We visited Antietam today, noteworthy for being the site of the bloodiest one-day battle of the American Civil War.
Also, Antietam was the first battle that was photographed shortly after it occurred. Alexander Gardner, working for early photographer Matthew Brady, appeared two days after the battle and shot the battlefield to capture the fallen.
Honestly, they are worth a click, although they are tough to view.
https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?pg=2735161&id=2412F92B-1DD8-B71C-0728A9DF066D2649
Also, please notice the "Witness Tree," a sycamore standing on the right (as you cross the bridge) of the bridge entrance. The tree was just a few years old at the time of the Civil War, as seen in Gardner's photographs. Today, it still stands, a continuing witness to the events surrounding the bridge.
Antietam is located in northern Maryland. Almost 100,000 soldiers fought that day. After the battle was done, about 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. Sadly, not much changed about the battle lines after this brutal day was done.
This bridge (at the end of the battle) was defended by about 2,000 Confederate sharpshooters from Georgia, who were perched on the hills above and to the right. Over three attacks, the Georgians held off about 14,000 Union troops throughout the day. Eventually, the sharpshooters ran out of ammunition and Burnside's troops were able to claw their way across the bridge and up the hill.
If you read this far, thank you for tolerating the nerd-fest. :)
Lovely