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

A Converging Storm of Iron

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 5, 2009

1. A Converging Storm of Iron Marker

Inscription. Confederate Col. Stephen D. Lee placed his battalion of nineteen cannons here. Throughout the morning, Union infantry and artillery aimed their attacks towards this high ground and the Dunker Church. Twenty-five percent of his men were killed or wounded and sixty of his horses were killed.

Later, when he remembered that terrible morning Lee wrote, "A converging storm of iron slammed into the batteries from front and flank. Wheels were smashed, men knocked down, horses sent screaming, to stay in the field was to sacrifice units needlessly."

Erected 2009 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 39° 28.488′ N, 77° 44.729′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. It is on Dunker Church Road / Old Hagerstown Pike, on the right when traveling north. Located at an artillery display just to the north of the Antietam National Battlefield Park Visitors Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sharpsburg MD 21782, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Baltimore Metro Region

and in Western Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Savage Continual Thunder (here, next to this marker); Model 1841 6-Pounder Gun (here, next to this marker);

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Model 1857 12-Pounder Gun-Howitzer (here, next to this marker); Lee’s Artillery Battalion (here, next to this marker); 3-Inch Ordnance Rifle (a few steps from this marker); 10-Pounder Parrott Rifle (a few steps from this marker); “Load” “Commence Firing” (a few steps from this marker); "I Hate Cannons" (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.

More about this marker. The background is Gardner's famous photograph of the wrecked battery in front of the Dunker Church.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker replaced a previous one titled "I Hate Cannons."

Also see . . .
1. Antietam Battlefield. National Park Service site. (Submitted on July 5, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Stephen D. Lee. Wikipedia entry:
Stephen Dill Lee (September 22, 1833 – May 28, 1908) was an American soldier, and the youngest Confederate lieutenant general of the American Civil War (but no relation to Robert E. Lee). (Submitted on September 21, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 11, 2011

2. A Converging Storm of Iron Marker

The marker is seen here in front of the Dunker Church and a group of cannon representing the Confederate Battery of Col. Stephen D. Lee.

Photographed by Brian Scott, September 19, 2015

3. A Converging Storm of Iron Marker

A Converging Storm of Iron Marker<br>Dunker Church in Background image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Scott, September 19, 2015

4. A Converging Storm of Iron Marker
Dunker Church in Background

New Location image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 19, 2009

5. New Location

The waysides were moved to a new location in September 2009. The old location was at the far end of the row of cannon. See old photo below.

Old Location of the Waysides image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 5, 2009

6. Old Location of the Waysides

In the background is the Dunker Church

Artillery Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 5, 2009

7. Artillery Display

The artillery display includes examples of common weapons used during the Civil War. The four in frame, from left to right, are a 3-inch Parrott Rifle Model 1863, a 3-inch Ordnance Rifle Model 1861, a 12-pounder Field Gun Model 1857 "Napoleon", and a 6-pounder Field Gun Model 1841.

The Gardner Photograph image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

8. The Gardner Photograph

One of the most recognized photographs from the war. The photo is often titled "Wrecked Battery at the Dunker Church." The dead are likely members of S.D. Lee's artillery battalion, which served guns on the ground to the east of the church during the battle.

Lieutenant General Stephen Dill Lee<br>(C.S.A.) (1833-1908) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Scott, 1862

9. Lieutenant General Stephen Dill Lee
(C.S.A.) (1833-1908)

Commanded a battalion of nineteen cannon on the site.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,565 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 5, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on April 15, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4. submitted on September 21, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 5. submitted on September 21, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on July 5, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 8. submitted on March 16, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 9. submitted on September 21, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.