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Most Civil War activity in MD was west of D.C.
This year was the first I noticed there is a cannon sitting near the finish line jump. I assume that is civil war related.
Antietam was a different track, on the northwest side of Washington DC, the complete opposite direction from Budds Creek. It was the site of the worst single day of bloodshed in American history, as someone mentioned above. There is a cool, off-battlefield graveyard there near Fredericksburg that has about 4,000 Union soldiers and maybe 500 Confederates, very sad and lonely place to visit if have time...
Johnathan is practically a scholar of the Civil War and could tell you much more. I am just a lifelong history buff and grew up driving to both tracks.
DC
Racer X
I recall the track owner came off as an ass because he said something about the civil war being a long time ago and that it was time to move on, or something to that affect.
I believe your parents were school teachers before becoming race promoters. Were you home enough to attend public/private school?
But as DC said, the fighting took place to the west of Mechanicsville, MD. Not like the 301 bridge was there then.
Budds Creek was probably closer to the War of 1812 as the British traveled up the Potomac to DC.
Pit Row
And I was never homeschooled -- that barely existed back then and my folks would have ever had it. All three of us graduated from high school and college, and I know that was real important to my parents.
GregDVT, I didn't know you could still get on Antietam, I may go by the way to Budds this summer!
DC
Racer X
I knew that! And if I am not mistaken, by general rule of thumb, the winning side usually got to name the battle in the history books after the Civil War, and the North named their battles for the nearest natural landmark or river or body of water, and the South named them for the nearest town.... But Antietam Raceway was definitely not on the battlefield, regardless of whether you think of it as the Battle of Antietam or the Battle of Sharpsburg (and that's where that cemetery is).
I practically grew up on the Mason-Dixon Line, which separates North & South, so there is Civil War stuff everywhere around West Virginia (we started on the South's side, switched to North in 1863, still not sure which side most felt they were truly on) but I honestly studied and still read more about the World Wars in Europe. It's a Hemingway thing, I guess!
DC
Racer X
Due to the South being more agrarian, and the North being more industrial / urban - at least by those times standards. I think that's what I saw Shelby Foote say in that wonderful Burns Brothers Civil War series. Among so many great interviews with him and others in the series, I remember him comparing the marching efforts of the troops on both sides, then them having to go into battle, as being near super human - as he'd been a Marine(?) and knew just how shattered he'd be from a forced march.
Another thing that has stuck with me is how Wilmer McLean had one of the first major battles on his property - 1st Bull Run / 1st Manassas - , he left there to get away from the conflict, to then have the surrender at his Appomattox (Courthouse?) residence. Couldn't get away from things, it seems.
I've read many books about the American Civil War, and got to a few of the Battle Fields over the years whilst in the US - I find it fascinating, and terribly sad at the same time. Civil Wars tend to be the most vicious of conflicts.
https://www.nps.gov/abpp/battles/MDmap.htm
Antietam is probably one of the best one day battlefields to visit. It is National Park and open year round.
https://www.nps.gov/anti/index.htm
Yes bloodiest 1 day battle.
In the cornfield alone almost 80,000 troops were engaged with almost 9,000 casualties in a few hours.
Gettysburg is likely the best battlefield to visit but plan on spending a day and a half there if not 2 due to size.
Antietam is in a small area, can be seen in 1 day.
Antietam is incredibly well preserved the way it looked on the day of the battle. Since it was widely photographed there are many places where the park service has placed photos at locations at the exact location and looking in the same direction as where the battle took place.
For instance you can stand on a artillery position that fired at the Dunker church which is still standing and this picture looks exactly as it did just after the battle.
https://wpclipart.com/American_History/civil_war/Antietam/Antietam_bodi…
Semper Fi
North: Bull Run (creek)
South: Manassas
North: Antietam (creek)
South: Sharpsburg
North: Pittsburg Landing (place on the river)
South: Shiloh (church)
North: Stones River
South: Murfreesboro
North: Beaver Dam Creek
South: Mechanicsville
North: Chickahominy River
South: Gaines' Mill
I've read a lot about the American Civil War. Mind boggling battles, and huge losses. I've been meaning to re-read the Historical Novels : Killer Angels, Gods and Generals and The Last Full measure, by Michael and then, his son, Jeff Shaara. Jeff Shaara has written a fair few more Historical Novels on various aspects of the Civil War, that I'd like to get to. And, I want to re-read Footes' 3 volume history of the War - The Civil War - A Narrative .
On the Australian side, over the years I've been wading my way through Charles Beans' Official Australian History of WW1. Quite a slog, 12 dense, thick volumes, as it's very 'historical', and infinitely detailed. They are strict Histories, with no aspect of Novelization. The man traveled with our troops on so many fronts, then spent decades researching, and also gathering War artifacts to establish the Australian War memorial, and for many, many townships Memorials.
Post a reply to: Budds Creek and the Civil War.