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  This is a panorama of the West Woods near the Dunker Church. An Antietam National Battlefield employee has his back to the Dunker Church and is pointing towards the Potomac River; the main battlefield is in the opposite direction. In an effort to extricate some of General Early’s Confederates from their position here, Union General John Sedgwick's division advanced into the West Woods. There, Confederate troops hiding among the trees suddenly struck Sedgwick's men from both flanks, inflicting unspeakable casualties. At the time of battle this locale was a woodlot made up primarily of large oak and hickory trees. In the many years since the battle this forest was cleared and turned into agricultural fields. Antietam National Battlefield has begun to restore this woodland to the way it looked at the time of the battle. This reforestation effort started in March of 1995. The house in the distance has no historical significance and will be demolished to further return the battlefield to the way it appeared in September of 1862. Panorama taken October 16, 2001 Also see; |
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