Evening star., 1912-09-15

Law 50a Anniversary of Bloodet Single Days Fighting of Civil Wan


><:><:%tS><:>
<A<A<A<@<H<H<%<&
York selected a site near the bridge for
its regimental monument.
Included in the Antietam environment.
but several miles away on the top or
South mountain. is the monument to Maj.
Gen. Reno. and the Unique war corre-
spondents' arch erected through the efforts
of George Alfred Townsend to brother
scribes who have told OF battles and cam
paigns from the time Of Xenophone to the
civil war
The best plan Tor making tour of the
battlefield is to drive out from Sharps-
burg or Hagerstown on the Hagerstown
pike to where the battle began at the
north end of the field, the junction of the
pike with Mansfield avenue and begin
observations there. 1t is possible to make
an itinerary by government roads ana
first-class pixies. a century old, that Will
not only take in every point of interest
but will take them in In a sequence. cor
responding to the chronological order in
which they became historic.
1t was with Capt. Charles w. Adams.
superintendent of the battlefield from
the time 1t was surveyed and marked
until his murder a few months ago by
a drink-crazed job hunter, that the writer
had the pleasure of Seeing Antietam." ="
Capt. Adams was a man with acquaint-
ances throughout the country, having
served a score of years as dOorkeeper OF
the National House of Representatives.
and he knew not only every man in his
election district. as a party leader, but
almost every stick and stone on gov
ernment property In his care. A fence
post could not remain out OF plumb for
more than d day without his notice.
Driving on past monument Enclosures,
to be visited later. gave opportunity to
enjoy the beauty of the landscape. pas
tOral vista that never becomes mOnoto-
nous. even though seen a thousand times.
The South mountains part of the Blue
mountain range is in plain view. edging
the horizon with a border of dark blue.
harmonizing with the azure of the sky. a
combination of soft, exquisite coloring
that is at once the delight and despair of
painters.
The undulating floor of the valley
stretches out as though carpeted with
rich and variegated rugs from Persian
looms. Meadows ripe with corn," ver-
dure-clad fields bits Of woodland, winding
roads, old-fashioned farmhouses and big
bank barns bulging with grain compose
a scene which has been called "A Foot
hills Eden.'' and surely no more appro-
pirate name could be bestowed. Whittier
has out suggested us cndrmS IN MS MEL
low cadences. Holmes. searching up and
down the valley for his son wounded at
Antietam, wrote, as II inspired, the story
of that pilgrimage. Feeble. however.
either pen or brush to give an adequate
idea of the picture! 1t is one of the mas
terpieces Of nature in her gentlest mood.
Its tone is placid, soothing, dreamy. 1t
enthralls like some celestial vision.
What a contrast had such drive been
taken September II, 1852!
1t is less than three miles from Sharps-
burg. however, to Mansfield avenue.
Along that avenue are several Of the monu-
ments. including that in memory Of
six general officers killed; Mansfield, Rich
Anderson and Stark, Confederate. The
government has marked the spots where
these men had died with inverted can
non buried on granite blocks. Mansfield S
corps, coming to the aid of Hooker's. 8.
made the fighting general along the Con-
federate right. Mansfield avenue runs
eastwardly from the pike, then makes a
bend south, finally merging into Corn
field avenue running due east and west.
and along the fifty-acre field planted in
corn in 1862, where the fighting was at
close quarters and victory seemed to CO.
uuet with her rival suitors. 1t Is an ave-
nue. eighty feet wide. fine specimen OF
government road building. and along 1t
are several of the Pennsylvania monu-
ments.
Many are the anecdotes connected with