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

C.S.A.

Defense of the Lower Bridge Tablet image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2007

1. Defense of the Lower Bridge Tablet

Inscription. On the morning of September 17, 1862, this bridge was defended by the 2d and 20th Georgia of Toombs' Brigade and the 50th Georgia of Drayton's Brigade. The 20th Georgia was on the high wooded bluff immediately opposite this end of the Bridge, and the 2d and 50th Georgia in open order, supported by one company of Jenkins' S.C. Brigade, continued the line to Snavely's Ford. One company of the 20th Georgia was on the narrow wooded strip north of this point between the creek and the Sharpsburg road. Richardson's Battery of the Washington Artillery was posted on the high ground about 500 yards northwest and Eubank's (Va.) Battery on the bluff north of an overlooking the Bridge. The Artillery on Cemetery Hill commanded the Bridge and the road to Sharpsburg.

At 9 a.m. Crook's Brigade of the Ninth Corps, moving from the ridge northeast of the bridge, attempted to cross it but failed. Soon after the 2d Maryland and the 6th New Hampshire, of Nagle's Brigade, charging by the road from the south were repulsed. At 1 p.m. the bridge was carried by an assault of Ferero's Brigade, and the defenders, after a vain effort to check Rodman's Division, moving by Snavely's Ford on their right flank fell back to the Antietam Furnace road and reformed on the outskirts of the town of Sharpsburg.

Erected by Antietam

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Battlefield Board. (Marker Number 366.)

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. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 2002.

Location. 39° 27.025′ N, 77° 43.928′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. It is on Old Burnside Bridge Road, on the right when traveling east. Located to the east of stop 9 (Burnside Bridge) of the driving tour of Antietam Battlefield, along the walking trail just west of the bridge. 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: "Point Blank Range" (within shouting distance of this marker); Repulsed Again and Again (within shouting distance of this marker); "Will You Give Us Our Whiskey?" (within shouting distance of this marker); We Showered the Lead Across that Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); A Crucial Crossing, a General’s Namesake, a Battlefield Icon (within shouting distance of this marker); "Why Burnside's Bridge?" (within shouting distance of this marker); Bridge of Destiny (within shouting distance of this marker);

Tablet Number 366 at the West End of the Burnside Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 29, 2008

2. Tablet Number 366 at the West End of the Burnside Bridge

51st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.

More about this marker. Some sources refer to this as the "Defense of the Lower Bridge" Tablet. However, the original header is used here.

Also see . . .
1. Antietam Battlefield. National Park Service site. (Submitted on March 22, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Toombs' Brigade, D.R. Jones' Division. The brigade consisted of the 2nd, 15th, 17th, and 20th Georgia Infantry Regiments. (Submitted on March 22, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Marker at Burnside Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 13, 2011

3. Marker at Burnside Bridge

The Burnside Bridge can be seen here next to the marker.

View of the Lower Bridge from the Bluffs image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, December 30, 2006

4. View of the Lower Bridge from the Bluffs

Confederates from the 2nd Georgia held the line in this vicinity with the 20th Georgia on their left. From this view, it is clear that the terrain advantage benefited the defenders.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,483 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 22, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on April 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on April 16, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on March 22, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.