Our Country's Fiery Ordeal

A blog about the American Civil War, written and maintained by historian Daniel J. Vermilya, author of The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain (History Press, 2014) and James Garfield and the Civil War (History Press, 2015)

Dedicated to my great-great-great grandfather, Private Ellwood Rodebaugh, Company D, 106th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, killed at the Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862.

"And may an Overuling Providence continue to cause good to come out of evil, justice to be done to all men where injustice has long prevailed, and finally, peace, quiet, and harmony to come out of this terrible confrontation and our country's fiery ordeal." -- Albert Champlin, 105th Ohio, Diary entry of June 19, 1864 (Western Reserve Historical Society)

Monday, September 17, 2012

September 17, 2012: A Very Special Day

I will have plenty more to post and share in the days to come, but for now, let me simply say that commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam by working out on the battlefield and leading programs for 13 hours as a park ranger was an experience I will never forget. I am forever in debt to my friends and colleagues at Antietam National Battlefield, as well as those rangers from other NPS sites who came in to work with us this weekend.
 
At the end of the day, I was able to take part in the reading of the names of those who died by reading the name of my great-great-great grandfather. Here is a link for a special photo album on the ANB facebook page with pictures of the moment.
 
The following pictures are just a small glimpse of how special today truly was...




 
Ranger Dan in the Sunken Road at age 9



 
Ranger Dan in the Sunken Road at age 25, taken on September 17, 2012, the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam
 
 
 

The picture above was taken today along the fence line where, 150 years earlier to the very moment from when the photo was taken, Private Ellwood Rodebaugh was last seen making a desperate stand with members of the 106th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
 
 
 

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