September 17, 1862 was the bloodiest day in our nation’s history. Nearly 23,110 men were either killed or wounded. Six regiments and a company of sharpshooters from the State of Michigan participated in the battles of Antietam and South Mountain. Through fierce fighting their bravery and sacrifice played a significant role in preserving the union.
General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia had invaded Maryland. His goal was to capture Washington D.C., and force Maryland to secede from the union. A copy of Lee’s orders were accidentally left under a tree. Union soldiers later found them.
Lieutenant Samuel Pittman from Detroit was serving as aide-de-camp to general Alpheus Williams when Lee’s orders were found. Pittman had been a bank teller for the Michigan State Bank prior to enlisting. Through a remarkable coincidence Lee’s aide-de-camp Robert Chilton held an account at the Michigan State Bank. Lieutenant Pittman recognized Chilton’s signature on the document and was therefore able to verify that the document was legitimate.
General Williams, also from Detroit, took the orders to General McClellan. Lee was caught off guard and he dug in at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg Maryland. The fierce fighting that ensued equally depleted both armies and ended in a stalemate. Lee was forced to retreat back across the Potomac to Virginia.
Six days later President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation declaring an end to slavery.
The Missing Michigan Monument
Today Antietam is a National Battlefield Park covering 3,200 acres. If you tour the park you will see monuments to both union and confederate soldiers who fought there. Many states erected their own memorials that proudly say “New York” soldiers fought here, “Ohio” soldiers fought here, “Vermont” soldiers fought here…
Sadly the one state missing from that list is Michigan. Our boys fought and died there yet the State of Michigan has nothing honoring them. Almost one hundred and sixty years have passed since the battle – and still nothing has been done. It is time we change that.
The Michigan Civil War Association
The MCWA is a non-profit (501c-3 charity). They are trying to raise $200,000 for the purpose of constructing and maintaining a monument dedicated to Michigan’s citizen soldiers at Antietam. The foundation has secured a 400 square ft. easement near the center of the battlefield. According to the foundation, “This will be the only and last opportunity for Michigan to erect a monument on the battlefield.”
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/michigancivilwarassociation/
gofundme
https://www.gofundme.com/f/michiganatantietam
Michigan at Antietam
Historians Jack Dempsey and Brian Egan co-authored a book called “Michigan at Antietam” in 2015. It tells the true story of the Wolverine State’s sacrfice on America’s Bloodiest Day. All of the proceeds from the book go toward the monument.
https://www.amazon.com/Michigan-Antietam-Wolverine-Sacrifice-Bloodiest/
