History
Civil War
Shepherdstown found itself in the midst of some notorious Civil War clashes. In the wake of the Battle of Antietam, the town became one vast Confederate hospital, with public and private buildings in town serving as military infirmaries for the wounded. On September 20, 1862, the last significant battle of the Maryland Campaign occurred at Boteler’s Ford, about a mile down the Potomac River from Shepherdstown. Elmwood Cemetery, on the outskirts of town, has a Confederate section; most of those buried there were casualties of the 1862 Maryland Campaign. Henry Kyd Douglas, a staff officer of Stonewall Jackson’s, is among them.
Historic Shepherdstown has published a self-guided walking tour of Shepherdstown available as a PDF on their website: Walking Tour
Shepherdstown Historic District
www.CivilWar.org/civil-war-discovery-trail/
In the wake of the Battle of Antietam, the town became one vast Confederate hospital, with public and private buildings in town serving as military hospitals for the wounded. On September 20, 1862, the last significant battle of the Maryland campaign occurred at Boteler’s Ford, about a mile down the Potomac River from Shepherdstown. Elmwood Cemetery, on the outskirts of town, has a Confederate section; most of those buried there were casualties of the 1862 Maryland campaign. Historic Shepherdstown is listed on The Civil War Discovery Trail’s website which is a valuable resource as it includes profiles of all the sites on the trail and lists important visitor information as well as contact information.
Antietam National Battlefield
Sharpsburg, MD (5 miles)
www.nps.gov/anti/index.htm
Site of the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Union soil and the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. In all, nearly 23,000 men from both sides were killed, wounded, or missing in action here on September 17, 1862. Today, the battlefield is considered the best-preserved Civil War battlefield in the nation. It is also the most compact major Civil War battlefield, with almost all of its key areas in easy walking distance of each other. The one exception is the Burnside Bridge, which is about a mile south of the main battlefield. Battlefield is open from dawn until dusk every day. Park rangers conduct interpretive programs daily; special guided tours can also be arranged. There are a number of tours and resources available to visitors so visit their website. One impressive event is the Memorial Illumination with 23,000 Candles – one for each soldier killed, wounded or missing at the Battle of Antietam. This takes place in December. Battlefield Visitor’s Center and Museum features artifacts that tell the story of the immediate aftermath of the battle and the creation of the area into a memorial landscape.
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Harpers Ferry, WV (12 miles)
HistoricHarpersFerry.com/hff/
Harper’s Ferry is the site of abolitionist John Brown’s 1859 raid on the First Federal Arsenal. The now National Historic Park changed hands eight times during the war. It became the base of operations for Union invasions into the Shenandoah Valley and Stonewall Jackson achieved his most brilliant victory here in September 1862 when he captured 12,500 Union soldiers.
C&O Canal National Park
The C&O Canal National Park is rich in history. Access is easy from Shepherdstown, and some of the Canal’s most scenic and interesting features are within a short walking distance of the Rumsey Bridge access to the town.
-
Shepherdstown lock and site of old Bridgeport settlement.
-
Antietam Creek (Indian battles, Antietam Iron Furnace)
-
High cliffs and Killiansburg caves
-
Snyder’s Landing
-
Pack Horse Ford, where soldiers crossed the Potomac River fleeing the Battle of Antietam.
-
Ferry Hill plantation
MORE CIVIL WAR HISTORY
Battle of Shepherdstown
Shepherdstown, WV
www.BattleofShepherdstown.org
www.CivilWar.org/battlefields/shepherdstown.html
Although it is eclipsed by the battle of Antietam, this battle was significant for two reasons: it marked the end of the Confederates’ ill-fated Maryland campaign of 1862, and it remains the bloodiest battle ever fought on West Virginia soil.
Antietam National Cemetery
Sharpsburg, MD (5 miles)
www.NPS.gov/anti/historyculture/antietam-national-cemetery.htm
Dedicated on the fifth anniversary of the battle of Antietam, the cemetery encompasses 11.36 acres and contains the graves of 4,776 of the battle’s Union casualties (no Confederate soldiers were interred here). At its center stands a colossal granite statue of a Union infantryman, sculpted originally for the nation’s Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.
Battle of South Mountain sites
Boonsboro, MD (12 miles)
www.CivilWar.org/battlefields/south-mountain.html?tab=home
During the run-up to the battle of Antietam, northern and southern forces clashed at several sites on South Mountain just east of Boonsboro (Crampton’s Gap and Turner’s and Fox’s gaps). Not part of the National Park system, these sites are off the beaten track but well worth a visit.
Civil War Trust
Online resource
http://www.civilwar.org/
Youtube channel: www.YouTube.com/user/CWPTbattlefields
Saving America’s Civil War Battlefields – find battle maps, animations, history articles, photos and more on all major battles in the area, including Shepherdstown, Harpers Ferry and Antietam.
Jefferson County Courthouse
Charles Town, WV (13 miles)
Famous courthouse where John Brown was tried for treason in 1859. Nearby, on S. Mildred St., is the Gibson Todd House, which is the site of John Brown’s execution.
Jefferson County Museum
Charles Town, WV (13 miles)
www.JeffCtyWVMuseum.org
Houses an important collection of Civil War and John Brown artifacts.
Newcomer House
Sharpsburg, MD (5 miles)
www.newcomerhouse.org
A cooperative project of the National Park Service and the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, this facility is housed in an old 1780 farmhouse and serves as the exhibit and visitor center for the State of Maryland’s Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. Brochures, Civil War Trails map guides, county visitor guides and other materials are available. Staff can help visitors tailor their plans for exploring Civil War sites in Maryland’s Carroll, Frederick, and Washington counties.
Pry House Field Hospital Museum
Keedysville, MD (6 miles)
www.CivilWarMed.org/pry-house-field-hospital-museum/
This new museum is located in the historic Pry House which served as Union Commander General George B. McClellan’s headquarters during the battle. The grounds around the house offer many sights: the Pry Barn, an overlook of the battlefield, and a 19th century style medicinal and kitchen garden. Exhibits include a re-creation of an operating theater, interpretive panels and objects relating to the care of wounded and the effects on the civilian population in the area, and information on the Pry House. Take the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln who visited the house two weeks after the battle.
West Virginia Civil War Site
Online Resource
www.WVTourism.com/minisites/civilwar.aspx
A state born…from a nation torn. Find information about the Civil War in West Virginia history, including how the state was created due to the War. Areas of the website focus on actions and history about the Civil War in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, the region that includes Shepherdstown.