Battle Anniversary in the 21st century

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Just as I was about to lament the loss of my camera and its importance to this blog, and to this weekend, the social media team of the NPS comes to the rescue.

Plenty of pics of todays proceedings here at the park Facebook page.  Enjoy this fantastic new initiative.



Sadly, no pictures of me...

I simply must get  another camera.

It was a great day,

Mannie

To "entrench" In the academic sense, perhaps

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I recently had a professor ridicule both Lee and McClellan for failing to entrench at Antietam.

 Though, in this rocky place, what good six-inch deep trenches would have been is beyond me.

Much can be revealed by a visit to the battlefield.  I hope to see you all this battle anniversary weekend!

Mannie

Things Fall Apart

Feeling very much like Chinua Achebe is following me around today.

First, I woke up with a sore throat

Later, I bobbled my camera which hit...


this stone step.

My second small camera in as many years has met its end.

Finally, on the way home my truck conked out right in the middle of the rush-hour crossroads that is Boonsboro.  Fortunately I was able to coast to the sole remaining parking spot on the curb.  Towed to garage with verdict due tomorrow


What would Okonkwo say?

Oh...here's the final photo taken by my camera.

Things fall apart.

See you for battle anniversary!

Ranger Mannie

Seven Days of Rain

I  saw something yesterday that startled me...

my shadow.

After a solid week of rain the sun came out, on and off, for a few hours yesterday.

 

Suddenly everything seemed strung with diamonds.

I took advantage of the break to drive down to Burnside Bridge to get a look at Antietam Creek.

I was surprised to find that although the water was high and fast, the creek is still within its banks.  North and east of us there has been a great deal of flooding.

A week of rain brings with it more than just hight water...

seems everywhere one looks...

one finds mushrooms sprouting.

Many of them are quite large and formed in fairy rings both compact:

small:

 

medium:

and large:

With rain continuing until next Tuesday...

the New York monument may be absorbed by this rapidly growing battlefield visitor.

Looking for sunshine,

just north of Sharpsburg,

Ranger Mannie

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Landscape Turned Confusing: all turned around in the Cornfield

What maps don't reveal

Reading the standard academic treatments of the battle provide a particular omniscient viewpoint, but looking at the battle from the perspective of the soldier on the ground quickly establishes the distinction between writing about history and actually making history.

Thinking about it all,

just north of Sharpsburg,

Mannie