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FACTSHEET
“ABOVE ROHRBACH BRIDGE”
ABOUT THE BATTLE
The battle of Antietam, or
Sharpsburg, began in the early hours of 17 September,
1862, north of the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland.
General Robert E. Lee had arranged approximately
30,000 soldiers in a rough semi-circle from the
southeast of town near the Rohrbach Bridge over
Antietam Creek, to the north near the German Baptist
Church, known as the “Dunker” Church due to the
congregation’s practice of submersing converts in
water during baptism. Facing Lee were about 60,000
troops to the north and east under Major General
George B. McClellan.
Around 6:00 a.m., Union I Corps
attacked Stonewall Jackson’s brigades on the
Confederate left. Heavy fighting swirled back and
forth through the cornfield north of the church,
drawing in Federal XII Corps and Confederate brigades
from D.H. Hill’s division.
At mid-morning after neither side
had gained an advantage, the fighting continued near a
sunken road that meandered through corn and hay fields
southeast of the church. Confederates filled the road
to oppose II Corps forces. The struggle for the road,
which became known as “Bloody Lane,” went on for more
than two hours, ending around 12:30 p.m. when Union
soldiers finally flanked the road and drove out the
defenders.
Almost simultaneously with the
fight for the sunken road, approximately 13,000
soldiers of General Ambrose E. Burnside’s IX Corps
attempted to cross Rohrbach Bridge and outflank Lee’s
army from the south. Directly overlooking the bridge
were about 300 soldiers from the 2nd and 20th GA under
Brigadier General Robert A. Toombs. Further down the
creek to the southeast were about 100 troops from the
50th GA and 25 from the Palmetto Sharpshooters.
Before 9:00 a.m., two companies of
the 11th OH made the first probe of the bridge,
proceeding down a slight valley from two wooded knolls
directly overlooking the bridge from the east. After
the 11th OH withdrew, the 11th CT attempted to cross
the bridge using the same route. Under heavy fire, the
11th CT reached a stone wall to the north of the
bridge entrance and the road paralleling the creek to
the south, but stayed only a few minutes before
retreating to the knolls.
Late morning, while several companies from the 28th OH
moved to skirmish north of the bridge, the 2nd MD and
the 6th NH attacked from the south up the road toward
the bridge. The 9th NH and 48th PA followed along in
support. This attack was repulsed with high casualties
as the attackers were exposed during their entire
route along the road. The 2nd MD and the 6th NH
retreated to the southern end of the knolls, while the
48th PA moved to the northern end.
Around noon, the 51st PA and 51st
NY were ordered to assault the bridge, with support
from the 21st and 35th MA. The 51st PA, on the right,
and the 51st NY, on the left, charged over the knolls
down to the stone wall and road where they stopped and
began a shooting match with the defenders. At around
1:00 p.m., Lieutenant John Hudson was directed down to
the bridge to order the 51st PA and 51st NY to cross
the bridge. The two regiments rallied themselves for
the last charge.
As hundreds of Union rifles blazed away, Captain
William Allebaugh and the color guard of the 51st PA
made their way over the bridge. With casualties
mounting, ammunition running low, and Union troops
flanking their position from a ford to the south, the
Georgia infantry finally gave way. But, they had held
up the entire IX Corps for almost 5 hours, which
gained precious time for A.P. Hill to arrive from
Harpers Ferry with reinforcements to blunt Burnside’s
flanking maneuver.
ABOUT THE PAINTING
This print is reproduced from an
oil painting done in the old-school style of painting.
Unlike many contemporary Civil War illustrations, this
style does not make use of pencil under-drawings or
photographic transfers. The painting took almost two
years to complete. It is based on visits to the
battlefield, talks with park personnel, and research
on troop positions, uniforms, weapons, and equipment.
The time of the scene is around 1
p.m., just after Lieutenant Hudson delivered the order
to Colonel John F.Hartranft, of the 51st PA, and
Colonel Robert B. Potter, of the 51st NY, to take the
bridge. Hudson can be seen running back up to the
knolls.
The 2nd GA is in the foreground
with Lieutenant Colonel William R. Holmes in a rifle
pit, the remnants of which can still be seen on the
slope above Rohrbach Bridge. Note that Holmes is
carrying a Georgia-made sword and is wearing shoulder
knots. Most of the soldiers are wearing Georgia
pattern shell jackets and frock coats, many of which
had black collars. Note that two soldiers have jackets
with the distinctive Georgian 3-point black cuff. The
troops carry a variety of long arms, including the
1853 Enfield rifle, the 1842 Musket, and the 1841
“Mississippi” Rifle. The Georgians mostly carried
muskets, but the Burke County Sharpshooters, who were
present at the west end of the bridge, carried
Enfields.
The 20th GA is in the left center
on the slope and near the bridge entrance with
Lieutenant Farquhard McCrimmon. At this point in the
battle, part of the 20th GA was in the process of
pulling out, as can be seen by the two figures on the
road in the shade. Note the two soldiers under the
bridge arch, who were captured at the end of the
battle.
The 51st PA is on the bridge
with Captain Allebaugh and the color guard, and to the
left behind the stone wall. Colonel Hartranft is at
the bridge entrance waving his hat to urge his men
forward. The Pennsylvanians carry their distinctive
national colors, which were made by Evans & Hassall
and has the state seal in the canton.
The 51st NY is towards the
right on the road and milling near the bridge
entrance. Colonel Potter is in the road waving his
sword; elements of the 48th PA have emerged from the
trees on the knolls far center; remnants of the 2nd MD
and 6th NH are milling far right; far left are Union
batteries and elements of the 28th OH.
Walter Bublé © 2001
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