Sharpsburg in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Capt. John C. Tidball, Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery

— Antietam National Battlefield —

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 21, 2020

1. Capt. John C. Tidball, Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery Marker

Inscription.

Capt. John C. Tidball, Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery. . "No other equal area on the American Continent has been so drenched in human blood." , Capt. John C. Tidball, Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery, Tidball's Battery advanced as part of a general movement across the Middle Bridge made by the Union Army's 5th Corp. Commanded by Gen. Fitz John Porter, their advance began around noon. Tidball and his men hauled their cannons by hand up the hill you just walked. At about 4:00 p.m. Union cavalry, artillery and United States regular infantry had pushed to the edge of Sharpsburg. The 5th Corps connected the 2nd Corps to the north with the 9th Corps to the south., General Lee responded by moving more artillery to the high ground in the distance. Some of these guns had fought in the early morning action around the Dunker Church., It was at the peak of the Union army's advance when Confederate General A.P. Hill and his division arrived from Harpers Ferry and struck the left flank of the 9th Corps, which in turn exposed the left flank of the 5th, and forced them to pull back. There were over 600 casualties in the fighting here at the Middle Bridge, about the same number as there wer at the Burnside Bridge., John C. Tidball, U. S. Army, Tidball was born in what is today West Virginia in 1825. He graduated from West Point in 1848 and served in the Seminole War as an artillery officer. His battery was in Charles Town for the hanging of John Brown, and it was in Washington for Lincoln' s First Inauguration. During the Civil War he fought in every major battle in the east and was breveted (honorary promotion) five times for gallant and meritorious service on the battlefield, reaching the rank of Major General of volunteers., Including his time as a student at West Point, Tidball's career spanned forty-five years with service in nine states, including a time as the military commander of the District of Alaska. He was the Commandant of Cadets at West Point, Superintendent of Artillery Instruction at Fort Monroe, and wrote the Army's Manual for Heavy Artillery., (caption) , Action at the Middle Bridge at approximately 4:15 p.m. . This historical marker was erected by National Park Service. It is in Sharpsburg in Washington County Maryland

"No other equal area on the American Continent has been so drenched in human blood."
Capt. John C. Tidball, Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery

Tidball's Battery advanced as part of a general movement across the Middle Bridge made by the Union Army's 5th Corp. Commanded by Gen. Fitz John Porter, their advance began around noon. Tidball and his men hauled their cannons by hand up the hill you just walked. At about 4:00 p.m. Union cavalry, artillery and United States regular infantry had pushed to the edge of Sharpsburg. The 5th Corps connected the 2nd Corps to the north with the 9th Corps to the south.

General Lee responded by moving more artillery to the high ground in the distance. Some of these guns had fought in the early morning action around the Dunker Church.

It was at the peak of the Union army's advance when Confederate General A.P. Hill and his division arrived from Harpers Ferry and struck the left flank of the 9th Corps, which in turn exposed the left flank of the 5th, and forced them to pull back. There were over 600 casualties in the fighting here at the Middle Bridge, about the same number

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

as there wer at the Burnside Bridge.

John C. Tidball, U. S. Army

Tidball was born in what is today West Virginia in 1825. He graduated from West Point in 1848 and served in the Seminole War as an artillery officer. His battery was in Charles Town for the hanging of John Brown, and it was in Washington for Lincoln' s First Inauguration. During the Civil War he fought in every major battle in the east and was breveted (honorary promotion) five times for gallant and meritorious service on the battlefield, reaching the rank of Major General of volunteers.

Including his time as a student at West Point, Tidball's career spanned forty-five years with service in nine states, including a time as the military commander of the District of Alaska. He was the Commandant of Cadets at West Point, Superintendent of Artillery Instruction at Fort Monroe, and wrote the Army's Manual for Heavy Artillery.

(caption)
Action at the Middle Bridge at approximately 4:15 p.m.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 1862.

Location. 39° 27.885′ N, 77° 43.889′ W. Marker is in Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker can be reached from Shepherdstown

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 21, 2020

2. Capt. John C. Tidball, Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery Marker

"The Bigness of War" marker is on the right.

Pike (Maryland Route 34) half a mile east of Richardson Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Marker is at the end of the Tidball Trail 0.3 miles west of the Newcomer House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18422 Shepherdstown Pike, Keedysville MD 21756, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. "The Bigness of War" (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Capt. John C. Tidball (here, next to this marker); Battery A, 2d U.S. Artillery (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Battery E, 1st U.S. Artillery (about 500 feet away); Batteries C and G, 3d U.S. Artillery (about 500 feet away); Batteries B and L, 2d U.S. Artillery (about 500 feet away); Battery M, 2d U.S. Artillery (about 500 feet away); Battery K, 5th U.S. Artillery (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.

Also see . . .
1. Antietam National Battlefield. National Park Service (Submitted on October 24, 2020.)

2. Newcomer House. Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area (Submitted on October 24, 2020.)

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 21, 2020

3. Capt. John C. Tidball, Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery Marker

Marker shown beside cannon and "The Bigness of War" marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 132 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 23, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.