For
sheer drama, no campaign of the Civil War, and few in military history, can
match Robert E. Lee’s invasion of Maryland in 1862. Just ten weeks after
Lee had lifted the siege of Richmond, his Army of Northern Virginia surged into
Maryland to a point north of Washington. Abraham Lincoln turned in
desperation to the discredited George B. McClellan to rally the Federal
armies. A Confederate force under Stonewall Jackson captured more than
12,000 Federals at Harpers Ferry. Then a famous lost order and bitter
fighting at the South Mountain gaps set the stage for a
monumental struggle on the banks of Antietam Creek.
For sheer violence - raw,
unmitigated bloodletting - no battle in American history rivals Antietam. It was still early in the War and commanders were not yet convinced that the
tactics they were using were outdated. Thousands would fall at Antietam trying to execute tactical movements that were fundamentally flawed. What were the
tactics used and why did the commanders select them? How did the terrain
influence the course of the action? To what degree did the artillery determine
the outcome? The answers to these questions are central to an understanding of
the battle and campaign, and can be properly understood only by walking those
gentle hills above Antietam Creek.
On
Saturday morning of our tour we will visit Crampton’s, Fox’s and Turner’s
Gaps on South Mountain, where we will walk to sites not normally
accessible to the public and gain a first-hand appreciation of how the steep
terrain dictated the fighting there. The Battle of South Mountain broke out on
September 14 in the Fox's Gap and Turner's Gap areas after Confederate soldiers
opened fire on the Federal forces moving toward the base of the mountain.
Confederate General Samuel Garland and Federal General Jesse Reno both received
mortal wounds during the heavy fighting near Fox's Gap. Here too, future
presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley participated in the battle.
Charge followed by counter charge raged in these areas most of the day, but by
evening the Confederate line was in danger of being flanked and General Lee
ordered his forces to withdraw during the night.
Further
south at Crampton's Gap, General William B. Franklin's Union VI Corps, after
waiting four crucial hours, finally attacked at noon against a thin Confederate
line that they outnumbered by as much as ten to one. The Confederate troops
broke and retreated back up the mountain and through the gap. Then Confederate
General Howell Cobb's brigade arrived, and in a heroic attempt to stem the
flight, his 1,300 men held their ground but were nearly decimated.
After
Crampton's Gap had been cleared of Confederates, Franklin ordered his troops
into camp for the night. Had they not delayed their attack earlier in the day, they
might have pursued the Confederates and divided Lee's disorganized army.
However, the attack was not renewed and Harper's Ferry fell to the Confederates
on September 15.
We
will then move to the Antietam battlefield where, in the early
morning of September 17, 1862, artillerists waited for the rising sun to burn
off the fog and permit sighting. Just after dawn, the Confederate guns on Nicodemus Heights and the North Woods, and the Federal artillery across Antietam Creek,
opened with a cacophonous roar, sounding the knell for America's bloodiest day.
At
the gun emplacements at the Visitors Center, we will discuss the key role of
the artillery in the battle. Usually, the battle is explained as seven,
separate, uncoordinated infantry attacks by the Federals, and Lee’s tactical
moves to hold the line in the face of overwhelming numbers. But seldom is it
shown how vital a part the artillery played and why the battle is often referred
to as “Artillery Hell.”
After
a picnic lunch and a brief respite at the Visitors Center, we will visit Nicodemus Heights with its incomparable, rarely seen view of the whole
north end of the field. Then, we will visit the North Woods and East
Woods areas and witness first-hand how the rolling hills affected
visibility and influenced the course of the battle. We will walk across the
famed Miller Cornfield, the
scene of indescribable carnage compacted into an area about 250 yards deep
and 400 yards wide that changed hands repeatedly throughout the morning.
Then, at the West Woods, we will walk
through the thickets to the 15th Massachusetts line, and on to the Dunkard
Church.
On
Sunday morning, we will hike through the fields from the Mumma Farm to Roulette Lane and the Bloody Lane, where, from about 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Union and Confederate soldiers fought a particularly vicious battle.
Next,
at Burnside’s Bridge we’ll see where a small number of Georgian
sharpshooters, protected by trees and boulders overlooking the bridge, held off
repeated attempts to take the bridge by Union forces commanded by Major General
Ambrose Burnside. We’ll close our tour at the Antietam
National Cemetery.
Throughout
the weekend, we will examine the actions of the two armies, and
ultimately will be left to ponder why Lee was willing to risk everything to
win, while McClellan was reluctant to risk anything.
Join
John M. Priest for this revealing tour of the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. Our tour will involve a fair amount of walking but at all times
we will have water, soft drinks and snacks available and a support vehicle
tagging along in case you want to hitch a ride. Comfortable walking shoes are a
must and you should bring an umbrella, hat, sunglasses and the like because we
will go rain or shine. Please enroll today for this exciting adventure in Civil
War history in early autumn amid the beautiful mountains of western Maryland!
About Our Tour Leader
JOHN
M. PRIEST is widely recognized as one
of the leading authorities on the battles of Antietam and South Mountain, and the Antietam Campaign. He is the author of many books including Antietam: The
Soldier’s Battle and Before Antietam: The Battle for South Mountain.
Program Schedule:
Saturday, October 3
8:15 AM on Assemble
at Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center
8:30 AM Depart
for tour of South Mountain
12:00 N Arrive Back at Antietam Battlefield and Picnic Lunch
12:45 PM Begin tour of Battle of Antietam
5:00 PM Arrive Back at Antietam Visitor Center
Sunday, October 4
8:30 AM Tour Departs from Antietam Visitor Center
12:00 N Picnic Lunch
3:30 PM Arrive Back at Antietam Visitor Center
Registration Fees (Lodging not Included): $
295
If You Must Cancel we will refund 100% of your fees paid. However, to
receive a 100% refund, you must allow 30 days from the date of our
receipt of your notice of cancellation
What is Included in
your Registration Fee:
· the services of an expert
historian chosen for his knowledge and experience
· transportation to sites as
indicated
· Saturday & Sunday lunches
· refreshments and snacks during the
tour
· map package
Lodging: You are free to lodge where you like.
Here are some options:
- Frederick, MD:
· Quality Hotel & Conference Center (formerly
the Holiday Inn Fort Detrick), 999 W. Patrick Street (Route 15 & Route 40) - 301-662-5141
- Hagerstown, MD:
· Four Points Sheraton, 1910 Dual Highway – 301-790-3010
· Hampton Inn, 1716 Dual Highway -
301-739-6100
· Comfort Inn, 1801 Dual Highway –
301-791-8100
Harpers Ferry, WV:
· Quality Inn, US Route 340
- 304-535-6302
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