Lower Bridge or Burnside's Bridge
The third and final major engagement at Antietam

Union forces under General Burnside, approach from the north.     Copyright RA Keene 1997

Two companies of the 11th Ohio made a half-hearted probe on the bridge and were easily repelled.

The 11th Connecticut assaulted and managed to gain the east bank of the creek, south of the bridge, before being forced back with heavy losses.  At one point, Capt. Griswold with several of his men attempted to wade the creek but were shot down mid-stream.  Capt. Griswold, mortally wounded, died on the west bank.      Copyright RA Keene 1997

The 2nd Maryland and the 6th New Hampshire, in their first attempt approached the bridge along the road from the south.  They reached the bridge but writhing fire from the heights commanding the bridge forced them to withdraw.

The 2nd Maryland and the 6th New Hampshire reformed behind the small rise near the H. Rohrbach farm road and again assaulted the bridge.  Once more, heavy Confederate fire made their position untenable and they were forced back.         Copyright RA Keene 1997

The 51st Pennsylvania gained the stone wall just north of the bridge and the 51st New York made the rail fence to the south.  The 51st Pennsylvania then stormed the bridge.  At the same time, a portion of the 51st New York splashed across the creek while the rest of the company followed the Pennsylvanians across the bridge.

Facing overwhelming odds and low on ammunition, the 2nd and 20th Georgia fell back to the west.

Copyright RA Keene 1997