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Antietam National BattlefieldBurnside Bridge
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Antietam National Battlefield
Nearby Attractions

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park On September 15, Stonewall Jackson with about 35,000 Confederate soldiers surrounded the Federal Garrison at Harpers Ferry and forced the surrender of 12,000 Union men and 73 cannon.

South Mountain State Battlefield On September 14, 1862, the three most southern wind gaps of South Mountain were the sites of a successful delaying action fought by Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee during their first invasion on the North. The success in holding back Union General George B. McClellan's army allowed Lee time to regroup his forces at Sharpsburg, where the Battle of Antietam occurred a few days later.

Gettysburg National Military Park The small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was the site of the largest battle ever waged in the Western Hemisphere. Fought during July 1863--just 10 months after the Battle of Antietam--this battle resulted in a Union victory that marked a major turning point in the war. Never again would Lee be able to mount such an offensive attack. Over a three-day period 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured.

Monocacy National Battlefield  The Battle of Monocacy took place on July 9, 1864, and marked the last time that the Confederacy invaded the North. Although technically a victory for the South, the delay caused by the battle allowed Washington to be reinforced against further invasion.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park This 185-mile canal towpath, constructed shortly before the Civil War, acted as a superhighway of the 1800s and provided access between the 3.5 million residents living west of the Allegheny Mountains and Washington, D.C.

Civil War Medical Museum In addition to the Pry House Field Hospital Museum located at Antietam, the main Civil War Medical Museum is located in nearby Frederick. It provides interesting insights to the care and treatment of soldiers wounded at the Battles like Antietam.

Area Accommodations For information about accommodations, write to: Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau Elizabeth Hager Center Hagerstown, MD 21740 Maryland Memories, Phone: (301) 791-3246 Toll Free: (888) 257-2600

Cannon with fall colors  

Did You Know?
Robert E. Lee's son, Robert Jr., was a private with the Rockbridge Artillery who fought at the Battle of Antietam

Last Updated: March 27, 2008 at 13:38 EST