Road to Antietam: Sharpsburg

I woke up to a great breakfast and a plan to hike into Sharpsburg to the Antietam Battlefield. I was going to take the short route directly to the battlefield but then I saw the lambs, and the flowers, and the all of the people offering me rides. Either Washington County, Maryland is the friendliest place in the world (no less than six offers of rides) or I looked so miserable, that they could not bear passing me without stopping and trying to save the old limping guy with the funny hat some help. Well I believe that this is the friendliest place in the world and I’m sticking with it. Well, the old Marine came out in me so when I was offered a ride, I had to refuse (while mentioning that I started in Washington, DC.) Some people were impressed, others acted impressed and probably chuckled as they drove away (“another Civil War ‘buff’”.)

I really loved coming into the battlefield. The route I took was similar to the 14th Connecticut but they crossed at a ford, and I was not getting my feet wet again on purpose. I walked down Mansfield Road and arrived at the site where General Joseph Mansfield was mortally wounded at the very beginning of the Battle of Antietam. His house is a historic site in Middletown, Connecticut and the town of Mansfield near Storrs is named after him. He was 58 years old on the day of the battle and much beloved by his soldiers.

I soon found myself walking to the visitor’s center where the staff was very helpful finding information about the 14th Connecticut Volunteers. I then walked across the fields to the 14th Connecticut Monument near the Sunken Lane (otherwise known as Bloody Lane.) This monument marks the site where the 14th, as part as the 2nd Corps attacked through a cornfield to the crest of a hill across from the Lane. The problem is that the lane acted as a rifle pit for the Confederate soldiers giving them cover as they fired upon the exposed Union soldiers. Only after this phase of the battle, when the Union forces took the lane did they realize how many Confederates died defending that position.

I had the pleasure of meeting with Ted Alexander, Battlefield Historian at the Battlefield. He not only showed me some additional information about the 14th Connecticut Volunteers, he also helped me better understand the battle and its significance. The most important documents I found, besides newly published books is that the Guilford Free Library has additional letters from Sergeant Charles Samuel Dudley from Guilford about the Battle of Antietam. I look forward to viewing those letters upon my return from Guilford although I had a taste of them here. I also had the pleasure of meeting Brad Gottfried, an author and researcher who new a lot about the battle and about the 14th Connecticut. I asked him if all units had so much written about them as the 14th. He said that some units where very literate with prolific writers, some units had little or no written information (because of possibly less literate soldiers.) Some Confederate units fell into that category.

Ted Alexander explained to me that there were so many casualties at Antietam not just because of new weapons, but the aggressive use of soldiers especially by Union Generals Hooker and Sumner and Confederate Generals Jackson and Hood. There were many attacks and counter-attacks with little progress made. He said that the battlefield is still studied by the U.S. Military because of the complexity of the battles and the unique preservation of the site itself.

I would suggest any of you to come here, by car, if you haven’t yet. It is a sacred place full of value at so many levels. To stand at the monument for the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and realize that here Richard Hull and E.I. Field were killed and Ward Benton was mortally wounded was moving. You cannot leave untouched.

After meeting with Ted Alexander, I walked to Sharpsburg and found the Antietam National Cemetery. There I found the grave marker for Richard Hull of Guilford. Richard Hull was a Corporal (Non-commissioned Officer) and was leading the troops, shouting encouragement, when he was shot in the mouth and died. “Not for Themselves, But for Their Country…” is inscribed on the monument. They gave their lives for their family, their town, their state, their country. President Lincoln asked them to preserve the Union, and they did! Not only did they help preserve the Union, they gave Lincoln the confidence to issue the Emancipation Proclamation which took affect on the 1st of January, 1863. They also gave their life for their friends. They were familiar with John 15: 12-13. They knew that their sacrifice would be valued on Earth and in Heaven! Not only did Ward Benton leave behind a wife and three children, he left behind a grateful nation. We should not forget their sacrifice.

Thank you all for your support. Especially Nicole Ball, she is my editor, but my friend first. Joel Helander offered wonderful information, and more importantly, unbridled enthusiasm. Carl Balestracci also provided great original information and an unabashed love of history. Patty Baldwin and her staff at the Guilford Free Library have gone above and beyond to provide support and access to information online. I want to thank all of the people I have met along the way. Their questions, comments, offers of kindness, and warmth let me believe that the story I was telling is universal and as John Donne said: “No man is and island, entire of itself.”

I want also to thank my audience. My friends, family, and students have been great with advice, humor, and the feeling that I am not alone. The pack was much lighter knowing that you were with me.

Semper Fidelis,

Sergeant Dennis J. Culliton

H&S Company, Comm Platoon,

1st Radio Battalion

Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station

FPO San Fransico 96602