May 18, 2020
Descending into the Bloody Cornfield with Civil War Historian, David A. Welker
Few names are as synonymous with Civil War battlefields as The Bloody Cornfield. It conjures up visions of harrowing bloodshed and the tragedy of fratricidal combat…
Yet, for over 150 years, the story of this struggle has been difficult to track – the sway of battle back and forth over David R. Miller’s cornfield was a confusing melee of destruction. To help interpret this pivotal story, historian and author David A. Welker has produced a detailed study of this pivotal moment in American history which captures the reader and makes the compelling case for the national significance of these 20+ acres of Maryland soil.
On this week’s PreserveCast, we’re taking a trip back to Sharpsburg, Maryland, on the morning of September 17, 1862, and descending into the Bloody Cornfield.
Show Notes
David A. Welker is the author of the recently released The Cornfield: Antietam’s Bloody Turning Point. His previous publications include Tempest at Ox Hill: The Battle of Chantilly and A Keystone Rebel: The Civil War Diary of Joseph Garey, as well as numerous magazine and newspaper articles on the war. He currently serves as a historian and military analyst with the US Government, a post he has held for over 35 years. David holds a master’s degree in international affairs from American University and a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Westminster College in Pennsylvania. He lives in Centreville, Virginia with his wife.