South Mountain.

[67th Tigers]

Have you shared your research with the historians at Antietam?

Tom Clemens has an article in press to similar effect I believe. All he'll say is he's proved the Pry House wasn't HQ, and was coy when I said it was the Ecker House. I'm sure we all look forward to it.

 

[Rebforever]

Doc. Schmiel and Drew studying the right wing situation from Pry Farm.

 

[Drew]

This monument is to General Joseph Mansfield, who was in command of the 12th Corps on the Union right at Antietam. General Mansfield was a Mexican War veteran in command of troops who by and large were completely green, with no experience, fighting against what was now the veteran Army of Northern Virginia. He rode out to stop what he thought was friendly fire in the East Woods at Antietam and was shot through the chest by Confederate soldiers. Further to Mansfield's right was General Joseph Hooker's command, whom he thought he was dealing with in the chaos of that day. Hooker was also shot and carried from the field, but survived.

It's today a very peaceful place but the butcher's bill was very high in 1862.

 

[Andrew]

Tom Clemens has an article in press to similar effect I believe. All he'll say is he's proved the Pry House wasn't HQ, and was coy when I said it was the Ecker House. I'm sure we all look forward to it.

Thanks for the heads up. If anyone happens to see the article on the news stands (Civil War Times, right?), I'm sure a post in this thread to let us know it's out there would be appreciated.

@Rebforever & @Drew - thanks for posting your photos.

 

[Rob9641]

Warning, 67th. Darn few know more about Antietam than Rob. She practically lives on the property and has volunteered there for a loooooong time.

An update - my health has gone bad on me and I have not been able to volunteer anymore. Can't even hike the field at Antietam like I used to do - they have an awesome hiking trail network. And at South Mountain, like I said, follow Drayton's brigade and you are hiking the Appalachian Trail.

 

[Rob9641]

This monument is to General Joseph Mansfield, who was in command of the 12th Corps on the Union right at Antietam. General Mansfield was a Mexican War veteran in command of troops who by and large were completely green, with no experience, fighting against what was now the veteran Army of Northern Virginia. He rode out to stop what he thought was friendly fire in the East Woods at Antietam and was shot through the chest by Confederate soldiers. Further to Mansfield's right was General Joseph Hooker's command, whom he thought he was dealing with in the chaos of that day. Hooker was also shot and carried from the field, but survived.

It's today a very peaceful place but the butcher's bill was very high in 1862.

View attachment 83969

Poor Mansfield. He was close to retirement sitting behind a desk and wanted some action. Got virtually none before he was shot down.

 

[ole]

An update - my health has gone bad on me and I have not been able to volunteer anymore. Can't even hike the field at Antietam like I used to do - they have an awesome hiking trail network. And at South Mountain, like I said, follow Drayton's brigade and you are hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Will repeat. Darn few know more about South Mountain than Rob. Not even Michael Priest.

That she has been ill is lamentable. But then, we all inevitably age. And, sometimes, a weakness turns into an illness.

Rage. Rage against the coming of the night.

Will be here to pester for a while, and so will Rob. And James B. White. En garde!

 

[ole]

I've always believe that it was the Pry House. If it wasn't, makes me no never mind.

 

[Drew]

This is the Burnside Bridge as we saw it. They're doing much needed work on it to preserve it for posterity and that includes dams around its foundation so that the supports may be rebuilt.

Looking at the terrain one really gets a sense of the high ground the Confederates held and the picture shows it.

 

[Andrew]

Are you able to cross the bridge or is it closed for repairs?

 

[Rebforever]

Are you able to cross the bridge or is it closed for repairs?

It is closed.

 

[Rob9641]

Are you able to cross the bridge or is it closed for repairs?

The repairs are going to be extensive. The facade is okay, but the innards are in trouble. Ice expansion and thaw, and the critters that like to live inside the bridge (rodents, snakes) have worn the innards away. The underside is home to dozens of chimney swift nests in the spring, too. They would tolerate only so many visitors before they started divebmombing. When I volunteered there, I had lots of critter company.

 

[Rob9641]

Will repeat. Darn few know more about South Mountain than Rob. Not even Michael Priest.

That she has been ill is lamentable. But then, we all inevitably age. And, sometimes, a weakness turns into an illness.

Rage. Rage against the coming of the night.

Will be here to pester for a while, and so will Rob. And James B. White. En garde!

Oh, Ole, lots of people know more about South Mountain than I do, but then I've forgotten a lot lately.

 

[Andrew]

The underside is home to dozens of chimney swift nests in the spring, too.

I don't want to take this thread too far afield, but I am curious. Are you sure they are Chimney Swifts and not some kind of swallow (Barn or Cliff)? I always thought that swifts nest in hollow trees and chimneys, whereas it is common for swallows to build nests under bridges.

 

[Drew]

The Union XII Corps eventually got across Burnside's Bridge when some 500 Confederates withdrew their defense of the position. They made it up the bank and to the top of the hill. Here, is a monument to our martyred President William McKinley. He was a 19 year-old Union commissary sergeant at the Battle of Antietam.

 

[Drew]

Now, there's not very much funny about visiting these battlefields. It's serious stuff.

But, I did get a chuckle out of Sgt. McKinley's monument. The "artistic license" in how he was portrayed is evident. Note his nonchalant appearance in bringing coffee to the Union line? Sargent McKinley is portrayed here left of center.

His fellow soldiers are seen lying on the ground, behind fence rails. That is because there were surely .58 caliber Minie Balls and artillery shells flying all over the place.

I have no doubt Sgt. McKinley did his job, but I'll bet he walked sustenance to his fellow troops on his elbows. He would otherwise have been dead.

 

[Rebforever]

This map shows the arrangement of attack by the Union in the Cornfield.

 

[Arioch]

….Are you sure they are Chimney Swifts and not some kind of swallow…..

What…African or European?

 

[Andrew]

Well, I don't know that...

 

[James N.]

The Union XII Corps eventually got across Burnside's Bridge ...

Nitpicking, I know, but...