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Antietam National BattlefieldLincoln and McClellan
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Antietam National Battlefield
Photos & Multimedia
Alexander Gardner photo of dead soldiers at Antietam

Historic Photographs Taken by Alexander Gardner
Alexander Gardner took 70 photographs of the battlefield starting just two days after the battle. This was the first time an American battlefield had ever been photographed before the dead had been buried. Gardner returned in early October when President Lincoln visited General George McClellan and the Army of the Potomac and took another series of images. Gardner, 41 years old at the time of the battle, was employed by Mathew Brady who owned of a photography gallery in Washington, D.C. during the Civil War.

 
Sketch of Captain James Hope drawing on the battlefield

Historic Paintings by Captian James Hope
Professional artist James Hope, was 43 years old and a member of the 2nd Vermont Infantry. Hope had taken part in a dozen engagements prior to this battle, but disabled by illness, was assigned to sideline duties as scout and mapmaker. He recorded in his sketchbook the battle scenes before his eyes, and then after the battle converted his sketches into a series of five large paintings.

 
Antique postcard image of 132nd Pennsylvania Monument

Antique Postcards of Antietam
A collection of historic postcards of Antietam Monuments, Burnside Bridge, Bloody Lane and the National Cemetery.

 
Albert Kern black and white photograph of the tower at Bloody Lane

Black and White Photos From the Turn of the 20th Century
Ohio attorney Albert Kern was an avid collector, historian and photographer. Although not a Civil War vereran himself, he was extremely active in veteran's affairs. He traveled to Antietam and took a series of spectacular images that are part of our archives courtesy of the Montgomery County Historical Society in Dayton, Ohio.

 
Sketch of 20th New York Infantry charging into battle.

Historic Newspaper Sketches
Alfred Waud, Edwin Forbes and Frank Schell were all artists that created many images of battle that appeared in publications like Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper and Harpers Weekly.

 
Modern photo of the Burnside Bridge

Modern Photographs of the Battlefield
Antietam Battlefield is an excellent location for photography. Here is a group of images from the park's collection.

 
Portrait of General George McClellan

Portrait Gallery
A collection of portraits from the Library of Congress and the National Archives that have been cropped and enhanced.

President Lincoln  

Did You Know?
President Abraham Lincoln visited Antietam Battlefield two weeks after the battle and spent four days visiting General George McClellan, touring the battlefield and visiting the wounded of both sides.

Last Updated: September 25, 2006 at 10:05 EST