Burnside's Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burnside's Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 39°27′02″N 77°43′55″W / 39.45056°N 77.73194°W |
| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Crosses | Antietam Creek |
| Locale | Sharpsburg, Maryland |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch |
| Material | Stone |
| History | |
| Opened | 1836 |
Burnside's Bridge is a famous landmark from the American Civil War. It is located on the Antietam National Battlefield near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in northwestern Maryland. This old stone bridge played a very important role in one of the bloodiest battles of the war.
Building the Bridge
In the early 1800s, leaders in Washington County wanted to make it easier to travel. They decided to build many new bridges. Burnside's Bridge was one of five bridges designed by a skilled builder named John Weaver.
The bridge was finished in 1836. Local farmers helped build it. It is 12 feet (about 3.6 meters) wide and 125 feet (about 38 meters) long. The bridge has three arches made from local stone. It helped farmers take their crops and animals to market in Sharpsburg. Building the bridge cost about $3,200 back then. Today, that would be like spending between $73,000 and $84,000.
The bridge has two other names. One is "Rohrbach's Bridge," named after a farmer who lived nearby. It is also called the "Lower Bridge." This is because there were other bridges, the "Upper Bridge" and "Middle Bridge," further up the creek. All these bridges helped people and goods cross the water.
The Battle of Antietam
Burnside's Bridge became famous during the Battle of Antietam in September 1862. This battle was a major event in the American Civil War.
About 500 Confederate soldiers from Georgia defended the bridge. Their leaders were General Robert Toombs and Henry Benning. For several hours, they stopped many attempts by the Union Army to cross. The Union soldiers were part of the IX Army Corps, led by Major General Ambrose Burnside. The bridge was later named after him.
The Union Army tried to cross the bridge many times.
- First, soldiers from Ohio tried, but they got lost. Then, the 11th Connecticut Infantry found the bridge. They fought the Georgians but had to retreat because of heavy losses.
- Next, another group of Union soldiers tried to rush the bridge. They were stopped by the Georgian sharpshooters before they could get halfway across. The 450 Georgians held off about 14,000 Union attackers!
Finally, two Union regiments, the 51st New York Volunteer Infantry and the 51st Pennsylvania Infantry, made a strong attack. They charged across the bridge and took control of it. However, this attack took several hours longer than the Union Army had planned.
A Historic Landmark
After the war, the United States government bought the bridge and the land around it. Cars and wagons are no longer allowed to cross the bridge. The old farm roads have grown over with grass.
Today, people can still walk across Burnside's Bridge at the Antietam National Battlefield. It is one of the most photographed bridges from the Civil War. It stands as a reminder of the important events that happened there.
Images for kids
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Confederate guns on the hill above poured fire into the Union ranks at Burnside's bridge. Photo taken just after the Battle of Antietam, 1862.
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Commemorative half dollar
