Monuments to Individuals at Antietam
The monument to William McKinley at Antietam is south of the Burnside Bridge parking area. (Burnside Bridge tour map) It was dedicated on October 13, 1903, two years after his assassination.
Monument to William McKinley at Antietam
McKinley in the Civil War
William McKinley was just 18 when the war broke out in 1861 and he joined the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment as a private. The regiment served in western Virginia as part of the Kanawha Division. McKinley was assigned to the commissary department, and in April of 1862 was promoted to commissary sergeant. The regiment went east to join the Army of the Potomac just before the Battle of South Mountain. In recognition of his work at Antietam he was promoted to lieutenant. He would eventually be promoted to brevet major by the end of the war.
Text from the monument
WILLIAM McKINLEY
January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901
Fourteen Years Member of Congress
Twice Governor of Ohio 1892-3 and 1894-5
Twice President of United States 1897 – 1900 – 1901
Sergeant McKinley Co. E. 23rd Ohio Vol. Infantry, while in charge of the Commissary Department, on the afternoon of the day of the battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, personally and without orders served “hot coffee” and “warm food” to every man in the Regiment, on this spot and in doing so had to pass under fire.
The bas relief shows Sgt. William McKinley (standing, under the first “L” in William) Serving Coffee to his Regiment
Location of the monument
The monument is south of the Burnside Bridge parking area. (a39°26’57.3″N 77°43’58.6″W)