Near Sharpsburg in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Sedgwick's Division, Second Army Corps
Photographed By Craig Swain, February 9, 2008
1. Sedgwick's Division, Second Army Corps Marker
Sedgwick's Division, Second Army Corps,
Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick, Commanding.
September 17, 1862.
Sedgwick's Division crossed the Antietam at Pry's Ford at 7:45 a.m. and, advancing from the East Woods in column of Brigades, Gorman's Brigade in advance, Dana's second and Howard's Third, passed through the Cornfield and the open fields to the south, crossed the Hagerstown Pike, entered the West Woods, and had reached the open ground beyond, when its advance was checked by Jackson's Command and the artillery of Stuart's Division.
Its left flank was then attacked and turned by McLaws' and Walker's Divisions and it was forced to retreat northward to the fields and woods beyond D.R. Miller's, where it rallied under cover of the Artillery of the First and Twelfth Corps.
This tablet marks the center of the Division in its advance.
Erected by Antietam Battlefield Board. (Marker Number 36.)
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 month for this entry is September 1790.
Location. 39° 28.82′ N, 77° 44.89′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Twelfth Army Corps (here, next to this marker); Aftermath Along the Hagerstown Turnpike (a few steps from this marker); Massachusetts State Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); New Jersey State Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Second Regiment (within shouting distance of this marker); 124th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); First Army Corps (within shouting distance of this marker); Indiana State Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Sedgwick's Division Tablets and Monuments
Also see . . .
1. Antietam Battlefield. National Park Service site. (Submitted on March 8, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. 2nd Division, II Corps. General Sedgwick was rather popular with his men, with a reputation for seeing to the needs of his command. The troops often referred
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015
2. Sedgwick's Division, Second Army Corps Marker
3. John Sedgwick. John Sedgwick (September 13, 1813 – May 9, 1864) was a teacher, a career military officer, and a Union Army general in the American Civil War. He was the highest ranking Union casualty in the Civil War, killed by a sharpshooter at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, and is well-remembered for his ironic last words: "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." (Submitted on October 17, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
Photographed By Craig Swain, February 9, 2008
3. Tablets in Front of the Modern Farm House
Tablets 36 (left) and 55 (right) stand in front of a modern farm house. At the time of the battle, this was open field.
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 19, 2015
4. Sedgwick's Division, Second Army Corps Marker (Left)
Photographed By Brian Scott
5. Major General John Sedgwick (1813-1864)
Photographed By Craig Swain, February 9, 2008
6. Sedgwick's Advance
Seen from the Smoketown Road, near the intersection with east end of Cornfield Avenue. Sedgwick's Division swung out of the East Woods (the camera's location) and into the open fields south of the Cornfield (out of frame to the north of Cornfield Avenue on the right). Formed into column of brigades, the division advanced across the open ground here, directly at the modern farm house (in front of which the marker stands) and into the West Woods. The woods are seen in the distance on the opposite side of the Old Hagerstown Road.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 902 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 8, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on October 17, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 3. submitted on March 8, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on October 17, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 6. submitted on March 8, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
