Boots Before Corset: Antietam Battlefield

Dawn approached slowly through the fog on September 17, 1862. As soldiers tried to wipe away the dampness, cannons began to roar and sheets of flame burst forth from hundreds of rifles, opening a twelve hour tempest that swept across the rolling farm fields in western Maryland. A clash between North and South that changed the course of the Civil War, helped free over four million Americans, devastated Sharpsburg, and still ranks as the bloodiest one-day battle in American history.

The Battle of Antietam, known in the South as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was the culmination of the Maryland Campaign of 1862, the first invasion of the North by Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee wanted to keep the offensive and secure Southern independence through victory in the North; influence the fall mid-term elections; obtain much needed supplies; move the war out of Virginia, possibly into Pennsylvania; and to liberate Maryland, a Union state, but a slave-holding border state divided in its sympathies.

After splashing across the Potomac River and arriving in Frederick, Lee boldly divided his army and sent Stonewall Jackson to capture the Union garrison stationed at Harpers Ferry. Gateway to the Shenandoah Valley, Harpers Ferry was a vital location on the Confederate lines of supply and communication back to Virginia. The rest of the Confederates moved north and west toward South Mountain and Hagerstown, Maryland. With word of Jackson’s capture of Harpers Ferry on September 15, Lee decided to make a stand at Sharpsburg. The Confederate commander gathered his forces on the high ground west of Antietam Creek with Gen. James Longstreet’s command holding the center and the right while Stonewall Jackson’s men filled in on the left. There was risk with the Potomac River behind them and only one crossing back to Virginia.

Thousands of soldiers in blue marched into position throughout the 15th and 16th as McClellan prepared for his attempt to drive Lee from Maryland. As the opposing forces moved into position during the rainy night of September 16, one Pennsylvanian remembered, “...all realized that there was ugly business and plenty of it just ahead.”

The twelve hour battle began at dawn on the 17th. Savage, incomparable combat raged across the Cornfield, East Woods, West Woods and the Sunken Road as Lee shifted his men to withstand each of the Union thrusts. After clashing for over eight hours, the Confederates were pushed back but not broken; however over 15,000 soldiers were killed or wounded.

A view of Harper's Ferry from the Potomac River (or the Shenandoah. It's located on both!)

Lincoln meeting with General McClellan - probably trying to kick his butt into gear.

Dunker Church, near the edge of the Cornfield.

The Cornfield.

Both our units fought here. The 15th Alabama advanced from this position.

The 15th was with Jackson's Command, Hood's Division, I think (near the #2.)

The 69th New York was stationed at the Sunken Road. Confederates took up a position in this road, which provided excellent cover...until the Union soldiers maneuvered into position to be able to fire along the road, with devastating results.