Near Sharpsburg in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
“I Hate Cannons”
A South Carolina surgeon, Captain J.R. Boulware, spoke for soldiers of both armies at Antietam: "I was never so tired of shelling in my life before. I hate cannons."
Alexander Gardner, an assistant of Civil War photographer Matthew Brady, was at Antietam two days after the battle. Brady exhibited Gardner's photographs in New York:
"The dead of the battle-field come up to us very rarely, even in dreams. We see the list in the morning paper at breakfast, but dismiss its recollections with the coffee. Mr. Brady has done something to bring home to us the terrific reality and earnestness of war. If he has not brought bodies and laid them in our door-yards and along streets, he has done something very like it."
New York Times
October 19, 1862
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1849.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. 39° 28.491′ N, 77° 44.742′ W. Marker is near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is on Dunker Church Road / Old Hagerstown Pike, on the right when traveling north. Located at an artillery display just to the north of the Antietam National Battlefield Park Visitors Center. 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. “Load” “Commence Firing” (here, next to this marker); 10-Pounder Parrott Rifle (a few steps from this marker); 3-Inch Ordnance Rifle (a few steps from this marker); Lee’s Artillery Battalion (a few steps from this marker); Model 1857 12-Pounder Gun-Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); A Converging Storm of Iron (a few steps from this marker); Model 1841 6-Pounder Gun (a few steps from this marker); A Savage Continual Thunder (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.
More about this marker. On the lower left of the marker is a painting captioned, Union Captain James Hope was at Antietam. He painted several battle scenes. Here he depicts Colonel Lee's cannoneers at the Dunker Church. Hope's paintings are on display in the Visitors Center. On the right is Gardner's famous photograph of the wrecked battery in front of the Dunker Church.
Regarding “I Hate Cannons”. This marker was replaced by another named "A Converging Storm of Iron." See nearby markers.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Virtual Tour by Markers of Artillery at Antietam
Also see . . . Antietam Battlefield. National Park Service site. (Submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,260 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on April 3, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on March 18, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on March 16, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.