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Antietam National Battlefield
Forces crossed Antietam Creek here and advanced into battle
You are now at the eastern entrance to Antietam National Battlefield, the site of the bloodiest single day battle in American history. More than 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing at the end of twelve hours of combat.
On September 17, 1862, the farm fields between the creek and the small town of Sharpsburg witnessed deafening and deadly musket and artillery fire. The armies fighting here destroyed many farms and crops, but the Joshua Newcomer farmhouse in front of you survived.
"They fed their horses all my corn and pasture that had not been ruined by the soldiers during the skirmishing and progress of the battle." -- Joshua Newcomer
Captain John C. Tidball, 2nd U.S. Artillery, took position on the high ground to your left and fired an estimated 12000 rounds against Confederate positions north and west of here.
At the time of the battle the road from Boonsboro to Sharpsburg crossed one of Antietam's signature stone bridges. The one here was replaced in 1960. The Newcomer family owned many buildings here including a grist mill, saw mill, workshop, and barn. |