Monocacy Battlefield

I arrived at the Monocacy Battlefield not knowing what to expect.  I had never read about this battle so was very interested in what was here.  The Ranger inside was very helpful and talked about the acquisition of land and the coming new Visitor Center to be built across the highway.  As I left the Visitor Center to make the walk back behind it I noticed two gentlemen getting out of a car out front.  Thinking nothing more at the time I made the walk down the trail to the river where the railroad bridge is located.  As I walked back up the trail I met the two gentlemen and said "Hi" to them as I walked past.  It just seemed like I should know those two guys.  I returned to my car and made the short drive down to the newly acquired battlefield land and walked a little ways again.  As I returned to my car these same two gentlemen appeared again and I just knew that they were members of the ACWGC.  We looked at each other and smiled as Mark spoke and introduced himself.  Lo and behold I had linked up with Mark Zapp and Dave McGown.  We left the battlefield and went over to the Antietam Battlefield for a while and then to eat supper with Dave's parents at a wonderful little restaurant overlooking Harpers Ferry. 

Current railroad bridge:

Highway bridge where covered bridge once stood:

Area around the Thomas Farm (newly acquired land):

Antietam Battlefield

Mark Zapp at the Georgia monument:

Me beside the Texas monument:

Dave McGown next to Texas monument:

Lots of places for artillery:

A very familiar looking bridge - "Burnside's Bridge":

Artillery and markers on Union side of river:

Mark and Dave enjoy one of the park benches as I take the "classic view" of the bridge:

I took this picture of a man climbing the hill so you could get a perspective of what the Union forces faced:

ACWGC gathering at the sunken road - Mark, Dave, and I (Rebs) on this side of the fence and Larry "Notso" Quick and Doug Burke (Yanks) on the other side. Photo taken by Larry's son, John.

Visitor Center preparing for concert that night, July 3rd, featuring the Maryland Symphony:

Telephoto view reveals the field of flags, one for each victim of 9/11:

Larry with "Standard Issue" Yank uniform attachment:

John with the "Sunken Road" behind him:

Pictures from top of observation tower on Sunken Road.  I took picture of marker on wall and then the next picture is that direction:

Telephoto view of Bloody Cornfield (over the barn):

Walking the road:

Looking from road toward Union approach to this area:

You could understand why they called it "Artillery Hell" with all of the excellent locations for artillery positions:

Looking back at observation tower:

South Mountain Battlefields

Inside Visitor Center:

Spencer Repeating Carbine:

View of South Mountain gaps from Middletown: