Tag Archives: Burnside Bridge

Antietam: A Tactical Union Victory

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Kevin Pawlak

The Battle of Antietam was a key turning point in the American Civil War and American history. In short, it turned back Robert E. Lee’s first campaign north of the Potomac River and led to the issuance of the Preliminary—and … Continue reading →

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Antietam’s Lower Field Revisited Part III: A Flawed Advance

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Bert Dunkerly

Part of a Series General McClellan assigned the Ninth Corps, on the army’s left flank, the role of seizing the Rohrbach Bridge and creating a diversion to support the main attack on the Confederates to the north. The unsupported Ninth … Continue reading →

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A Bridge for Whiskey: The 51st Pennsylvania and Its Famous Request Examined

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Kevin Pawlak

It is one of Antietam’s most memorable stories. After two unsuccessful tries to seize the Lower Bridge, Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside turned to one of his 9th Corps brigade commanders Col. Edward Ferrero and—through an orderly—told him to “take the … Continue reading →

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Christie, Cox, Crook, Confusion, and the Burnside Bridge

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Kevin Pawlak

Sometimes, going down rabbit holes of research will lead you to unexpected places. Occasionally, they lead nowhere. But every once in a while, you get rewarded. Hence, the case of Lt. Samuel L. Christie of Jacob Cox’s staff during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership--Federal, Personalities | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

The Collapse of a Battlefield Landmark: Antietam’s Middle Bridge

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Kevin Pawlak

Whether they are well-studied or just passersby, both sets of visitors alike typically want to ensure they see one thing during their visit to Antietam National Battlefield: the Burnside bridge. And why not? The stories there are compelling, it is … Continue reading →

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Benning’s Breastworks at the Burnside Bridge

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Kevin Pawlak

People visiting the Antietam battlefield often wonder why the Confederate defenders did not entrench or build breastworks to strengthen their positions. After all, Antietam’s landscape is not marred by miles of trenches and extant earthworks. “Why not?” they wonder. Answering … Continue reading →

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