Antietam National Battlefield

We visited Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland yesterday. On September 17, 1862 more than 23,000 men were killed, wounded and missing making this the bloodiest single day in American history. Although neither side gained a decisive victory in the battle, it is considered a turning point in the war and it led directly to Lincoln issuing his Emancipation Proclamation.

The quite valley surrounding Sharpsburg, Maryland was settled by German pacifist who really wanted nothing to do with the war. Unfortunately the war came right to their doorstep. The early part of the battle centered around the the Dunker Church. The Germans were known as Dunkers because of their practice of full immersion baptism. Etched into one of the original windowsills of the church are the initials of some Union soldiers.

The battle raged on for about 12 hours. Towards the end of the day, the battle centered around Anteitam Creek and this bridge, now known as Burnside Bridge. This is the original bridge with only minor fix-ups. General Lee was forced to retreat back across the Potomac River. He would try again later to come North--to Gettysburg.

Many of the farms in the valley had major losses. Most of the occupants had left the area when they realized a battle was inevitable. What they returned home to find was that their crops were ruined. In addition, some 18,000 wounded occupied every home, barn and building in the valley. One person who came to help after the battle was Clara Barton. She later founded the American Red Cross. The number of wounded was quite a public health crisis for the valley. We visited the American Museum of Civil War Medicine (Antietam branch). Here we read stories and saw displays about the practice of medicine following the battle. Some of the old instruments on display as well as actual case studies of wounded soldiers were quite interesting. The museum was housed in this brick home that served as General McClellan's headquarters. It's barn was a hospital.
Pretty soon we will be going to Gettysburg.