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

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The Newcomer House

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2013

1. The Newcomer House Marker

Inscription.

The Newcomer House. . “They fed horses all my corn and pasture that had not been previously ruined by the soldiers during the skirmishing and progress of the battle.”Joshua Newcomer. This farmhouse, owned by Joshua Newcomer during the mid-1800s, witnessed the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. It was originally built in 1780 and was part of a complex of buildings that included the barn across the street, a grist mill, plaster mill and shops., Today, only the house and barn remain of what was once a bustling farmstead. During the battle, Union soldiers crossed the original stone bridge that spanned Antietam Creek and advanced across this farm towards Sharpsburg., Maryland Campaign of 1862 After winning the Second Battle of Manassas, Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland in early September, 1862. Union General George B. McClellan and his Army of the Potomac marched northwest from Washington, D.C. toward Frederick., Outside Frederick, Lee boldly split his smaller force, sending part to capture a Union garrison at Harpers Ferry. Lee then used his remaining troops to delay McClellan’s larger Union army at the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862., Although the Confederates were forced to withdraw from the three nearby passes of South Mountain, they provided Lee the time necessary to pull his Confederate army back together here along Antietam Creek. On September 17, 1862, the two armies clashed along Antietam Creek and on farms around Sharpsburg in the bloodiest one-day battle in American history. By days end, more than 23,000 men were killed, wounded, or missing., . To learn more about the Battle of South Mountain, drive to Washington Monument State Park outside Boonsboro: Turn left onto Route 34, drive 5 miles to Boonsboro, turn right onto Route 40A, drive 3 miles to the top of South Mountain (part of South Mountain State Battlefield), then turn left and go one mile to the museum at Washington Monument State Park., . To learn more about the Battle of Antietam, go to the National Battlefield’s visitor center: Turn right onto Route 34; drive one mile, then turn right on Church Street (Route 65). The visitor center is one mile north on Route 65 on the right., . To learn more about the battle’s aftermath, visit the Pry House Field Hospital Museum / McClellan’s Headquarters: Turn left onto Route 34; drive one mile, turn left at the Pry House sign, then drive ¼ mile down the gravel road.

“They fed horses all my corn and pasture that had not been previously ruined by the soldiers during the skirmishing and progress of the battle.”Joshua Newcomer
This farmhouse, owned by Joshua Newcomer during the mid-1800s, witnessed the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. It was originally built in 1780 and was part of a complex of buildings that included the barn across the street, a grist mill, plaster mill and shops.

Today, only the house and barn remain of what was once a bustling farmstead. During the battle, Union soldiers crossed the original stone bridge that spanned Antietam Creek and advanced across this farm towards Sharpsburg.

Maryland Campaign of 1862
After winning the Second Battle of Manassas, Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland in early September, 1862. Union General George B. McClellan and his Army of the Potomac marched northwest from Washington, D.C. toward Frederick.

Outside Frederick, Lee boldly split his smaller force, sending part to capture a Union garrison at Harpers Ferry. Lee then used his remaining troops to delay McClellan’s larger Union army at the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862.

Although the Confederates were forced to withdraw from the three nearby passes of South

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Mountain, they provided Lee the time necessary to pull his Confederate army back together here along Antietam Creek. On September 17, 1862, the two armies clashed along Antietam Creek and on farms around Sharpsburg in the bloodiest one-day battle in American history. By days end, more than 23,000 men were killed, wounded, or missing.

• To learn more about the Battle of South Mountain, drive to Washington Monument State Park outside Boonsboro: Turn left onto Route 34, drive 5 miles to Boonsboro, turn right onto Route 40A, drive 3 miles to the top of South Mountain (part of South Mountain State Battlefield), then turn left and go one mile to the museum at Washington Monument State Park.

• To learn more about the Battle of Antietam, go to the National Battlefield’s visitor center: Turn right onto Route 34; drive one mile, then turn right on Church Street (Route 65). The visitor center is one mile north on Route 65 on the right.

• To learn more about the battle’s aftermath, visit the Pry House Field Hospital Museum / McClellan’s Headquarters: Turn left onto Route 34; drive one mile, turn left at the Pry House sign, then drive ¼ mile down the gravel road.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1662.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2013

2. The Newcomer House Marker

It was located near 39° 27.875′ N, 77° 43.635′ W. Marker was near Keedysville, Maryland, in Washington County. It was on Shepherdstown Pike (Maryland Route 34), on the left when traveling east. Marker is located on the Antietam Battlefield, in front of the Newcomer House. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 18422 Shepherdstown Pike, Keedysville MD 21756, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in the Baltimore Metro Region

and in Western Maryland.

It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

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

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 location: Antietam National Battlefield (a few steps from this marker); Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area (a few steps from this marker); History or Memory? (within shouting distance of this marker); Explore Maryland Civil War Trails (within shouting distance of this marker); 4th and 12th U.S. Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Third Indiana Cavalry (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gen. Robert E. Lee, CSA (about 300 feet away); Colonel James H. Childs (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Keedysville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Heart of the Civil War (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Early's Washington Raid (was a few steps from

Markers on the Antietam Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2013

3. Markers on the Antietam Battlefield

Two markers are found at this location. The Newcomer House marker is seen here on the right.

this marker but has been permanently removed); Gettysburg Campaign (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1862 Antietam Campaign (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Middle Bridge (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. A map of the Maryland Campaign of 1862 appears at the bottom of the marker. Indicated are the positions of Lee and McClellan, and the Sept. 14 Battle of South Mountain, the Sept. 15 Capture of Harpers Ferry, and the Sept. 17 Battle of Antietam.
Three wartime photos are at the lower left of the marker. One shows the Newcomer House and Barn, the Boonsboro Pike and the Middle Bridge (replaced with the modern bridge). It has a caption of “This photograph was taken by Alexander Gardner just days after the Battle of Antietam. Gardner captured this image from the other side of Antietam Creek looking west.” Below this are two photos with the captions “This view was also taken from the opposite bank of the Antietam looking west. The Newcomer barn is in the background of the right side of the image. That is the barn that is directly across the street” and “The Newcomer mill is on the right of this image.

The Newcomer Barn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2013

4. The Newcomer Barn

The Newcomer Barn is the only other remaining structure from the Newcomer farmstead. The Union Army passed this barn and the house across the street during the battle.

Antietam Creek is in the foreground. Nothing remains of the original mill.”
The lower right of the marker features portraits of Col. James H. Childs and Capt. John Tidball. The Childs portrait contain a caption of :
“Col. James H. Childs of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry was in temporary command of Averell’s Brigade at Antietam. He led the brigade across the Middle Bridge onto the Newcomer Farm when he was struck in the hip by an artillery round that killed two soldiers and four horses.
After his wounding, Col. Childs tended to his military duties, then sent a messenger to the surgeons that “if not attending to any one whose life could be saved, to come to him, as he was in great pain.” He died less than an hour later leaving a widow and three children home in Pittsburgh. There is a monument to Col. Childs just across the street.”
The Capt. Tidball portrait has a caption of “Capt. John Tidball and his men dragged the cannons of his battery up the hill to your left and took position on the high ground of the Newcomer farm. From here, Tidball’s guns dueled with Confederate cannons that were located on even higher ground ½ mile to the west. A trail to his position starts on the left (east) side of the house.”

Inside the Newcomer House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2013

5. Inside the Newcomer House

The Newcomer House contains exhibits and displays that detail its role in the Battle of Antietam.

The Newcomer House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 21, 2020

6. The Newcomer House

Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,308 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 15, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 6. submitted on March 4, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.