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

September 17, 1862

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 5, 2007

1. September 17, 1862 Marker

Inscription. The Battle opened at daylight between Hooker's Corps and the Confederate divisions of Jackson and Ewell and raged in the East Woods, in Miller's Cornfield and on either side of the Hagerstown Pike about one third of a mile north of the Dunkard Church. Ewell's Division was relieved by Hood's, and Hooker's Corps by Mansfield's. Hood was reenforced by the Brigades of Ripley, Colquitt, and Garland of D.H. Hill's Division. After a sanguinary contest Mansfield's Corps forced the entire Confederate line north of the Bloody Lane, to retire west of the Pike. Sumner's (Second) Corps crossed the Antietam at Pry's Ford. About 8 a.m., Sedgwick's Division advancing to and through the East Woods, over Mansfield's Corps, across the Hagerstown Pike to the west edge of the West Woods, where it was checked in part by the artillery and infantry of Jackson's command, struck on the left by the divisions of McLaws and Walker, and driven north and east beyond D.R. Miller's. Confederate efforts to recover ground east of the Hagerstown Pike were checked by Hooker's, Mansfield's and Sumner's artillery. Greene's Division of Mansfield's Corps followed the Confederate repulse by a charge and seized the woods west of the Dunkard Church, which it held until about noon, when it was dislodged and the Confederates made another effort to gain ground east, but were repulsed

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by the fire of the Union artillery and the advance of Franklin's (Sixth) Corps, which arrived on the field about noon.

Erected by Antietam Battlefield Board. (Marker Number 120.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Antietam Campaign War Department Markers series list.

Location. 39° 28.176′ N, 77° 44.179′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is on Richardson Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Located at a tablet cluster near the Sunken Road next to the observation tower, stop eight on the driving tour of Antietam. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sharpsburg MD 21782, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. September 16, 1862 (here, next to this marker); September 17, 1862 (Continued) (here, next to this marker); Army of the Potomac (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named September 17, 1862 (Continued) (here, next to this marker); Army of Northern Virginia (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Army of Northern Virginia (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Army of Northern Virginia

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015

2. September 17, 1862 Marker

(a few steps from this marker); Hexamer's (New Jersey) Battery (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.

More about this marker. The Dunker Church is misspelled in the marker text.

One of five tablets erected at this location to describe the activities of the Army of the Potomac from September 15-17, 1862.

Also see . . .
1. Antietam Battlefield. National Park Service site. (Submitted on February 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Hooker's Corps Opens the Battle. Battle map from "Antietam on the Web" showing the first phase of the battle. (Submitted on February 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

3. Hood's Division Retakes the Cornfield. Battle map from "Antietam on the Web" showing the second phase of the battle. (Submitted on February 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

4. Mansfield's Corps Attacks. Battle map from "Antietam on the Web" showing the third phase of the battle. (Submitted on February 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

5. Greene's Division in the West Woods. Battle map from "Antietam on the Web" showing the

Tablet Cluster next to the Observation Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain

3. Tablet Cluster next to the Observation Tower

fourth phase of the battle. (Submitted on February 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

6. Sedgewick's Division Flanked. Battle map from "Antietam on the Web" showing the fifth phase of the battle. (Submitted on February 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

September 17, 1862 Marker<br>Third From the Left image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015

4. September 17, 1862 Marker
Third From the Left

D.R. Miller's Cornfield image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain

5. D.R. Miller's Cornfield

The cornfield became the one of the most contested pieces of ground in American history during the battle.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 978 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on March 9, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on February 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on September 27, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 3. submitted on February 20, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on September 27, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 5. submitted on February 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.