BOONSBORO, MD - For three days in September, South Mountain State
Battlefield in Washington County will present “In The Footsteps Of Soldiers”, a
series of tours and special programming to commemorate the 145th anniversary of
the Battle of South Mountain. Each tour focuses on a particular regiment or
brigade and guides visitors to positions occupied by troops on the battlefield.
The Battle of South Mountain was the first major battle of the Civil War to take
place in Maryland. Fought on September 14, 1862, it happened three days before
the more well-known Battle of Antietam fought on September 17, and resulted in
more than 6,000 casualties. The one-day battle became a pivotal point in the
Maryland Campaign, setting the stage for the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest
single day battle in American history.
"Without South Mountain, there would not have been a Battle of Antietam," said
Al Preston, Manager of the South Mountain State Battlefield. “South Mountain
State Battlefield was Maryland's first battlefield state park.”
Several events and tours are scheduled in conjunction with the nearby town of
Boonsboro’s “Boonsboro Days” celebration and the 145th anniversary re-enactment,
entitled “September Storm.”
"This is a big weekend for Washington County," said Hagerstown-Washington County
Convention and Visitors Bureau President Tom Riford. "The events happening in
Boonsboro and at South Mountain will attract over 10,000 people, and the number
of re-enactors alone total over 2,500 people. Our hats are off to the staff and
management of South Mountain Battlefield, who are helping bring the entire
historical perspective of the weekend together."
South Mountain State Battlefield Anniversary Programs
|
Saturday, September 8, 2007 |
|
9 a.m. |
Museum Opens, Cannon Demonstration at Reenactment Site |
|
10 a.m. |
Walking Tour to Monument at the Washington Monument State Park |
|
11 a.m. |
Battle Overview Talk at the Museum |
|
12 a.m. |
Civil War Medical Museum Presentation at the Museum |
|
1 p.m. |
Civil War Artillery Demonstration on the Field in Front of Museum |
|
1 p.m. |
“Death of a Brigade,” Afternoon Battle Tour of Fox’s Gap.
(Meet at the parking lot at Fox’s Gap.) |
|
2 p.m.
|
Battle Overview Talk at the Museum |
3 p.m.
|
Walking Tour to Monument at the Washington Monument State Park |
|
Sunday, September 9, 2007 |
| 10
a.m.
|
Walking Tour to Monument at the Washington Monument State Park |
| 11
a.m.
|
Civil
War Artillery Demonstration on the Field in Front of Museum |
| 12
a.m.
|
Battle Overview Talk at the Museum |
| 1 p.m.
|
Civil
War Artillery Demonstration at the Field in Front of Museum |
| 1 p.m.
|
"The
I Corps Attack on South Mountain" (Meet at Washington Monument State
Park
Upper Parking Lot) |
| 2 p.m.
|
Walking Tour to Monument at the Washington Monument State Park
|
|
Friday, September 14, 2007 |
| 7:00
p.m. |
“The
Battle Along The National Road" follows in the steps of John
Gibbons’ westerners ("The Iron Brigade") as they attack along the
National Road. Meet at the South Mountain Inn parking lot in
Turner's Gap along Alt. Rt. 40. |
Free trolley rides are offered by the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention
and Visitors Bureau from Shafer Park in Boonsboro to South Mountain at
Washington Monument State Park.
For additional information or directions, please call 301-432-8065
August 30, 2007
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and
living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and
17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic
and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and
cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the
Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov
