by Karen Miller
A few years ago, I did a research project on some young soldiers from my hometown of Granby, Connecticut (CT), who served in the Union Army’s 16th CT Regiment during the Civil War. One of the boys lost his life in the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest one-day battle of the Civil War. His name was Robert Morgan.
Entrance to the National Cemetery 
Plaque showing the cemetery’s layout 
Robert Morgan’s headstone 
Union soldiers’ graves laid out in neat rows
As Rusty and I made our way back to Florida we decided to stop in Sharpsburg, Maryland, to visit the battlefield and find the grave of Robert Morgan who is buried in the National Cemetery there. The Antietam Battlefield is unique because if its many miles of trails that can be hiked as you explore the timeline of the battle. We followed a self-guided driving tour, which made stops at each of the pertinent points of the battle, like Dunker Church, the Cornfield, Mumma Farm, the Sunken Road, Burnside’s Bridge and the Final Attack. All of these areas featured monuments to honor those who died in the battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, along with interpretive signs.
The Union army staged their troops at the Poffenberger Farm 
Inspecting the monument for 16th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry 
Dunker Church was the site of several attacks 
Walking a path through the battlefield 
One of several old sycamore trees 
A mortuary cannon for one of the fallen generals 
Monument for the Philadelphia Brigade 
Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was here 
Monument for the Pennsylvania 7th Regiment
This battle was significant because of the staggering casualties (22,717 dead, wounded or missing) on both sides. While visiting the visitor center a ranger explained that the battle was basically a draw, without a clear win for either side. The Union succeeded in turning back the Confederate invasion of Maryland, but Lee’s army was able to withdraw back to Virginia without additional losses. Nevertheless, President Lincoln declared this a Union victory, and it served as an opportunity to announce his Emancipation Proclamation.
A Union cannon battery 
Confederate’s defended their line from this well-worn (sunken) road 
The Confederate dead after being finally overrun by the larger Union forces 
Just 500 Confederate sharpshooters held off thousands of advancing Union soldiers for hours at this bridge 
The Battle of Antietam, by Kurz & Allison (1878), depicting the scene of action at Burnside’s Bridge (Library of Congress)
Surprisingly, the rangers at Antietam also told me the Connecticut regiments were their favorite, because they kept extremely accurate records of all their battles and conflicts. One was able to give me a packet that contained all the information about the 16th CT, including hourly updates to their whereabout during the battle. I sent this information, along with photos, to my hometown Historical Society for their files.
If you get an opportunity to visit Antietam National Battlefield, be sure to allow a full day of exploring. For more information visit the National Park Services Antietam website.
We are Girl Hobo and Rusty (Ren and Troy), two greys who met on the Appalachian Trail. We started a life together, converted a van to travel and hike across the country, and we like to eat well. Now, we’re sharing what we’re learning on the road, and we’d love you to join us!