Our first speaker tonight keith snyder. He has worked for the National Park service for 33 years it four National Parks. Harpers ferry National Historic park, the National Mall in memorial parks, monastics national battlefield, and anti to no battlefield where he currently holds the position of visitor services. Keith received his undergraduate degree in 1984 and Park Administration with the concentration in American History from shepard university. His masters degree in strategic studies was earned the United StatesArmy War College in 2003. He has also served in the air force and Air National Guard for 40 years, and recently retired as a colonel with 167th their left wing. He lives in martins bird, West Virginia with his wife cindy. Please welcome our first speaker as he talks about the battle of antietam from the perspective of the soldiers who experienced it firsthand. applause thank, you kevin. It is great to be with you. I certainly had a very enjoyable drive down here. This is some beautiful country. What i will do this evening may talk about perspective. What i will share with you are two perspectives on the battle of antietam. Since im the opening speaker for three days of antietam information, kevin and i spoke that it would be good to have a general overview of the maryland campaign. I will do a broad brush stroke and you that just so i have some perspective on when i share with you the words of those who were there. None of us were, and for me, one of the great things about having the honor and privilege of working in the field of antietam for the last 20 years, besides being able to walk the grounds almost every day, one of the things that happens there a lot as people walk in the door. Maybe some of you have done this. People walk in and, say my great grandfather was that antietam. The first thing we do is ask what unit and we have a lot of resources. The next thing we do is ask, do you have any letters, photographs, or diaries. In many cases, they do. Let me go out to the car. Over 25 years, i have collected a lot of those. Its an opportunity i have to share that with you. Thats the other perspective we will have. Individual soldiers. I will share a lot of that with you. Thats the bulk of the program. But i must give perspective by putting it within the campaign. I think these words of the men that were here make the battle personal. The one thing im absolutely convinced of i. Will share with you a couple of the insights i have gained after 25 years. One of them was that antietam was very personal. Savage beyond all reckoning. The vast majority of the combat, especially on the infantry side, was done 100 yards or closer or even hand to hand for that matter. It was a very personal battle and we will make it personal by hearing what they remembered. This is publicly the most violent day in their lives for most of these men. Voices of and teatime. That is what we will hear this evening. We will start off with robert e. Lee and his decision to move north. Thats always a challenge foreign antietam program. Where do you began . You begin with lee because it was his decision that led to this campaign. The president seems the most propitious time. Thats not a word we use every day as it . Propitious. Favorable. Since the commencement of the war for the Confederate Army to enter maryland. Lead did do an interview in 1868, and what he said was we could not afford to be idle. I went into maryland, declare italy, to give battle. Jefferson davis is boss said we are driven to protect our own country by transferring the seat of the war to that of an enemy who pursues us with a relentless and apparently aimless hostility. A very Good Relationship between these two. They trusted each other. Lee wanted to go into maryland. He sent a message to davis, and before he got an answer back, he was already moving north. Some of the reasons for the invasion, get the war out of virginia, folks in this community knew how much warhead happened in this area. Keep the momentum after the battle in monastic as. Gather supplies on maryland soil. Get some reinforcements there as well. Throw off the foreign yoke of this federal oppression in maryland. It was a pressed by the lincoln administration. Influence the fall midterms. That is comical when i watch the news and all i hear is these are the most important midterm elections in the history of the country. 1862 is pretty important as well. Certainly, pennsylvania, at least said, it thats a major goal. If the Confederate Army was marching at will it would determine who is winning the war. He is also looking farther east to the europeans, and in my sense, its the decisive battle to end the war. He is convinced he can defeat the union army on northern soil, two countries. Here is his army. He has two wings. They dont have a core system yet. A lot of numbers are out there. Dennis will talk about. That you will hear tomorrow about 39,000 infantry brigades. They will cross the potomac in early september. One of those crossings was major harris describing the crossing, it was indeed a magnificent site as the long columns stretched across the beautiful potomac. The evening sun slanted upon a clear placid water and varnish them with gold. While the arms of the soldiers glittered and blazed in its radiance, there are a few moments from the beginning to the close of the war of excitement more intense, of exhilaration more delightful than when we ascended the opposite bank to the familiar but now strangely thrilling music, maryland, by maryland. After crossing the potomac, leaves first stop is frederick, maryland. The Confederate Army will gather there. Lead does not get support in maryland. One of his goals was supported maryland. And maybe these next few quotes will explain why the citizens of fred directed not run to join the army. An unnamed citizen said, i have never seen a massive such filthy strong spelling men. Three in a room would make it unfair. When marching in column along the streets, the smell is most offensive. The filth that pervades them is most remarkable. They have no uniforms. Very important here though. They are well armed and equipped. They have no uniforms, but well armed and equipped, and have become so a new word to the hardships that they care little for any of the comforts of civilization. They are the roughest looking set of creatures i had ever saw. Doctor stein are in the sanitary commission. A dirtier, filthy, or more unsavory set of human beings never stroll through this town. Another observer said they were as lean and hungry as a set of wolves. These army has moved into frederick. That means there is a crisis in washington d. C. Our nation is at war. The northerners have lost most of the action, especially here in the east. Now, another country has invaded. Thats how you have to think about this. That is how they thought about it. For president abraham lincoln, he turns to George Mcclelland, 35 years old. There is his army. A lot of talk here about the numbers. Thats the current figure. You will hear more about this from my good friend, dan vermilion. Believe, me the numbers are all over the place. I am comfortable with 70,000. That is effective combat arms. There is the basic core. Is that still going . Here is two quotes from lincoln and mcclelland. I will use my park ranger voice. How is that . If we defeat the army before us, the rebellion is crushed, for i do not believe they can organize another army. On september 11th. Lincoln makes it Pretty Simple and clear. God bless you and all with you to destroy the rebel army of possible. You can jump in there. How is that . Okay, very good. Lee is in frederick. He has an issue. Union soldiers at Harpers Ferry on march 1st. Lee will divide his army to capture these forces. A lot of maneuvering here. Eventually moving into position to capture the ferry. He clears the Union Soldiers out of martins bergh, heads taggers town, all of this talked about in special order one nine one. I wont get into that because i would like to get into the battle itself. I am sure most of you know that. There are their positions as they surround Harpers Ferry. Jackson is late. Difficult terrain to try and move into. Hes a couple days late. Mcclellan reacted and moved to south mountain. For me, the two most important things i would tell you about the battle is there were 6000 casualties there. Most of the folks that visit the park have no idea and have never heard of the battle of south mountain. Thats a very significant number. For, me the other critical thing about south mountain. The union army drove the southerners right off the mountain top they were actually taunting them as they retreated. This in your army anymore. The union army gained great confidence after september 14th. The Confederate Army, i would, say is already the most Competent Army other. Now you have a union army with great confidence. But im telling you is, three days later, in the fields outside of sharp spurred, you have to very well equipped, large, confident armies that come to those fields intent on destroying each other. Thats a very bad combination. The army is gather around sharp spergel, on each side of the antietam creek. The union army on the east side, confederates on the west side, lee taking the high ground, he has a great road in the haters town turnpike. He has a possible route to pennsylvania. The protection of the creek as they gather their forces. George mcclelland looks at this from his headquarters in keys ville. Is observation post as the prime house. He will go. There look over the fields. Do a bit of reconnaissance and then the basic plan revolves around Three Bridges, i, upper middle, and lower bridge. He will use the Three Bridges to confessed the confederate right, left, and when things look favorable, the center. Thats the basic plan. The night before the battle, 15,000 United States soldiers moved into position, cross over the upper bridge. This is an incredibly important move on the part of mcclellan. My good friend dennis fry will speak to this. About how important that was. I will just tell you that 15,000 move. In the first and the 12th core moving along the north end of the field and settle in on the 16th. There was discussion about launching an attack on the 16th, but the fog was so heavy that no movement could have been made that day, even though there was talk of it. It took some time to get into position. The net of the 16th, it was damp, rainy, miserable. Another conclusion i have reached just from reading a lot and thinking about it, one of the reasons, another reason the battle on the 17th is so terrible and the casualties so high, its a miserable night. Its totally miserable. Everybody there is soaking wet, has no fire, has no food, has no coffee. And they are miserable. The next . Morning they want to hurt somebody. I dont know if you have ever felt like that on a monday morning. But thats one of the things i think that makes this so terrible. The night before, almost everybody there wrote about that the night before. They all know. It was a night he would never forget. So dark. So obscure. So materials. So uncertain. The occasional rapid volleys of pickets and outposts, the low solemn sounds as troops come into position. A half remain sensation to it all. A certain impression that tomorrow is to be great with a future fate of our country. So much responsibility, so much future anxiety. Captain William Parker is with an artillery battery right where the Visitor Center is today. As we lay down upon the field and look up into the great sky, we can but blush for the wickedness of man. No man who layup on that field and realize the deep tragedy which was to be enacted on the murrow could be but saddened thoughtful. We thought of dear ones far away. We were glad they knew not of the trying our that these hours were bringing on. David thompson of the night new york. All through the evening, the shifting and placing had gone on. The moving masses being dimly described in these strange, half lights of earthsky. There was something weirdly impressive. Yet unreal in the gradual drying together those whispering armies under the cover of the night. Something of awe as always in the secret preparations for momentous thieves. Have you sent a tax like that lately . laughs these men are amazing. That is why i want you to hear this. Their words are better than anything i could ever share. Joe hooker spent the night in a barn. Its about two in the morning, raining, he finally gets a chance to sleepy. Steps into the barn. He looks at his staff. We are through for tonight. But tomorrow, we will fight the battle that will decide the fate of the republic. And i agree. You cant see all this detail, obviously. Its for effect. The next morning, the first quarter, 8000 soldiers were launched. They assault very early that morning. The opening of the battle is artillery. There were 520 cannons involved in the battle of antietam. 50,000 rounds. 3000 rounds in our. As i speak for 45 minutes, think about 3000 rounds being fired. Never did a day open more beautifully. We were stirred at the first streaks of don. No rabidly call this morning. Too close to the enemy. Nor was one needed to arouse us. A simple call by a sergeant or corporal and every man was instantly awake and alert, all realize there was ugly business ahead and plenty of it. William good hue from wisconsin. Even as the role is being called, the musket fire and picket lines commence quite brick scully. I saw men wiping the dew off their muskets. There is a considerable fog just now. The premonition is of a battle were growing strong the symptoms of a battle had been apparent for more than 24 hours. And we knew the culmination of another great tragedy was at hand. Samuel from new jersey. It was a trying situation. Though we had become in a measure accustomed to the sound of conflict and impatiently awaited the orders that should send us into action we could not drive away the thoughts of the hidden danger that awaited us. The certainty of death never before seemed so near. The approach of dawn was dreaded, as though it was to witness our last day upon earth, our thoughts wandered back home, and the loved ones there. That is a common theme. I think that maybe your last night on earth, you would think of a loved one back home. Zooming in more on this action. The stone wall belgrade. This spectacle presented was one of splendor and magnificence. As the enemy advanced, we beheld one of the most brief displays of troops we had ever seen and the federals were moving towards us with bayonets the sunbeams falling on their well polished guns and bayonets gave a glamour and a show at once fearful and entrancing. Frank shell was an artist. He had some sketches that antietam. He is watching the battle from mcclellans observation post. A yank you line pushed its position and direction beautifully indicated by the national and president ial colors waiting about the corn stalks and the sparking flashes from gun barrels of bayonets. Who that stood up on that hill top could ever forget the sole racking suspense, the burning anxiety, the hard thumps of the history making a moments. The heart thumps of the history making moments. Rufus, who i think maybe has the most compelling account of all of the battle of antito. My will quote him more than once. Our line appeared at the end of the corn, a long line of bin and gray rose up on the ground simultaneously. They opened a tremendous fire upon each other men fell by the dozens george campbell, they would have the highest percentage of loss at the battle of antietam. 334 men went in. They lost 224. How terrible the shock. Screams and groans follow that first volley. We loaded fire as rapidly as we can. Our officers cry, give it to them, boys. There was a pandemonium of voices, a roar of musk a tree, a storm of bullets. Shelves bursting in the wild excitement of battle i forget my fear and think only of killing as many faux as i can. A man a few paces from is struck squarely in the face by a solid shot. Fragments of the poor mans head fill me with discussed. There is just a few of us left now sandy on jacksons staff. Such a storm of balls i never conceived a possible for mental live through. Shots and shelves shrieking and crashing. Canisters and bullets whistling and hissing. Most fiend lake through the air until you can almost see them. With 3000 rounds in our, three to 4 million bullets fired and 12 hours, its almost as if you can see them. The fire became fearful, incessant, merged into a tumultuous course that made the earth tremble. The discharge of musk tree sounded upon the ear like the rolling of 1000 distant drums. Julius robe already covered the essence of the American Civil War and one sentence. He was in the 12 massachusetts. He is wounded early on. Fellows from his regiment rake him over the east woods and get him behind a tree. Here is what he remembered. Our troops advanced, their firing was terrific. The corn stocks fell as if mode. The air was full of explosions and the smell of brimstone. Missiles of all kinds strike trees. I was shot through the right thigh by our own men. After being wounded by the southerners, who was shot by his own. A poor fellow with uplifted arm begs for water. I was exposed to the fire of slavery and freedom. His arm is shot off. The man speaks no more. Another confederate lays in front of me with a horrible wound. It is hell. I became unconscious. I remember nothing of the struggle of the possession of the cornfield, the last struggle for possession of the cornfield. He was caught between the fire of slavery and freedom. Confederate artillery was shrieking and firing all around, striking the ground in a wicked manner and throwing up dirt and dust in great clouds as high as the trees. It seemed as though quote, all the devils infernal had been incarnated and assembled on this horrible field. All the devils incarnate assembled on this horrible field. The 12 core were reinforced, another 7000 thrown into combat. I have a sense after being there for 25 years. No ones in command of anything at the battle of antietam. You cant see more than ten feet. Obviously, you can tell by the numbers, they fired 3 million bullets and only hit 23,000. They werent very good shots, mo