The Road to Antietam

One thing about staying in Winchester, VA is that it is striking distance to a multitude of different civil war battlefields. From here it is about an hour across the Potomac to the field of Antietam. This was a battle in 1862 which is still regarded as America's Bloodiest Day. Thats a decisive statement when one thinks about the D-Day landings on Omaha Beach, the surprise attach on Pearl Harbor, or Rommel's bloody repulse of American forces at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia.

What I liked about this particular battle, was that it was actually a series of smaller battles. We started with the Northern sector. This is where the battle begun and was where the fabled "cornfield" of Antietam lies. From the visitor center one can walk down what was once known as the Hagerstown's Pike to the northern extent of the field. It was here that Alexander Gardner took his gruesome photographs of the dead piled up along the wooden fences.

We made our way up past the West Woods to the East Woods, where Union forces began their assault and in between this is the Cornfield where both the Union and the Confederates suffered horrendous losses. It has been calculated that John Bell ( a confederate general ) sent his Texans into this field in a counterattack and in less than 20 minutes suffered 83% casualties.

As we walked, I couldn't help but think how peaceful the area seemed. It was really an otherwise tranquil and beautiful piece of Maryland.

Walking in, through, and then out of the cornfield, we made our way back to the Visitor center. The Dunker Church was visible from a distance on a small patch of high ground. It made sense why this was the focal point of the Union Attack. It was the only major landmark. Ironic that a church would be the focal point for an attack - but this seemed to be the case for several other battles as well. I believe Shiloh and Gettysburg (if you consider the Seminary) would be similar examples.

Next was the sunken road. A depressed lane that was eroded prior to the battle by frequent traverse of carriages and wagons. It proved to be an ideal rifle trench and an extremely strong position. It was here that the center of Lee's line was able to hold off repeated attack - including Meagher's Irish Brigade. Lee had to send in almost the last of his reserves - stripping them from other fronts to secure this one. In the end, confederate soldiers misunderstood an order for retreat and abandoned this position. Lee then had to resort to the use of his artillery to hold off further union attack. By the end of the battle this trench was filled with bodies.

We attempted to get in a few shots of the Southern portion of the battlefield - over an area called "Burnsides' Bridge" where the Union Commander who gave his name to tho bridge attempted to get an entire Corp over a 12 foot wide bridge. The results were disaster, but sheer number gave way. The Confederates who had been thinned to support other fronts, could only hold for so long. They had to retreat and as the Union pursued it seemed that Lee would be crushed. Just in time, A.P. Hill's forces appeared on the horizon - they had just gotten back from securing Harper's Ferry and threw themselves into the Union Left flank to save the day.

When we arrived, the Bridge was under construction and heavily defended by a swarm of bees that began to attack us and so we beat a hasty retreat.