Antietam National Battlefield
October 9, 2010
The single bloodiest day in U.S. Military History occurred on September 17, 1862 in Antietam, Maryland when the Confederacy tried to take the Civil War into enemy territory and was met by the much larger Union forces. A stone bridge crossing Antietam Creek, originally constructed by local farmers to bring their produce to Sharpsburg, became the turning point in the battle when Union forces pushed the advancing Confederacy back. Although inconclusive -- with 23,100 corpses soaking the battlefield with blood, no general in his right mind could possibly contemplate proclaiming victory -- the battle at Antietam nevertheless gave then-President Abraham Lincoln enough confidence to declare his emancipation of the slaves. For the time being at least if not hopefully for good, Great Britain, France, and the other nations monitoring the war could hold off in recognizing the Confederate South as an independent nation and thus permanently dividing the country in two. (sources: wikipedia.org, “Tried By War” [2008] by James M. McPherson)

Seeing pictures of the stone arch bridge online -- now named Burnside after the Union general that crossed it -- we made the side-trip to Antietam to take pictures on our way to a relative’s house in West Virginia. We didn’t expect the battlefield to be so beautifully preserved. The park was peaceful, well-maintained, and anyone can drive through the government-purchased land for free.

I suppose being an American of ethnic origin -- none of my ancestors died fighting for America -- I was naturally mindful of my actions as I romped about with my camera and tripod on what could be hallowed grounds. I did not want to appear disinterested or disrespectful.

But it turned it wasn’t necessary. Instead, we felt quite welcome. At the top of the observation tower, a woman with a small digital camera smiled and said, “Oh, we have a serious camera here.” While busily focusing my shot at the landscape below, a man brushed off an insect crawling on my shoulder. And climbing up and down the tower’s narrow spiral staircase, people I met young and old stopped and waited for me to pass. In short, they were all in my view very polite.

Maybe they are used to tourists. Maybe, too, they appreciate expressions of interest about their past. Much is said about America’s greatness but in my opinion little of the good-naturedness inherent in the common folk. Photography may be all I was after, but by coming there to take pictures maybe they have in their minds lured me into getting to know them a little bit better.

 Click on a picture to enlarge.
20th New York Volunteer Infantry Monument.“The Twentieth New York Infantry was organized in New York City. Most of the recruits were recent immigrants living in New York City or Newark, New Jersey, and spoke only German.” (source: Antietam Remembered - Walking Tour) Vi took this photo.
USS Antietam ship's bell. Vi took this photo.
Civil War cannons and New York State Monument.
Civil War cannons and Dunker Church. The Dunker Church was used by the Confederates as a temporary medical aid station. The Union used it as an embalming station. Both sides used it to exchange their dead and wounded. Vi took this photo.
Bloody Lane leading to the Observation Tower. The Observation Tower was built in 1897 -- 32 years after the Civil War ended -- to serve as an open classroom.
Entrance to the Observation Tower.
Spiral staircase inside the Observation Tower.
View from the Observation Tower.
Another view of the Maryland cornfields from the Observation Tower.
Richardson Avenue that leads to Burnside Bridge.
Civil War cannons in the distance.“At Antietam, the rolling terrain was of benefit to the artillerists of both armies. Placing their more than 500 cannons on high ground, blue and gray alike were able to effectively strike enemy troop positions at great distances.” (source: www.nps.gov)
The marmorated stink bug is an insect native to China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. It is believed to have been accidentally introduced into eastern Pennsylvania. We found the marmorated stink bug everywhere in Antietam. They flew around our heads, crawled on our backs, and one got in our car and rode with us all the way back to New York. (source: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug) Vi took this photo.
Burnside Bridge. Named after the Union general that captured it, this bridge was constructed by local farmers to bring produce to Sharpsburg in Maryland. Vi took this photo.
Another view of the bridge. Pictures like this we found on the Internet where what prompted us to visit Antietam. We didn't realize the place's historical significance until we went there.
Antietam Creek. Vi took this photo.
After being purchased by the government, grass was allowed to grow on paths worn down by wagon traffic. I am assuming this is one such path.
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