November 15, 2013

**Antietam Friday**

I love this picture for two reasons: one, it’s of Burnside’s Bridge, which is arguably the prettiest and most peaceful place on the Antietam battlefield, and two, there are some hidden monuments for me to identify :-) Said monuments can just barely be seen on the other side of the bridge, peeking up toward the camera. The first one is the 2^ND Maryland Infantry, which has a beautiful Maryland state seal as a crown. Next in line is the “drum monument” which belongs to the 51^ST Pennsylvania Infantry.

You can just see a hint of fence to the right of these monuments, and one of the most interesting details in the photo is the double-trunked tree to its left. This is Burnside Bridge’s “witness tree”, which began its existence in the 1840’s before the Civil War was even a concept.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. WILLIAM JOHN MARCH

Co. D, 13^TH Vermont Infantry

Born July 07, 1844, 1844 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 18

It’s always been quite impressive to me that men who were born in other nations, even those who settled on American soil and loved their adopted land, might selflessly give their lives for the country they had so recently entered. William March was one of these men. A native of Québec, he signed up under the 13^TH Vermont and made the march to Gettysburg, where he was mortally wounded while holding back the Southern tide at the High Water Mark. Sadly, though he asked that his watch and the remainder of his pay be sent home to his family, these items were stolen before it could be done. Pvt. March was later buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery. A photo can be found here.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray