 confederate soldiers in "Pickett's Charge" attempting to break the Union's Lines on Cemetary Ridge. I was headed to Antietam, which was the bloodiest day in battle in the history of the United States. There were over 23,100 men that were killed, wounded, or captured on that day in Maryland.

It was September 17, 1862 about 10 months prior to Gettysburg. Gen Lee was moving into Maryland to get supplies; fight the Union troops on their home ground, relieving the southern towns of battles; enlist support from the Maryland people, and "When" he won in Maryland, it would cause the critics of Lincoln to push for a cease fire and recognize the south as a separate country.

He divided his troops moving north, sending Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson to take Harpers Ferry. The union commander Gen. McClellan, was moving his troops to keep up with Lee. They found themselves in Sharpsburg Virginia on the banks of Antietam Creek. Lee had gotten Gen. Jackson's troops back from Harpers Ferry and decided to take the "high ground" and fight the union here.

The battle was to have been three coordinated attacks by the union, but ended up as three separate battles. The morning was in "The Cornfield", the afternoon was in the Sunken Road - later known as the "Bloody Lane", and the evening was at "Burnside's Bridge". Very interesting battlefield planning and tactics.

I found out one interesting point about the battle names in the Civil War. With few exceptions (Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Fredricksburg), the north attached the name of the nearest body of water to the battlename and the south attached the nearest town name. Thus the battle here became known as "Antietam (creek nearby) by the union and "Battle of Sharpsburg" (the nearest town) by the confederates. Another would be Manassas (Bull Run).

Anyway, it was an exciting day concluding with a trip through the hills of Maryland and northern Virginia trying to locate Harpers Ferry and Manassas. I have provided a few pictures of the battlefield and the countryside. As I neared Manassas, I ran into the exiting traffic from Washington DC (only 40 miles east). I went 1 mile in about 35 minutes. Thank goodness I'm going to travel now on the weekend.

Sign at the entrance to the Battlefield.

Also referred to as Bull Run.

Picture of Dunker Church taken immediately after the battle.

The Dunker church was damaged over the years. It was

reconstructed according to the pictures and materials

used from the original building.

Monument at the entrance to "The Corn Field"

where the battle took place in the morning.

Location of "The Corn Field"

"The Corn Field"

A monument to the confederates at Bull Run

Location of the "Sunken Road (Bloody Lane) where the

battle raged in the afternoon.

Field leading into the "Sunken Road" area

"The Sunken Road (Bloody Lane)". The confederates

held this ground and slaughtered the union soldiers

coming in from the left. Then the union came around

to the area at the top of the picture and caught the

"Rebs" in this "Sunken Road" area. Wiped most of them out!

"General Burnsides" Bridge from the confederate's side.

This was the only crossing over the Antietam creek. The

confederates (about 455) sharpshooters held the high ground

and held off about 10,000 union troops. Finally union troops

from NY fought their way across the bridge up to the high ground.

They were led by a Colonel from NY who was a dance instructor.

Cannon behind the protective wall at "Burnside's" Bridge.

Looking across the bridge, from the union side, towards

the high ground held by the sharpshooters.

"Burnside's Bridge" from the Union Side

Small Deli in downtown Sharpsburg. Town that General

Lee moved his troops away from the battlefield.

Mainstreet of Sharpsburg