Near Sharpsburg in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Bridge of Destiny
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 5, 2009
1. Bridge of Destiny Marker
"I do not know the name of the creek, but I have named it the creek of death. Such a slaughter I hope never to witness again."
Pvt. George Lewis Bronson, 11th Connecticut Infantry
A Divided Nation - A Divided Family
Union Col. Henry W. Kingsbury (left) and Confederate Gen. David R. Jones (right) married sisters Eva and Rebecca Taylor. At Antietam, Col. Kingsbury, described as a "brilliant, honorable and brave soldier," commanded the 11th Connecticut Infantry that made the first attack on Burnside Bridge. Gen. Jones was nicknamed "Neighbor" Jones for his friendly, outgoing personality. Gen. Jones and the soldiers of his division defended the bridge.
While leading his men, Col. Kingsbury was wounded four times, "suffered great pain during the dressing of his wounds, and survived but twenty-four hours." Four months later, Jones, whose soldiers had killed his brother-in-law, died of a heart attack at age thirty seven.
Erected 2009 by Antietam National Battlefield - National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 1862.
Location. 39° 27.047′ N, 77° 43.898′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. "Why Burnside's Bridge?" (here, next to this marker); 21st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (here, next to this marker); 35th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (here, next to this marker); "Will You Give Us Our Whiskey?" (here, next to this marker); We Showered the Lead Across that Creek (here, next to this marker); 2nd Maryland Infantry (a few steps from this marker); 51st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (a few steps from this marker); Witness to History (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.
More about this marker. On the main part of the marker is a photograph of the wall next to the bridge, as it appeared shortly after the battle. Bodies of the men who died attacking the bridge were initially buried along this wall until they were later reinterred. Many of the headstones were simply planks ripped from the Burnside Bridge. On the right are portraits of Gen. Jones and Col. Kingsbury.
Related marker.
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015
2. Bridge of Destiny Marker
Also see . . .
1. Antietam Battlefield. National Park Service site. (Submitted on July 11, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Henry Walter Kingsbury. Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on October 1, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
3. David Rumph Jones. David Rumph Jones (April 5, 1825 – January 15, 1863) was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. (Submitted on October 1, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015
3. Bridge of Destiny Marker
Photographed By Craig Swain
4. New Waysides on the East End of Burnside Bridge
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015
5. Bridge of Destiny Marker
Burnside Bridge in Background
Burnside Bridge in Background
Photographed By Brian Scott
6. Col. Henry Walter Kingsbury (1836-1862)
Served as Colonel and commander of the 11th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He was mortally wounded while leading a charge of his regiment against the Georgians defending Burnside's Bridge at the Battle of Antietam.
Photographed By Brian Scott
7. Gen. David R. Jones (1825-1863)
At Antietam, his division held the right flank of the Army of Northern Virginia when the Union IX Corps attacked. The strain of campaigning aggravated a longstanding heart condition and Jones died in Richmond, Virginia the following January. He is buried there in Hollywood Cemetery.
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 5, 2009
8. Burnside Bridge
The roadbed of the bridge today.
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher
9. Soldier standing at graves of Federal soldiers, along stone fence, at Burnside Bridge, Antietam, MD
Courtesy Library of Congress
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, June 24, 2009
10. Where Soldier was standing at graves of Federal soldiers, along stone fence, at Burnside Bridge
The view of the same spot today.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,315 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 11, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on October 1, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 4. submitted on July 11, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5, 6, 7. submitted on October 1, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 8. submitted on July 11, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 9, 10. submitted on September 30, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
