Ambrose Burnside

[PaigeBooth]

Thanks, Paige - do you know/can you tell which in your photo the witness tree is?

Hi Eva-- Looking at the photo I took, I believe the witness tree is the one located across the water to the left of the bridge. The tree is V shaped. But here is a youtube video I found with lots more information about the witness tree: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mlGWCGIWHk

Unfortunately, on the day I visited Antietam, the bridge was undergoing some repairs, so I was not able to walk across the bridge for a better photo.

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Great summary on Burnside. He truly did not want command of the Army of the Potomac, but AL wouldn't take no for an answer. He contemplated leading one of the charges on Marye's Heights as a suicide.

Hi Jim-- I completely agree with you. I visited Fredericksburg and walked Marye's Heights. The Union definitely had a strong disadvantage at Fredericksburg; Lee had the high ground. This is just my opinion, but I don't think Lincoln had a good general until Meade came along. John Reynolds would have been a great choice, but he was killed at Gettysburg and did not want the job anyway.