The Boonsboro Pike crossed Antietam Creek on a stone bridge similar to the Burnside Bridge and led into Sharpsburg, connecting the centers of both opposing armies. McClellan launched attacks in the morning on the north side of the line  and in the afternoon Burnside’s 9th Corps managed to advance to the edge of Sharpsburg south of the Pike. Lee had been forced to transfer troops from his center to both areas.

The Union 5th Corps, a major part of which consisted of disciplined and dependable United States Regulars, was in reserve in the Union center, poised to move against Lee’s weakened line. The Regulars skirmished along the Boonesboro Pike, moving up from the crossing of Antietam Creek, but McClellan never launched the killing blow. Convinced he was vastly outnumbered, he held the 5th Corps back out of heavy fighting, saving it for a Confederate counterattack that never came.

Today Boonesboro Pike is lined with markers for not only the United States Regulars who skirmished in this area, but for other units of Regular cavalry and artillery that served on other parts of the battlefield. There is a pleasant picnic area on the south side of the Pike.

Click on the map or select from the menu below to see the page for any monument or marker:

monuments
3rd Indiana Cavalry
James H. Childs
Robert E. Lee

markers
United States Regulars
4th United States Infantry
4th United States Infantry
4th United States Infantry
12th United States Infantry
14th United States Infantry, 1st battalion
14th United States Infantry, 2nd Battalion
Cavalry Division
1st Brigade, Cavalry Division
2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division
3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division
Horse Batteries and Reserve Artillery
1st United States Artillery, Battery E
2nd United States Artillery, Battery A
2nd United States Artillery, Batteries B&L
2nd United States Artillery, Battery M
3rd United States Artillery, Batteries C&G
5th United States Artillery, Battery K

places
The Newcomer Farm