September the 16th 1862 was a cold wet night for the bivouacked troops surrounding Sharpsburg, Pa. In the battle the next day over a period of twelve hours 22,717 would be dead, wounded or missing. Most of that tally would occur in a 24 acre corn field, along a sunken picket fenced road, and along Burnside’s Bridge. As we stand overlooking this peaceful battlefield we are surrounded by monuments, statues, plaques, buildings, and cannons and it is a moving moment. When the struggle ended the corn field was according to one observer, “… cut off at the ground as neatly as if one had used a knife.”
The only thing holding the earth and blood in place during the next rain were the roots of the unharvested corn. The soil of our nation is held together by roots such as this. For growing in the aftermath of this soil was the greatness that is the United States of America. Clara Barton tending to the injured, sick and dying on the battlefield started the International Red Cross and five days later on September 22, 1862 President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing 3.5 to 4 million slaves. A visit to these hallowed places is a good reminder of the greatness of our national roots.
One Response
Beautiful interpretation and parallel of what you saw!