Delaware Monuments at Antietam
The monument to the 1st Delaware Infantry Regiment is located on the north side of Richardson Avenue. (Sharpsburg Pike tour map) It was dedicated on May 26, 1962. The 1st Delaware Infantry is also honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
The regiment suffered heavily in its first battle. In three hours of fighting, Colonel John W. Andrews, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Hopkinson, and all but two company commanders became casualties, along with almost one third of the men. Second Lieutenant Charles B. Tanner was awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing the regimental colors, which had fallen within twenty yards of Confederate lines at the Sunken Road, in spite of being wounded three times during the attempt.
Text from the monument:
DELAWARE
1st Delaware Volunteers
Colonel John W. Andrews
3rd Brigade 3rd Division II Corps
On the morning of September 17, 1862
this regiment crossed Antietam Creek
forming right of first line of French’s
Division. Advanced with heavy skirmishing
through Roulette Farm and became fiercely
engaged immediately, in front of Sunken
Road. Withdrew to stronger position 100
yards north of here.
8 of 10 Company Commanders and entire
color-guard killed or wounded.
|
Losses |
Officers |
Men |
|
Killed |
3 |
26 |
|
Wounded |
10 |
172 |
|
Missing |
2 |
|
|
Total 230 of 708 engaged |
||
Erected by the
Delaware Civil War Centennial Commission
May 26, 1964
Location of the monument
The monument to the 1st Delaware Infantry is north of Sharpsburg on the north side of Richardson Avenue (the Sunken Road, or Bloody Lane) about 0.2 mile east of Sharpsburg Pike (Maryland Route 65) where Richardson Avenue angles away from the Sunken Road. (39°28’16.9″N 77°44’29.6″W)