Antietam

It happened just outside of Sharpsburg, Maryland, so that was the Confederate name for this battle: Sharpsburg.  The Yankees called it Antietam.  Today, most of us refer to it as the single bloodiest day of battle in all of the American Civil War.

September 17, 1862

Today is the 147th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam.

The Sunken Road — also known as Bloody Lane

Here is a view of the Sunken Road as seen from an observation tower.  The War Department had the tower built in 1896 as part of the U.S. military’s early efforts at building an open air classroom at Antietam. Indeed, this battlefield continues to be an educational experience.

The War Department established 5 National Military Parks in the 1890’s —   Antietam, Gettysburg, Chickamauga-Chattanooga, Shiloh, and Vicksburg.  These five parks were transferred to the National Park Service in 1933.

The Sunken Road was both a blessing and a curse.

The bridge over Antietam Creek

The battle for control over this bridge lasted for 3-1/2 hours

After the Battle, the bridge was renamed and became Burnside Bridge, named after Union General Ambrose Burnside.

This tree somehow survived all those hours of crossfire.

More men were killed or wounded at Antietam on September 17, 1862, than on any other single day of the Civil War.  While it was not a decisive victory for either side, it was a turning point in The War Between The States.  I encourage you to click on this link and learn more.