Another Ford to Cross

[Gordon thorsby]

Transcribing a soldier's story, I ran across a ford along an unknown river as he describes his travels in Maryland or Virginia; Barnett's Ford. Does any know precisely where this is and what is the background on the crossing, importance if any? There is a Barnett's Ford Road in modern maps but it extends from south of the Rapidan up through at least Culpeper or Warrenton? Also the diary is discussing at the time the Antietam Campaign. That seems wrong. Look forward to the input.

 

[1SGDan]

Although the fords are not named here is some background on fords used at Antietam by the federals.

On September 16th the Regular Engineer Battalion entered Keedysville, where a hospital was established and the sick went into camp along with the supply train. Those healthy enough moved on to Army Headquarters, arriving in the late afternoon hours. They were immediately put to work assisting the movement of McClellan's forces for the coming battle. They marched to Antietam Creek and prepared two fords, one for artillery and one for infantry. The tool wagons had been delayed in the traffic jam heading into the area so all the initial work was done by hand. The fords were improved by cutting down the banks and "by carrying stone and paving the bottom in the soft places."[6] The hardened bottom allowed the artillery pieces to cross without sinking to their hubs in the mucky streambed on their narrow wheels. When the tools arrived the men worked until 2230 hours fashioning approaches by grading away any undulations that could cause difficulty for the teams or guns.

 

[Andrew]

Do you know the date or know what unit the soldier was in?

Here are a couple of mentions I found:

1862 August 24 Barnetts Ford, Rappahannock River | 150 Years Ago This Month

150yearsago.library.virginia.edu

Barnett's Ford Rapidan Scales

Clipping found in Weekly Confederate published in Raleigh, North Carolina on 2/9/1864. Barnett's Ford Rapidan Scales

www.newspapers.com

Barnett's Ford 10th va

Clipping found in Richmond Times-Dispatch published in Richmond, Virginia on 5/8/1910. Barnett's Ford 10th va

www.newspapers.com

 

[Andrew]

I just started reading an article in an old issue of Blue & Gray Magazine about Cedar Mountain and wouldn't you know it, Barnett's Ford is mentioned several times. It was a crossing over the Rapidan and there was cavalry activity there before the battle.

The old ford road also is part of the tour for that issue: