Burnside Bridge, Antietam Creek by bmac62
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Description
Yesterday we visited the site of a major battle in the US Civil War. The North called it the Battle of Antietam. The south called it the Battle of Sharpsburg. Same battle, located in Maryland.
The bridge above was the scene of great conflict with many soldiers from the north and south killed or wounded.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to walk over the Burnside Bridge in complete peace. If you look at the black and white picture of the bridge taken right after the battle in 1862 you can see a young Sycamore tree at the near end of the right side of the bridge. The picture at the top shows the same tree full grown and still healthy after all these years. It is a living witness to the great battle of 155 years ago.
Comments (16)
Faemike55
impressive view of history!
giulband
Very very interesting comparation, and absolutely fascinating the consideration about the tree !!
kgb224
Wonderful capture my friend. God bless.
T.Rex
For some odd reason I come to think of "A Bridge Too Far". Was this the bridge where a commanding officer fell off and drowned, or am I confusing 2 different battles? Nice job taking the new photo from the same vantage point as the old photo. As you say, the tree stands like a memorial sentinel. I like what you've done here. Keep 'em comin'! :-)
jendellas
How amazing, love visiting places with lots of history.
durleybeachbum
This looks so very English!
auntietk
Great job, Hon! Good thought, to show both the "then" and "now" pictures. Nicely done!
RodS
Wonderful photo and history of the bridge, Bill! I love that you captured the tree still growing and providing shade - and a sense of calm and peace to a spot once filled with death and pain.
weesel
I'm recalling our trip to this bridge in the 1980's and looking into the creek and thinking... huh? The water was very shallow. Indeed I've read that the water was shallow _during _the battle and that the real significance of the bridge is that a Union commander on the scene insisted the men cross the bridge and not jump the bank into the creek for a concerted charge of the opposite bank. Doing the former presented the Confederate forces with a nicely packed target whereas doing the latter would have enable a mass of men to rush the opposite bank and overwhelm the relatively few defenders. (IIRC it was a few sharpshooters from Georgia that were holding things up. The rifle pits were still there.)
Had they done so, the battle may have acquired more mobility and turned the tide from a strategic draw to the actual victory Lincoln was looking for. Coulda, shoulda, woulda, and if... words that can change the world.
blinkings
I absolutely LOVE 'then and now' historical photos, and this is an cracking shot mate. Sensational.
jayfar
MY !!! How that tree has grown !! I really like this Bill.
sossy
wonderful old bridge and you captured an idyllic place ☺
kenmo
Awesome capture of this historical bridge...
wysiwig
A fantastic set of pictures to go with the history lesson. You have really brought this to life.
junge1
Fantastic capture Bill!
tallpindo
A local Dutch farmer tried to destroy my perspective on the Civil War by taking his tractor and plowing the old graveyard next to my grandfather's former house some time in the 90's according to my uncle. The Confederate POW camp was only a few miles distant at Marion, NY near where the golden tablets of Mormonism were discovered. This peaceful look captures my mood at Gettysburg, Shiloh or Appomattox.