"SHARPSBURG - QUIET BEFORE THE STORM " a Sharpsburg Travel Page by mtncorg

This quiet little rural Maryland town dates back into the 18th Century. On the farm fields surrounding the town, one of the fiercest battles of the American Civil War was waged on September 17, 1862, a day know as the single bloodiest day of the War in terms of casualties on both sides. The battle brought an end to Robert Lee's first invasion of the North and through Abraham Lincoln's subsequent Emancipation Proclamation, changed the nature of the War from one of simply being fought to preserve the Union but also one to abolish slavery - thus, making it very difficult for Confederate-leaning European nations to intervene.

The town of Sharpsburg has maintained its 19th Century flavor with its stone houses and history. It makes a great base for visiting not only the battlefield, but many other nearby areas of both historical and natural bents. Also, located on the eastern edge of the town is the solemn Antietam National Cemetery in which almost 5000 Federal soldiers - over 1800 whose identity is unknown - are buried.