Discovery: Antietam Burial Map from 1864

S. G. Elliott's Map of the Battlefield of Antietam amounts to a burial map of the Union and Confederate dead - even their horses are mapped. While this map was created in 1864, just like the famous one for the Gettysburg battlefield, it lay in the New York Public Library's collection, unknown to most scholars, until recently. It was digitized in 2018 and uncovered by historian Timothy H. Smith and Andrew Dalton of the Adams County Historical Society. There are close to 700 burials on hallowed ground saved by the American Battlefield Trust and its members.
The importance of this discovery has left historians who have studied the battle for years to be baffled, blown away and at a loss for words. It has been covered in both the Washington Post and the New York Times.
American Battlefield Trust Press Release: www.battlefields.org/news/previously-unknown-map-showing-engagements-aftermath-amounts-rosetta-stone-battle-antietam
Adam's County Historical Society Feature: www.achs-pa.org/news-events/15south.html/article/2020/06/16/s-g-elliott-a-california-railroad-swindler-turned-civil-war-cartographer
Link to Map: digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/185f8270-0834-0136-3daa-6d29ad33124f

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Link to Map: digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/185f8270-0834-0136-3daa-6d29ad33124f Adam's County Historical Society Feature: www.achs-pa.org/news-events/15south.html/article/2020/06/16/s-g-elliott-a-california-railroad-swindler-turned-civil-war-cartographer American Battlefield Trust Press Release: www.battlefields.org/news/previously-unknown-map-showing-engagements-aftermath-amounts-rosetta-stone-battle-antietam

[@jayjuliecooper8882]

This is an incredible discovery. Not only am I fascinated with the Civil war, Sharpsburg is my hometown! This map is a Rosetta Stone to further unlock the battlefield to our scholars and historians. I love the passion and excitement you all had in your meeting. Antietam is a treasure.

[@3mate1]

I'm a First Minnesota fan and did a spit take when you mentioned that story. This map is just incredible, to take it in from afar is sobering... the assault on the Cornfield, West Woods and Dunker church... then to zoom in on the dead at the Sunken Lane and seeing all those confederates... I can imagine in my mind's eye right now the burial details dragging them up out of the lane and laying them in rows. Seperating the union from the confederate dead and interring them in rows a few yards away. Just mind boggling how this map is a snapshot of the actual aftermath of our bloodiest single day in history. Most of those thousands North of the church were dead before 10am.

[@DoyleHargraves]

My Lord. What a treasure. Especially on my 32" super hi def monitor.

[@texmexfla]

Amazing! This kind of material makes me proud to be a member/donor of the American Battlefield Trust

[@richardglady3009]

Thank you for this video. Thanks for the series on Antietam. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to bury all these men.

[@rays7437]

I am not a historian but even I am amazed at this.

[@stevent9179]

Jesus, look at them all, this really makes the cost of the battle hit home for me. That whole place was a huge graveyard, and they want to tear down the monuments to these heroes?

[@johnlewis1640]

A fantastic discovery, great work!

[@jeremybeasley6]

Amazing find! Enjoyed this!

[@garykorzelius5930]

Nicely done all. Thanks for sharing

[@LeesTexan]

This map is SO amazing !! You hear the numbers, but this map puts it in perspective! You see where the most graves are the areas where the hardest fighting was.

[@russell7489]

Stunning Priceless Thank You All

[@LeesTexan]

God bless you guys for your great work! I hope you can buy up Malvern Hill before it is turned into residential homes! Right now it looks EXACTLY as it did during the battle !!

[@phishENchimps]

To allow decedents of ancestors who died during the battle. This map will be a godsend for when they visit to give respects.

[@JeagerTank]

Darn fine find!

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

ANY UPDATES WOOOOO...WEE GREAT FIND MAN...

[@K_Type]

Tom and Garry so knowledgeable

[@lorij323]

What a remarkable find.

[@donaldbelobraydic9996]

What a find.

[@samgamgee42]

Just Wow.....

[@theclayfeet]

Freaking amazing!!!!

[@jamesledefi170]

My ancestor survived this battle w/MA10th.

[@MayoFilms83]

Hate that I missed this. This is amazing history about the graves. Did they bury them where they fell at on the battlefield?

[@johnadams3254]

Scale of map is 7” to the mile. What is the size of the map?

[@gregrivera6222]

An excellent map which will provide an additional basis for further research and exploration of the battlefield. Can a reproduction of this map be purchased?

[@dmmchugh3714]

Are the burials outside of the established cemeteries - such as graves on someone's property ? Was Cornman's grave moved to the national cemetery ? Seems like that is not what his burial unit wanted. I was out at Antietam once and hope to get there again for a longer visit.

[@taxthompsonfinancialpartne8354]

This makes me want to grab my Dorset sticks and get on the plane and head out there to see if I can identify the grades and flag them. How exciting is this!??!

[@ltrain4479]

All the union dead were moved to the National Cemetery in 1866 and the Confederates were moved to other cemeteries a couple years later.

[@mikey29211]

Does each mark represent an individual soldier?

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Each cross is a Union soldier and each line is a Confederate soldier.

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

ANY UPDATES

[@tberkoff]

Garry, did you forget that Tom Clemens was part of that Zoom call? Tom is an institution! Maybe his portion got cut since the video starts a few minutes into the call.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

There were an additional 16 or so minutes in the beginning of the original live debut. We cut it down to the map reveal for KZbin. So you are correct Todd!

[@tberkoff]

@@AmericanBattlefieldTrust Thanks Garry! Regarding the burials, I am very happy to know that the park owns the A. Poffenberger farm on the west side of Rt. 65, where many of the West Wood/Cornfield dead were initially buried and may still rest today.

[@tberkoff]

Can we please move the Visitor Center now? There are probably US and CS dead under the foundation today!

[@charlescomly1]

If the visitors center is on top of graves then it should be moved, not to mention I would haunt the hell out of the place if I were under it.

[@horticasey]

Such a shame it had to come to this. If the Northern Aggressors would have just left well enough alone, then thousands of men would not have lost their lives and the glory of a well-controlled autocracy could have been realized. #rejectmodernity #embracetradiotionalism