On the south end of the battlefield a handful of Confederates dug into the bluff that looks down on the bridge over Antietam Creek. The bridge was the objective of Ambrose Burnside’s entire Union 9th Corps. All morning attacks were hurled back with heavy casualties. Then two regiments stormed across and swept the badly outnumbered Confederates up the hill toward Sharpsburg and Lee’s almost undefended rear. But the time bought by the defense was enough – barely – for A.P. Hill’s Division to reach the field after an all-day forced march from Harper’s Ferry. They hit the 9th Corps with a furious counterattack that threw the Federals back to the the creek and saved Lee’s army.

Today you can park on the Confederate side of the creek and walk across the original bridge (traffic has been rerouted) to appreciate the position of both attackers and defenders. A thick cluster of monuments and markers commemorates one of the hot spots of the battle.

monuments
11th Connecticut Voluteer Infantry Regiment
2nd Maryland Volunteer Infantry Regiment
21st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment
35th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment
51st New York Volunteer Infantry
51st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
1st Ohio Battery
William McKinley

markers
11th Connecticut Infantry
9th Army Corps
Defending Burnside’s Bridge
Ferrerro’s Brigade
Nagle’s Brigade
Sturgis’ Brigade
Wilcox’s Division