Tag: Following in the Footsteps

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Hood’s Mississippians: A Confederate Counterattack Into The Cornfield – Bill Sagle

During General John Bell Hood’s counterattack in the Cornfield, two regiments from Mississippi briefly breached the Union line and scattered several regiments at and beyond the north fence. General George Meade was concerned enough to call it “one of the most critical moments of the morning.” In this tactical analysis of Hood’s counterstrike, we will discuss the Confederate initiative to gain momentum in the morning fight and shed a bit of well-deserved spotlight on the often overlooked Mississippians. Be sure to join us for our final “Following in the Footsteps” program for the year on November 7, as Institute historian Bill Sagle follows Hood’s Mississippians into the Cornfield.

William Sagle has been a familiar face and personality at Antietam National Battlefield since he began volunteering here in 1981. He participated in numerous activities, from soldier portrayals, rifle firing demonstrations, interpretative talks, natural resources restoration, and assorted other projects. Bill became a serious student of the battle in the 1980s, focused particularly on army organization and linear tactics to better comprehend the nature of the brigade-on-brigade fighting that occurred at Antietam and in the war at large. In addition to activities at Antietam, Bill participated in various programs at Gettysburg National Military Park and Richmond National Battlefield Park. In March 2006, he joined the newly organized Antietam Battlefield Guides and was a full-time guide for eleven years, conducting over 800 tours for groups ranging from middle schoolers to military leaders and many individuals with a desire to learn the basics or complexities of the battle. In 2016, Bill was presented with the O.T. Reilly Award, which recognizes dedication and competence. Although he has taken a step back from activities at the battlefield, Bill retains a keen interest and perspective on selected individuals and units of Antietam.

This two-hour hike covers approximately 1 ½ miles, across moderate terrain and park trails. All excursions will run from 9:30 to 11:30 am and start at the Visitor Center overflow parking area. The “Following in the Footsteps” hikes are for current members only, and advance registration is required (login before registering), but there is no fee to attend. Members are required to purchase the park entrance pass at the Visitor Center.

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The 23rd Ohio and Ewing’s Brigade in the Final Attack – Steve Stotelmyer

Largely overshadowed by the exploits of Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes at South Mountain and Commissary Sergeant William McKinley’s coffee break at the Lower Bridge, the 23rd Ohio’s action in the Final Attack at Antietam largely remains unnoticed in the popular histories of the battle. But the 23rd Ohio, along with the 12th and 30th Ohio Regiments in Colonel Hugh Ewing’s Brigade, was instrumental in blunting the unexpected attack of Confederate General A.P. Hill’s troops. The action of the Ohioans prevented the collapse and rout of Burnside’s left flank. Join us on September 5, as Institute historian and author, Steve Stotelmyer, explores this crucial aspect of the Final Attack as we follow in the footsteps of the 23rd Ohio and Ewing’s Brigade.

Steve Stotelmyer

Steven R. Stotelmyer is a native of Hagerstown, Maryland. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Frostburg State College and a Master of Arts from Hood College in Frederick, MD. Stotelmyer was a founding member of the Central Maryland Heritage League in 1989 which helped preserve some of the South Mountain Battlefield. He is also the author of The Bivouacs of the Dead: The Story of Those Who Died at Antietam and South Mountain (Toomey Press, 1992), and Too Useful To Sacrifice, Reconsidering George B. McClellan’s Generalship in the Maryland Campaign from South Mountain to Antietam. (Savas Beatie, 2019). Steve is a National Park Service Volunteer as well as a Certified Antietam Battlefield and South Mountain Battlefield Tour Guide.

This two-hour hike covers approximately 1 ½ miles, across moderate terrain and park trails. All excursions will run from 9:30 to 11:30 am and start at the Visitor Center overflow parking area. The “Following in the Footsteps” hikes are for current members only, and advance registration is required (login before registering), but there is no fee to attend. Members are required to purchase the park entrance pass at the Visitor Center.

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They Answered the Call: the 130th Pennsylvania – Jason Campbell

Using their own words from letters and diaries, Institute historian Jason Campbell will follow in the footsteps of the 130th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on August 1. In the summer of 1862, Pennsylvania volunteers were recruited primarily from Cumberland and York Counties to fill the quota of a new, nine-month regiment. Within a month, the 130th Pennsylvania would “see the elephant” at the Battle of Antietam, charging toward the Sunken Road and suffering heavy losses – 32 killed and 146 wounded. Following the battle, the regiment would assist in burying the Confederate dead that remained in Bloody Lane. Their experience at Antietam would stay with them the rest of their lives and their courage at Antietam earned them a prominent monument on the battlefield to remind everyone, “They Answered the Call”.


Jason Campbell is a lifelong resident of Hagerstown, Maryland, and graduated from Hagerstown Community College and Hood College. Jason worked in retail for 16 years, ten of those years being with Target. Jason is a life-long Civil War enthusiast and began volunteering at Antietam National Battlefield in 2010. In 2012, Jason became a licensed battlefield guide at Antietam, where he gives tours ranging from families to tour groups to the diehard enthusiast. Jason’s experience on the battle of Antietam led to his becoming a seasonal ranger with the National Park Service at Antietam. Jason continues to work for the National Park Service as a park ranger on the National Mall and Memorial Park in Washington, D.C. Jason is a contributing author to the Antietam Institute’s Brigades of Antietam and Commanders of Antietam.

This two-hour hike covers approximately 1 ½ miles, across moderate terrain and park trails. All excursions will run from 9:30 to 11:30 am and start at the Visitor Center overflow parking area. The “Following in the Footsteps” hikes are for current members only, and advance registration is required (login before registering), but there is no fee to attend. Members are required to purchase the park entrance pass at the Visitor Center.

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Paul Semmes, Willis Gorman, and a Farmstead Too Far – Jim Buchanan

Of all the Confederate brigades thrown at Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick’s Union Division in the West Woods, none fought so hard, advanced so far, and paid a steeper price than that led by Brig. Gen. Paul Semmes. Unlike other McLaw’s Division brigades, Semmes was the only one to squarely face the front of Union commander Willis Gorman’s brigade. After the initial assault, aided by artillery on the high ground on their left, and joined by two cavalry outfits, Semmes Virginians and Georgians clashed with thrown-together Union regiments all the way to the D.R. Miller farmstead. With casualties mounting, Semmes looked back, hoping for support from Confederate infantry, but none arrived. Abandoned and stranded at the Miller farmstead, the brigade eventually withdrew to the safety of the West Woods, save for Semmes and a stalwart band who held out at the Miller barn for another hour before leaving. On July 4, Institute historian Jim Buchanan will lead the hike following the footsteps of Semmes’ brigade from the Hauser farmstead as they first run into Gorman’s Union brigade at the Alfred Poffenberger farmstead. We will then proceed northward and eventually end at the D.R. Miller farmstead. In addition to the battle narrative, we will learn about the three farmsteads that cover the route—Hauser, A. Poffenberger, and Miller.


A fourth generation native of Washington, D.C., Jim graduated from the city’s public schools. He returned there to teach social studies before signing on to work on a Supreme Court history project. After 11 years there, he developed a law-related education curriculum for high school teachers. Then in 1992, he joined the Federal Judicial Center, where he worked until retirement in 2017. Currently, he is a 20-year volunteer at Antietam Battlefield National Park. He is also a certified guide there. He contributed essays for the Antietam Institute’s Brigades of Antietam and Commanders of Antietam, including an essay on Paul Semmes’ Brigade, and maintains a blog titled Walking the West Woods.

This two-hour hike covers approximately 1 ½ miles, across moderate terrain and park trails. All excursions will run from 9:30 to 11:30 am and start at the Visitor Center overflow parking area. The “Following in the Footsteps” hikes are for current members only, and advance registration is required (login before registering), but there is no fee to attend. Members are required to purchase the park entrance pass at the Visitor Center.

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“Nothing to the right!”: The plight of the 13th New Jersey – Marty Pritchett

The 13th New Jersey Infantry saw its “baptism of fire” at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, arriving only days after mustering in, and suffered heavy casualties, including the death of Captain Hugh C. Irish. Becoming one of the bloodiest engagements for the unit, the 13th New Jersey would place three monuments at Antietam marking its positions near the Cornfield and Dunker Church, as documented by Colonel Ezra A. Carman. Join us on June 6, as Institute historian Marty Pritchett follows the footsteps of the 13th New Jersey Volunteers and shares the stories.

Martin Pritchett was born in southern Kansas and is a member of the Oklahoma Shawnee tribe. He grew up in a military family that took him from the Midwest to Europe. He is a veteran of 23 years in the United States Coast Guard and Texas General Land Office, specializing in coastal search and rescue, environmental protection response, and maritime port safety. After seven years as an Antietam Battlefield Ambassador, Martin became a Certified Antietam Battlefield Guide.

This two-hour hike covers approximately 1 ½ miles, across moderate terrain and park trails. All excursions will run from 9:30 to 11:30 am and start at the Visitor Center overflow parking area. The “Following in the Footsteps” hikes are for current members only, and advance registration is required (login before registering), but there is no fee to attend. Members are required to purchase the park entrance pass at the Visitor Center.

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“One of Abraham Lincoln’s 300,000: The 125th Pennsylvania Infantry” – D. Scott Kenepp

Learn about the recruitment and muster of the 125th Pennsylvania. See how this newly organized unit behaved in battle for the first time. How did the mortal wounding of XII Corps commander Joseph Mansfield change the trajectory of the 125th Pennsylvania? Follow the track of the regiment across the field as it engages the enemy. Experience some of the stories of the participants and explore the memorialization and dedication efforts of the unit’s monument on September 17, 1904. On May 2, Institute historian Scott Kenepp will follow in the footsteps of “One of Abraham Lincoln’s 300,000: The 125th Pennsylvania Infantry.”

D. Scott Kenepp retired with 37 years of government service from the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community performing Geospatial Intelligence Production, Analytic Tradecraft, and Strategic Resource Management. He developed and executed multiple analytic staff rides supporting two federal agencies with Intelligence Analysis. Scott earned a Geography degree from Penn State University and a Masters in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University. He is a Volunteer and Licensed Battlefield Guide at Antietam National Battlefield Park.

This two-hour hike covers approximately 1 ½ miles, across moderate terrain and park trails. All excursions will run from 9:30 to 11:30 am and start at the Visitor Center overflow parking area. The “Following in the Footsteps” hikes are for current members only, and advance registration is required (login before registering), but there is no fee to attend. Members are required to purchase the park entrance pass at the Visitor Center.

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Picture and Poetry at the Bloody Lane: 61st/64th New York Infantry – Jim Smith

“It was a picture—it was poetry.” So observed an Irish Brigade lieutenant who witnessed the advance of the 61st and 64th New York against the Bloody Lane on September 17, 1862. The combined regiments fought up and down the lane under the command of two Civil War luminaries—Harvard valedictorian Francis Channing Barlow and future lieutenant general Nelson Appleton Miles. Flanking the enemy out of the lane, repulsing counterattacks on the Federal right, and pushing into the Confederate center, the pair of Massachusetts colonels and their New Yorkers had a heroic day at Antietam. On April 4, Institute historian Jim Smith will lead this excursion following the action of the 61/64 NY from the Roulette farm to the lane and into the Piper cornfield, paying tribute to their part in ending the Confederate invasion of Maryland.

A native of Miami, Florida, and lifelong student of the Civil War, J.O. Smith began volunteering at Antietam in 2017 and became a certified battlefield guide in 2018. He currently serves as Vice President and a member of the Antietam Institute’s board. Jim is a co-author of Armies of Antietam, contributed chapters to Brigades of Antietam and Commanders of Antietam, and has written for the Antietam Journal. He has an MA in history from the University of Georgia and undergraduate and law degrees from Duke University. A lawyer for more than 25 years in the Washington, DC area, Jim and his family live in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

This two-hour hike covers approximately 1 ½ miles, across moderate terrain and park trails. All excursions will run from 9:30 to 11:30 am and start at the Visitor Center overflow parking area. The “Following in the Footsteps” hikes are for current members only, and advance registration is required (login before registering), but there is no fee to attend. Members are required to purchase the park entrance pass at the Visitor Center.

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“They are flanking us! See, yonder’s a whole brigade!” – Garland’s (McRae’s) Brigade – Joe Stahl

Col. Duncan McRae

On September 14, 1862, the Army of Northern Virginia lost one of its rising stars at Fox’s Gap with the death of General Samuel Garland, Jr.. Garland’s brigade was now commanded by Colonel Duncan Kirkland McRae, formerly head of the 5th North Carolina. Three days later, at Antietam, McRae’s 752 demoralized Tarheels would be called on to support Alfred Colquitt’s Brigade at Antietam on the morning of September 17. As the brigade advanced toward the East Woods and a large Union force, Captain T.P. Thompson, the 5th North Carolina’s new regimental commander, called out “They are flanking us! See, yonder’s a whole brigade!” That was all it took for the men to break and run. On March 7, join us for our first “Following in the Footsteps” excursion and hear the full story of McRae’s Brigade at Antietam with Institute historian Joe Stahl.

Joseph W. Stahl grew up in St. Louis and received BS, MS, and MBA degrees from Missouri University of Science and Technology and Washington University. After retiring from the Institute for Defense Analyses, he became a volunteer and NPS Licensed Battlefield Guide at Antietam and Harpers Ferry. Joe has authored more than two dozen articles and is co-author of several books, including: Identification Discs of Union Soldiers in the Civil War, Faces of Union Soldiers at Antietam, Faces of Union Soldiers at South Mountain and Harpers Ferry and the Faces of Union Soldiers at Fredericksburg.

This two-hour hike covers approximately 1 ½ miles, across moderate terrain and park roads. All excursions will run from 9:30 to 11:30 am and start at the Visitor Center overflow parking area. The “Following in the Footsteps” hikes are for current members only, and advance registration is required (login before registering), but there is no fee to attend. Members are required to purchase the park entrance pass at the Visitor Center.

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