Antietam National Battlefield

One afternoon during Conference, a few of us slipped south

for a visit to Sharpsburg, Maryland.

I was the one allowed to drive the rental car 

so I was vital to the group that consisted of

two history buffs and one boy that was along for the ride.

We started by viewing the movie in the visitor center which helped us

understand the lay of the land and the intricacies of the 1862 battle.

The surroundings were beautiful and peaceful

but the cannons reminded us that this was not always so. 

The Dunker Church was a focal point of Union attacks and is probably

the most famous church associated with military history.
How ironic that a house of worship for a non-resistant group

was in the center of the battlefield.

It was later used by both sides to care for either the wounded or deceased.

Outside the church looking toward the intersection of 

Hagerstown Pike and Smoketown Road.

The Sunken Road was a farm lane used for moving 

wagons and equipment from one field to another

and to access the main roads.

It became known as Bloody Lane.

It was probably one of the saddest places to visit in the park.

Burnside Bridge is at the southern end of the park.

We were at the top of the hill looking down just as the 

Confederate troops were spread across the hills 

picking off the Union troops.

This crew read the boards and discussed the information

between themselves in depth.  

I was content to walk around taking pictures.

I was glad we had made the effort to visit this historical site that 

was of great interest to my Civil War history buff

but it was very sobering to visit an area where the carnage

of war had touched so many lives.