Off to Antietam on Friday. I just feel I have to go there.

[Faygo Kid]

My birthday (29 again), and we are just 90 minutes away. Tomorrow is the sesquicentennial of the Battle of South Mountain. We'll visit there (again), then off to Antietam, just down the road.

Bloodiest day in American history. More died on that one day than on D-Day, any single day at Gettysburg, or even 9/11. Horrid. And yet that stalemate that stopped Lee's first invasion of the North led to the Emancipation Proclamation, and ended any hope of European recognition of the Confederacy. Pretty important stuff.

Supposed to be a lovely day. I feel compelled to be there.

[elleng]

1. Enjoy the weather,

and the observation.

I'll be nearby, Hagerstown, but not until Monday.

[DrewFlorida]

2. I hope you'll post some pics and a bit about your trip when you return.

I've been to Manassas and Culpepper. I've done extensive reading about Lincoln and the Civil War.
Enjoy!

[ArnoldLayne]

20. Yes! Post some pictures please. Ive never been there

but have been to Gettysburg 6 times. I must have, no lie, 2000 photos of the Gettysburg Battlefield.

[AzSweet]

3. I Love..

That area, and miss the history very much. We used to ride our motorcycles to Sharpsburg...the awe of standing on that battlefield..going into the church...wish I could take my Honey back there to experience it.

[Faygo Kid]

4. Wish you could, too. Welcome to DU.

A video you may appreciate.

&list=UUFzNQk1f4F0VY-NZ5pND4UA&index=1&feature=plcp

[southernyankeebelle]

6. Lovely place to be. Tomorrow my niece is getting married in Maryland. I can't make

it. My travelling days are over. But I will be there in spirit. I think the day there will be just right. They are having it at a Winery. I can't remember where it is. I think our family is blessed to have this niece because she should have died at birth. She was born with water on the brain. She has a shunt in her head. She also has a twin sister and they are close. Both are in college. This niece graduates next summer and the other 2 more years as she is going on to finish dental school. I mind it a miracle that she was alway treated the same way as her twin and both girls did everything. What a wonderful weekend. I hope everyone enjoys their weekend.

[Liberal_Dog]

7. I Have Been To Gettysburg And Yorktown

Have a great trip.

[virgogal]

8. I'm jealous. I've never been there. Contemplate and enjoy.

[Vox Moi]

9. I spent a perfect day in early fall day at Antietam ...

It was such a beautiful, peaceful and quiet place.
I left in tears.

[jberryhill]

10. An awful loss of life

[thucythucy]

11. Is that "Burnsides' Bridge?"

I was there years ago. Walking along the Sunken Road gave me chills.

[TwilightGardener]

12. I would like to go there too someday. Sounds weird to say "Have fun"

so I won't.

[teenagebambam]

13. If you're still here Saturday

stop by the heritage festival in Sharpsburg and say hello!

[pa28]

14. Be sure to take some pictures and post a link when you get back.

Some of my best memories are hiking around the Antietam and Gettysburg battlefields. It can be a really moving experience.

My tough guy grandad talked about having to dry his eyes during a visit to Gettysburg.

[lolly]

15. From my 2010 Trip

Have a great visit!

[Faygo Kid]

16. Well, went there, and it was packed.

Great to see that the sesquicentennial of the Civil War is finally getting the attention it deserves, but will go back in October to really experience it. It was very busy. So much to see, however; we went to Frederick and enjoyed the Civil War experience there very much.

Incredible to live in Maryland. Blue state, and just fantastic history. My second favorite state to Home.

[TuxedoKat]

17. For Civil War Buffs

In case you weren't aware there is a New York Times FB group for the Civil War. It was started last year with the onset of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. There are lots of great articles and photos from the period.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/nytimescivilwar

I went to Antietam years ago. It was very moving and I was very impressed. Happy Birthday Faygo Kid.

[ArnoldLayne]

21. Thanks I didn't know about the FB group.

[TuxedoKat]

22. You're welcome

I can't remember where I first saw it, but was very impressed by it. Just wish I had time to read every article.

[coalition_unwilling]

18. If you get a chance, read Stephen Sears' "Landscape

Turned Red" before you go. The book takes its title from a contemporaneous account of the battle where the bullets flew so fast and furious in a small cornfield that one observer said it looked like the landscape had turned red (from all the bloodshed).

Sears' book is extremely engaging, well-written and a balanced account of the campaign and battle from both sides' perspectives. Ironically, had Lee been defeated decisively there (such that the Army of Northern Virginia had to surrender), there is a damned good possibility that the southern states might have re-entered the Union with slavery intact (since Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation only after the battle was over and Lee had escaped across the Potomac). With the benefit of hindsight, I suppose it's just as well that McClellan had a pronounced case of the 'slows' but he really frustrated Lincoln with his drag-assery.

[Faygo Kid]

19. Read it many years ago, and it's back on my nightstand now.

Thanks. We're going back to Antietam in October; too crowded this weekend to truly experience it.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

23. Today is the 150th Anniversary.

moving this thread back to the top

Battle of Antietam or Battle of Sharpsburg