Antietam

[ouch]

I'm an idiot. I remember that today is "speak like a pirate day", but I completely forget that September 17th marks the 150 anniversary of the bloodiest day in American history.

22,717 casualties
3,654 dead
17,292 wounded
1,771 captured/missing

 

[Mike H]

Alexander Gardner took 70 photographs of the battlefield starting just two days after the battle. This was the first time an American battlefield had ever been photographed before the dead had been buried. Gardner returned in early October when President Lincoln visited General George McClellan and the Army of the Potomac and took another series of images. Gardner, 41 years old at the time of the battle, was employed by Mathew Brady who owned of a photography gallery in Washington, D.C. during the Civil War.

http://www.nps.gov/anti/photosmultimedia/gardnerphotos.htm

 

[jazzman]

Anyone interested in Civil War history, and who is anywhere near the area, should visit. The battlefield is very well-preserved, with relatively few monuments and relatively little commercial development in the area, compared to Gettysburg. It's quite an experience to stand at the edge of The Corn Field with the knowledge of what happened on that small piece of land over a very short period of time. Same goes for the Burnside Bridge and every other key spot.

 

[Greg1911]

Off the top of my head, I've been to Gettysburg, Shiloh, Vicksburg and probably at least one more Civil War Battlefield.

I really like the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry monument.

 

[SmoovD]

Alexander Gardner took 70 photographs of the battlefield starting just two days after the battle. This was the first time an American battlefield had ever been photographed before the dead had been buried. Gardner returned in early October when President Lincoln visited General George McClellan and the Army of the Potomac and took another series of images. Gardner, 41 years old at the time of the battle, was employed by Mathew Brady who owned of a photography gallery in Washington, D.C. during the Civil War.

http://www.nps.gov/anti/photosmultimedia/gardnerphotos.htm

Sobering pictures. Thanks for the link.

 

[Nils]

Whenever I read about his battle, I'm amazed at the amount of incompetence displayed by McClellan and Burnside. And while Little Mac got the retirement he deserved in the end, how could anyone in their right mind even remotely consider promoting that buffoon Burnside to high command?

 

[radiowave79]

Probably one of the best preserved Civil War battlefields. Sharpsburg,MD is a very nice town near the battlefield.

 

[Mick]

I've been to many of the civil war battlefields. Living right in the center of where most of the conflict occurred it is hard to avoid them

 

[akokandy]

Anyone interested in Civil War history, and who is anywhere near the area, should visit. The battlefield is very well-preserved, with relatively few monuments and relatively little commercial development in the area, compared to Gettysburg. It's quite an experience to stand at the edge of The Corn Field with the knowledge of what happened on that small piece of land over a very short period of time. Same goes for the Burnside Bridge and every other key spot.

Definitely a place worth visiting. I went when I was pretty young, probably about 11 or so, which was good because we were learning American history in school every year. From what I remember, the battlefield wasn't at all touristy. For the most part it was empty of people, but had very nice facilities and a few of the buildings were actually still standing. Well worth a trip if you're passing through the area.

 

[joshua1970]

most interesting thread - I was fascinated by the civil war most of my youth, and visited as many of the battlefields on summer trips to VA. I have several friends who are self-taught 'experts' on the battle histories (and themselves re-enactors) who are truly information sponges.

the die hard ones we call 'johnny rebel button pissers', as they soak their uniform buttons in urine to give them the appropriate patina. most of them also make their own gear and uniforms (a lot easier to do for the Confederates than Union re-enactors as they didn't have nearly as many standard issue items)

a very close friend of mine, Nick D, makes civil war era leather goods, he sells very few pieces through the sutlers that cater to re-enactors as most of his business is online. He has pieces in several battle field museums, has done contracts for West Point, various Battlefied parks etc etc.


his reproductions are all made with period tools and he is a trip to go to re-enactments with as he can tell you if the smallest of accutrements are correct for each battle - what items were contracted -and by whom- and in what year etc. it's fascinating his depth fo knowledge actually, and he has his own museum of actual period pieces that he uses to make his re-creations as realistic as possible.

I have a few belts, a knife sheath, a dog leash and a large chain wallet that he made me, and have been trying to get him to make me a strop but he's usually backed up 6-8 months, usually anything I want I need to stop down and engage him in conversation until he makes it on the spot. He knows leather like nobody I ever met.

for those interested in checking his website - especially any re-enactors here (who may be familiar with him as he's well known in that sub-culture):
http://duvallleatherwork.com/StoreFront.bok