Antietam Battlefield

We left Gettysburg around 2:30 in the afternoon, and headed south for another battlefield: Antietam. It was a very scenic drive that took us up and over part of the Blue Ridge mountains.

I didn't really know a lot about Antietam. I knew that it wasn't really a decisive victory for either side. I was familiar with the Sunken Road, or the "Bloody Lane", as it came to be known. Here's what it looks like today:



Here's how it looked in 1862 (and why it got it's name):


The end of the Bloody Lane is marked by a very, very tall observation tower.


Guess what, I made it all the way to the top! Here's proof: I took this picture of Dave looking out over the battlefield, and then I got my butt down as quickly as I could!



The other famous Antietam landmark is Burnside's Bridge, over Antietam Creek. This is where the Union Army was able to push Lee's forces back into West Virginia. Here's the bridge today:



This was a very calm and peaceful part of the battlefield, and it's hard to imagine the carnage that must have taken place here 149 years ago.

After our tour of Antietam in 93 degree heat, we drove to nearby Hagerstown, MD and settled into a Super 8 for a little rest and relaxation.

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Location:Antietam Battlefield