February 14, 2014

 **Antietam Friday**

 
One of the things I love best about Civil War battlefields is the presence of historic homes and barns. Today I’m focusing on Antietam’s Mumma farm. Unfortunately, this isn’t the original farm --- it was destroyed during the battle --- but it’s been lovingly recreated. In the second photo, the Mumma barn and some artillery can be seen. (Note the presence of the portable potties). There’s a nice wood-and-stone fence at right as well. This is a very cozy scene that definitely brings me fond feelings of 19^TH century farm life.

**HONORED TODAY**

COL. FRANCIS MAHLER

75^TH Pennsylvania Infantry

Born August 01, 1826 --- Died July 04, 1863 at age 36

Col. Mahler began his life in Baden, Germany, and he led a very interesting existence before coming to America. In the 1840s when Germany was in an uproar, he was to be put to death, but somehow he managed to flee. He then took up residence in Philadelphia. After joining the army, Col. Mahler took a bullet at 2^ND Bull Run, much to the horror of wife Jennie (also listed as Johanna) and daughter Cora, who was six at the time. Cora would lose her father less than a year later at Gettysburg. Col. Mahler was killed at Oak Hill and later buried at Philadelphia’s Mount Peace Cemetery.


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