Your correspondent is in receipt of a letter from a member of the 16th Conn. regiment stating that the 8th, 11th and 16th regiments of that State, will erect monuments on the 10 acre lot of the 16th Conn., south of town, in time to be dedicated on the 17th of September next.
Sharpsburg Items
Antietam Valley Record -
Friday, June 8, 1894
Antietam Valley Record -
Friday, July 20, 1894
Mr. John S. Lane and son, Harry C., of Meriden, Connecticut, who stopped at the Wyand House one night this week, were looking over the battlefield the past few days, viewing the field of carnage where Mr. Lane, Sr., helped to defend the Stars and Stripes thirty-two years ago. The State of Connecticut appropriated $1000 for each regiment of that State to bu used in erecting battlefield monuments where they did their hardest fighting. Mr. Lane who is a member of the 8th Conn., bought of Mr. Uriah Gross, near Sharpsburg, a plot of ground 20 feet square for which he paid Mr. Gross $100. A monument will be erected on the spot at once and will be unveiled in October.
Antietam Valley Record -
Friday, August 17, 1894 -
The following item appeared in a recent issue of the Tolland County Leader, of Rockville, Conn:
O.T. Reilly of Sharpsburg, Md., has lately had some photographs made of the 10 acre field at Antietam owned by the Sixteenth Conn. regt., also of the Reformed church, showing the front Memorial windowwhich was presented to the society by the regiment. He also has pictures of Burnside bridge and the two other bridges above. The Dunker church, National cemetery, Bloody Lane, Roulette's farm, McClellan's headquarters, Poffenberger's house and barn, Reno monument and other scenes of interest to soldiers and citizens. Mr. Reilly also deals in relics. A "Battlefield Guide" is a convenient and interesting work, as it gives a review of the Maryland campaign from September 1st to the 20th, 1862, and, of course, includes South Mountain battle. Any one expecting to take in the October excursion of the 8th, 11th, 14th, and 16th regiments will find in the "Guide" and these pictures much to assist them in sight seeing on that memorable bloody field.
FERRERO.
Antietam Valley Record -
Friday, March 8, 1895 -
The government has several men at work on Mr. Michael Tennant’s farm quarrying stone for the culverts and for the foundation of the observatory to be erected on the battlefield this spring.
Antietam Valley Record -
Friday, April 12, 1895 -
The stone observatory to be built in the Bloody Lane at the angle east of the Roulette lane, will be about 25 or 30 feet high; 16 feet square at the base and 15 feet to the first platform of which there will be two with stone steps on the inside and railing on the top for safety.
Antietam Valley Record -
Friday, May 10, 1895
Battlefield Notes The Bloody Lane avenue is now about completed, the macadam being about all down. The wire fence has been painted black and the 50 lb. Ball ornaments are being placed on the gate posts along the avenues. A substantial stone and wooden bridge has been built across the [run???] near the east end of the lane. Work is being pushed by both contractors. The road running in the rear of the Dunkard Church is about half completed.
Antietam Valley Record -
Friday, July 19, 1895 -
Hands have commenced work on the stone tower to be built on the hill overlooking the sunken part of the famous Bloody Lane. It will be built of stone and iron.
Antietam Valley Record -
Friday, August 23, 1895 -
Mr. Jacob Snyder is putting the wood work on the “Bloody lane” Tower which will be surmounted by an iron railing around the top.
Antietam Valley Record -
Thursday, September 5, 1895 -
The stone observatory on the Bloody lane is now finished and ready for visitors. The view from this point alone is worth a visit to the famous Bloody lane as you can take in the entire right to the left nearly four miles. There will be, when all planted, nearly four hundred markers, giving one a good idea of the entire battle field with the advantage of the good roads. Every body ought to visit it and make a study of this great battle.
Shepherdstown Register -
Thursday, January 25, 1934
Another of the old battle-marked oak trees that stood along Mansfield avenue was cut down by the battlefield workers. This tree stood alone along Mansfield avenue and undoubtedly sheltered more than one soldier during the battle.
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O.T. Reilly
Sharpsburg's scribe, O.T. Reilly, wrote thousands of short news items in the local Sharpsburg papers between 1887 and 1942. These are some of my favorite examples.