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Saturday, April 21, 2012

Connecticut Day at Antietam

To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Antietam, the park will be hosting state days throughout the year, honoring the troops from various states who participated in the battle. Today was designated as Connecticut Day, and many programs and events occurred honoring and remembering those men from Connecticut who fought at Antietam on September 17, 1862.

Four regiments from Connecticut were present at the battle. They were as follows, along with their casualty numbers:



  • 8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Edward Harland's Brigade, Brigadier General Isaac P. Rodman's Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac
    • 34 killed, 139 wounded, 21 missing, 194 total casualties
  • 11th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Edward Harland's Brigade, Brigadier General Isaac P. Rodman's Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac
    • 36 killed, 103 wounded, 139 total casualties
  •  14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Dwight Morris's Brigade, Brigadier General Nathan Kimball's Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac
    • 20 killed, 88 wounded, 48 missing, 156 total casualties
  • 16th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Edward Harland's Brigade, Brigadier General Isaac P. Rodman's Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac  
    • 42 killed, 143 wounded, 185 total casualties





Taken from the area of the 9th New York and 8th Connecticut monuments, this is the spot where the Federal Final Attack at Antietam was at high tide, before A.P. Hill's Confederate division flanked and stopped the Union advance. 



11th Connecticut Monument


14th Connecticut Monument



 
 16th Connecticut Monument


Overall, it was a very busy day at the park. It was great to see so many visitors out so early in the season, which I think suggests just how busy this year will be for us. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I had the chance to meet fellow Civil War blogger John Banks, whose excellent Civil War blog can be found here. I have followed John's work for awhile now (he focuses on Connecticut soldiers who were at Antietam, Gettysburg, and other Civil War topics), and it was nice to have the chance to meet him. Keep blogging away John!





Now, here are a few photographs from Connecticut Day at Antietam...






Outside of the Visitor Center, information tents were set up for visitors to learn more about Connecticut in the Civil War

The Connecticut State Flag was flown just below the American flag at the Visitor Center



This tent was for those with descendants who fought in Connecticut regiments to research their ancestors' contributions during the war.

Out on the battlefield, groups of visitors from Connecticut toured Antietam's hallowed ground, finding living history volunteers portraying various Confederate regiments. Above, volunteers portraying the 14th Connecticut stand near that regiment's monument along Bloody Lane, as a Connecticut tour group journeys back to the bus for another stop on the field.

Even the birds were excited about Connecticut day!

It was a beautiful day the park, before the rain came in anyways. All in all, a VERY successful state day.






3 comments:

  1. These pictures are beautiful.

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  2. Loved the photos. Was Co. I of the 11th CT at Antietam? I have an ancestor who might have been there. He was wounded at Cold Harbor.

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  3. To the best of my knowledge, the 11CT had all companies at Antietam. They were in the 9th corps and were one of the first regiments to move toward Burnside Bridge. You could always check the NPS soldiers and sailors system (the link is listed under favorite sites on the left side of the page). Another possible source is John Banks, who runs a blog about Connecticut soldiers. He write quite a bit about Antietam. His blog is listed on the blog roll on the left side as well. Hope this helps!

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