Spring is Here! The Antietam Spring Hike Schedule

I got an email from my friend Ron Dickey with a link to the spring hike schedule at Antietam National Battlefield. This eagerly awaited series of hikes is a sure sign that spring is here. It is an annual rite of the new season practiced by quite a few hard core battlefield trompers. Join us this spring on these hikes led by the terrific ranger staff at the battlefield. There are a couple of new topics here which some of us regular hikers will appreciate. See you on the field. Here is the link.

March

Sunday, 20th, Battlefield Hike-Irish Brigade at Antietam-This hike will begin at 1:15 p.m. at the Newcomer House on MD Rt. 34, which is approximately one mile east of the town of Sharpsburg. The length of the hike is two miles and it will last about two hours. General Meagher (at left) led the Brigade that day.

April

Saturday, 9th, Battlefield Hike

-Burnside Bridge-This battlefield hike begins at Tour Stop 9, Burnside Bridge, at 1:15 p.m. and will explore the Confederate defense of and the Federal attacks upon the Burnside Bridge. The hike is approximately two miles in

length and will last about two hours. Colonel Edward Ferraro's brigade (at left) carried the bridge after a series of bloody attacks.

Sunday, 10th, Battlefield Hike-Fort Sumter to Antietam-This battlefield hike begins at 1:15 p.m. near the visitor center. We will discuss the participants that were present for the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter and then the role they played at Antietam. This hike will last approximately two hours and is about two miles in length. That's David R. Jones to the left, a South Carolina officer who was present at Fort Sumter and commanded a division at Antietam .

Saturday, 16th,

Battlefield Hike-Final Attack-This battlefield hike begins at Tour Stop 9, Burnside Bridge, at 1:15 p.m. and will explore the Federal attack on the Confederate right flank. The hike is approximately two miles in length and will last about two hours. Maxey Gregg, also from South Carolina commanded the lead brigade of A.P. Hill's Light Division that struck the exposed Union flank .

Sunday, 17th, Battlefield Hike-The Stonewall Brigade at Sharpsburg-This battlefield hike begins at 1:15 p.m. near the visitor center. We will discuss the history of the Stonewall Brigade as well as look at the participants involved in the secession of Virginia and their role at Sharpsburg. This hike will last approximately two hours and is about two miles in length.