During my visit to the Burnside Bridge at Antietam Battlefield last month, the docent I spoke with mentioned that there had been three bridges over Antietam Creek. I’m starting with a clean slate in terms of knowing the history here, so it’s been huge to immerse myself in it. The three bridges were the Upper Bridge (Hitt), the Middle Bridge (it was destroyed by a flood in 1891), and the Lower Bridge (Burnside).
Today is the 163rd anniversary of the bloodiest single day in the US: The Battle of Antietam (or Battle of Sharpsburg), which occurred on September 17th, 1862. The Burnside Bridge was a horrific battleground, but another bridge was also used extensively to get both men and artillery across the creek – that was the Upper Bridge, or better known as the Hitt Bridge. It was used heavily by the Union Army to get behind Confederate lines.
Built in 1830, it was the first bridge and predates the lower bridge, Burnside.
A river ford there predated the bridge and was used in a disastrous campaign during the French Indian War, predating the American Revolutionary War, in 1755.
It is an unusual bridge – for one, it is still open to traffic, a one-lane bridge, but it is also a high-pitched bridge, you go up and then down on it.
Kirk took me to see the other bridge as we headed to Boonsboro, MD. We had left the Mennonite-owned Sunny Meadows plant nursery on 65 (Sharpsburg Pike) and were heading towards the Antietam Battlefield NP site. We turned left onto Mansfield Ave and followed this winding country road along many farms. Like most old roads in the area, they’re narrow, have roller-coaster-like curves, and have corners cut at a 45-degree angle. Take it slow, and enjoy the views. The road has many historical monuments to stop at along the way.
The bridge, offering a view of the other side, allows you to check if it is clear to cross.
The bridge was restored starting in 2018. Does it get a lot of traffic? That was something I wondered about. It’s a beautiful drive.
The road on the other side becomes Keedysville Road, where the two roads come together.
Just a short distance down the road, there is another one-lane historical bridge to cross, over the Little Antietam Creek, Pry’s Mill Bridge, that was built in 1858 (and restored in 2003). It was built similarly, featuring a high middle arch and two arches.
I used Pry Bridge to see all the bridges of Antietam Creek, even though the Middle Bridge is long gone.
It is well worth the short drive to take the time to experience both bridges. It might not be a hike, but it is a trip into history.
~Sarah