Devil's Backbone on Antietam Creek

[Claude Bauer]

A little known Civil War site--the Devil's Backbone recreational area on Antietam Creek near Boonsboro, MD. It was near here that Gen. Meade held a Council of War and postponed attacking Lee's troops, allowing let them to escape back into VA after the Battle of Gettysburg, despite Lincoln urging him to attack. The stone bridge is similar to the one on the Antietam Battlefield though probably not as old--it still carries vehicular traffic daily.

 

[bdtex]

A little known Civil War site--the Devil's Backbone recreational area on Antietam Creek near Boonsboro, MD. It was near here that Gen. Meade held a Council of War and postponed attacking Lee's troops, allowing let them to escape back into VA after the Battle of Gettysburg, despite Lincoln urging him to attack. The stone bridge is similar to the one on the Antietam Battlefield though probably not as old--it still carries vehicular traffic daily.

View attachment 197867

Nice picture. Thanks for posting.

 

[dlavin]

We stopped here during the Retreat from Gettysburg tour with Eric W. Fond memories. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Shelleymemtn88]

Thanks! Great photo!

 

[5fish]

Here is an article about the many stone arch bridges spanning Antietam creek... and many witnesses our civil war... snippets...

https://southmountaincw.wordpress.c...-spanning-the-past-and-still-standing-strong/

Washington County has been considered by many to be the crossroads of the American Civil War. Many troops marched across the vast Cumberland Valley during the various campaigns and raids. If these bridges could talk, what stories would they tell?

In Washington County, the stone arch style bridge, like the one at Antietam National Battlefield is a work of fine craftsmanship. Many of the bridges date to the early 1800's, primarily the 1820's and 1830's. The stone arch bridge seemed to be more popular than covered bridges. The total number of stone bridges that stand today in Washington County alone is twenty-eight. Seventeen of them span the Antietam Creek, two span Beaver Creek, two smaller bridges span Marsh Run and five span over the Conocoheague Creek. The last stone arch bridge spans a tributary of Antietam Creek known as Israel Creek.

Here is one...

A few miles to the southeast of Leitersburg is the Old Forge Bridge. On July 6th, General Robert E. Lee ordered the destruction of Old Forge Bridge to slow down the advancing Union cavalry. Pressed against time, the Confederate army could not afford to use its resources for such a task. The Old Forge Bridge was just built in 1863 and spans over the Antietam Creek

Here is one...

To the south of Hagerstown there are several stone bridges. Two of them span the Antietam Creek in Funkstown. Funkstown witnessed a battle that was fought on July 10th, 1863 as the Confederate army was concentrated in Hagerstown. Located on the National Pike is the Funkstown Turnpike Bridge that was built in 1823. The second bridge, which was built in 1833, is located on East Oak Ridge Road just east of the National Road.

Here is...

Two bridges near Sharpsburg soon saw the wrath of the Civil War battle known as the bloodiest single day of the Civil War, the Battle of Antietam. The Burnside Bridge as it is known today, was called the Rohersbach Bridge that was built in 1834. Outside of Sharpsburg on the Harper's Ferry Road is Antietam Ironworks Bridge that was built in 1832. South of Antietam Iron Works is the Antietam Aqueduct that was built in 1834.

Again read the whole story of these bridges and their witness to our civil war... link:

https://southmountaincw.wordpress.c...-spanning-the-past-and-still-standing-strong/

 

[AnnaLee]

A little known Civil War site--the Devil's Backbone recreational area on Antietam Creek near Boonsboro, MD.

Thanks for the info. I plan on visiting this bridge the next time (in the fall) that I'm in the area.