130 Years Later: A Return to Antietam
Recently I returned to Antietam with two objects from my personal collection of veteran items. These ribbons were worn by veterans of the 130th Pennsylvania Infantry when they returned to Antietam to reunite and reminisce. I have a familial connection (my 4th-great grandfather) to the 130th Pennsylvania, and I’ve previously written about the regiment’s recruitment, experience at Antietam fighting for the first time and burying the dead, and combat at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Essentially, the newly recruited regiment was thrown into the bloodiest day in American history, marching past the Roulette farm in an attempt to overtake the fortified Sunken Road. These ribbons commemorated later journeys by the former soldiers to a place consecrated by the blood of their comrades. One, extremely ornate, was worn in 1891. The second one, depicting the beloved regimental chaplain who had died that year, was worn in 1904 for the dedication of the regimental monument at the Sunken Road.
My ancestor was not present at either of these reunions; he died in 1888. Most likely, neither of these ribbons had been back to Antietam in over a century. It has been 117 years since the 1904 ribbon was worn at the monument dedication, and 130 years since the 1891 ribbon was worn at the Roulette farm as veterans recalled their first time under fire. Their brief return 130 years later seems an especially fitting anniversary for the 130th Pennsylvania.
Excellent post! Love Antietam, wife’s family were Poffenbargers, who just got off before the shooting started. But I think you meant “overrun” the Sunken Road position, not “overtake”. It would have been cool if Lee had come up with moveable fortifications, redoubts on wheels!
Lovely tribute.
Thank you for your thoughts, artifacts and expertise.
I have two great uncles who served in the 130th. Daniel and Edward Raffensberger. Edward was wounded at the Bloody Lane but survived his enlistment. But sadly Daniel Died after Fredericksburg at Falmouth of disease. I live in Dover Pa. Where are you currently living? Ron Bupp I am at ronaldbupp@gmail.com
John, do you have any information on the identities of the men in the 1891 reunion picture? My great grandfather was John P. Bupp. He served in Co. K of the 130th. The records show that he was wounded on the Roulette farm at Antietam but I can’t find any details of his wounds. One of his daughters, Beulah Bupp, was my grandmother. She died in 1961, but I remember her very well. My email is drmekeeney@gmail.com. Thanks. Mark Keeney
Ron, are you by any chance related to Ken Raffensburger from York? He was pitcher for several major league baseball teams from 1939 through 1954, including the Cincinnati Reglegs. I used to collect from him at his house on Chestnut Street for my York Dispatch newspaper route in the early 1960’s. His son was in my elementary school class at the Alexander D. Goode School near the old jail in York in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.