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

A Contrast!

Federal buried, rebel unburied, where they fell at the Battle of Antietam

— Antietam National Battlefield —

A Contrast! Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 4, 2024

1. A Contrast! Marker

Inscription. Photographer Alexander Gardner stood here just two days after the guns fell silent and captured this poignant photograph of the aftermath of the battle. Gardner wrote the title above to describe what he witnessed.

United States soldiers dug over 4,000 graves in the days and weeks following the battle. Often, the Federal dead were given better care, as seen here.

The soldier in the marked grave is twenty-one year old 1st Lt. John A. Clark, Company D, 7th Michigan Infantry. He was killed when his regiment charged into the West Woods which you can see in the background of this photograph. His remains were later removed and taken back to his home town for burial in Woodland Cemetery, Monroe, Michigan. Lt. Clark probably made it home because of that wooden marker.

(caption) 1st Lt. John A. Clark

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

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 19, 1862.

Location. 39° 28.762′ N, 77° 44.782′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. It can be reached from Dunker Church Road south of The Cornfield Avenue, on the right

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when traveling north. The marker is located along a walking trail southeast of "The Cornfield" driving tour stop. 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: "The Number Of Dead Horses Was High" (within shouting distance of this marker); The 19th Indiana Infantry (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jackson's Command (about 500 feet away); Longstreet's Command (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Jackson's Command (about 600 feet away); Texas (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Longstreet's Command (about 600 feet away); Georgia Confederate Soldiers (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.

Also see . . . Antietam National Battlefield. National Park Service (Submitted on June 3, 2025.)

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 4, 2024

2. A Contrast! Marker

Inset view of 1st Lt. John A. Clark. The body to the right is a Confederate Soldier.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 4, 2024

3. A Contrast! Marker

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 4, 2024

4. A Contrast! Marker

With surrounding context on the walking trail.

Antietam, Maryland. Federal buried, Confederate unburied, where they fell image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alexander Gardner, September 1862

5. Antietam, Maryland. Federal buried, Confederate unburied, where they fell

Library of Congress (LC-DIG-cwpb-01086)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 173 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 27, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on June 3, 2025. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.