World premiere of 'The Antietam and Beyond Podcast'

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In the debut episode of "The Antietam and Beyond Podcast," Tom McMillan and I talk about why the battle and the battlefield keep us enthralled. You'll also learn about the soldier who carved his name into the windowsill of the Dunker Church and hear about a wandering Saint Bernard in the 40-Acre Cornfield that spooked one of us.

A favorite stop of one of the podcasters.

Plus, Tom and I talk about our favorite spots at Antietam, outline the purpose of the podcast and highlight some of the future guests — Scott Hartwig, author of "I Dread The Thought Of The Place," for one — and briefly mention the possibility of having a chocolate pie named for one of us.

Join us for discussions of the Battle of Antietam, the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War — the most compelling period in American history. (Also join us for the occasional discussion of Iron City Beer and Bonnie's at The Red Byrd restaurant in Keedysville, Md.) 

The podcast is sponsored by Civil War Trails, which since 1994 has connected visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states.