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

"Every Stalk of Corn"

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 17, 2007

1. "Every Stalk of Corn" Marker

Inscription. Americans fought back and forth across the Cornfield for three hours. Those three hours may encompass the most concentrated fury in American history. The Union First Corps and Twelfth Corps were fought out. On the Confederate side, Jackson's corps and Hood's Division were wrecked.

The battle moved on. Union General Hooker described what was left:
"Every stalk of corn in the northern and greater part of the field was cut as closely as could have been done with a knife, and the slain lay in rows precisely as they had stood in their ranks a few moments before. It was never my fortune to witness a more bloody, dismal battle-field."

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

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. 39° 28.856′ N, 77° 44.854′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of Cornfield Avenue and Dunker Church Road / Old Hagerstown Pike, on the right when traveling west on Cornfield Avenue. Located at stop four of the driving tour of the Antietam Battlefield. 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 location. A Cornfield Unlike Any Other (here, next to this marker);

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The Most Terrible Clash of Arms (here, next to this marker); Second Regiment (within shouting distance of this marker); Hood's Division, Longstreet's Command (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Hood's Division, Longstreet's Command (within shouting distance of this marker); First Army Corps (within shouting distance of this marker); Texas (within shouting distance of this marker); 84th New York (14th Brooklyn) Volunteer Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.

More about this marker. The lower left is a drawing of a "Union Charge through the Cornfield" by Walton Tabor, Civil War combat artist. On the lower right is a photograph by Alexander Gardner, showing some of the dead laying beside the fence rows along the Hagerstown Pike.

Regarding "Every Stalk of Corn". This marker was replaced by another named A Cornfield Unlike Any Other (See nearby markers).

Related markers. Click

Tour Stop Four image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 17, 2007

2. Tour Stop Four

The small plaque on the left indicates the viewing stand was built in 1967 by the Harpers Ferry Job Corps Conservation Center.

here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Virtual Tour by Markers of Cornfield Avenue

Also see . . . Antietam Battlefield. National Park Service site. (Submitted on February 28, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

The Cornfield image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 17, 2007

3. The Cornfield

Looking north from the viewing stand into the Cornfield.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2017. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,730 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 28, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.