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On Dec. 2, 1930, an Army Air Force plane took off from Bolling Field in Washington and headed west over Sharpsburg, Md. The mission: Take photographs of the Antietam battlefield, a beautiful, pastoral landscape. A sharp eye can spot significant changes on the battlefield since these photographs, available on the National Archives web site, were shot that winter day. In the above images, the modern Visitors' Center is not seen -- it wasn't constructed until 1962. The iconic Dunker Church, destroyed in a violent storm in 1921, had been replaced by a gas station and a souvenir stand. Some of the original materials were used when the church was rebuilt in 1962 on its original foundation in time for the battle's 100th anniversary. The West Woods are largely gone. (Please note: I added the text overlays for locations to all these images.)
In this cropped enlargement, we get an excellent view of the New York monument and the Dunker Church site ...
... and here we see the Philadelphia Brigade monument in the West Woods and beyond. What a great view of that ground before the Md. Route 65 bypass was added!
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... these cropped enlargements show the sloping ground on which the 8th Connecticut fought. The stories of Private Oliver Case and Corporal Robert Ferriss, killed in action here, are told on my blog. William Pratt, another private in the 8th Connecticut whose story is told on my blog, was wounded and taken captive on this ground. Today, a modern house occupies property near the monument that honors the regiment. ...
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.... and this aerial image provides an excellent perspective of some of the most hotly contested ground of the Civil War, David R. Miller's farm and the infamous Bloody Cornfield. At left are the West Woods, where the tall, white Philadelphia Brigade monument peeks out. In 1930, this area was more barren than its present-day appearance. (Hat tip: Matt Hood for pointing out these images on Facebook.)
Did I miss anything in these images? E-mail me at jbankstx@comcast.net
It is amazing how the aerial photos make it appear as though the battlefield is essentially similar to flat Iowa farmland, rather than the wildly undulating terrina that it truly is.
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DeleteInteresting observation Ted. My wife, who's from Iowa, said same thing.
ReplyDeleteA great discovery John. Thanks for sharing. What is really interesting is the landscape without the modern Route 65 bypass. The other striking thing is a much more open landscape. Many fewer trees.
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ReplyDeleteIn addtion, I think the old camera technology doesn't allow for the sharp detail that would show the dips and slight-undulations over the landscape. I just visited last week and I saw how the terrain affected the battle on certain sections of the field.
ReplyDeleteWe were at Antietam today! Thank you for posting these. I was so upset that I left your book at home!
ReplyDeleteOh, no! :)
DeleteHi John! I was wondering if you have a really hi resolution of the photo #4, the one of the National Cemetery-- it shows our Inn and we'd love a copy! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMiriam Cunningham
I had no idea that the West Woods had been cut down almost completely.
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