Historic Woodlot Restoration: West Woods, Antietam National Battlefield, National Park Service
Joseph M. 1994. Historic Woodlot Restoration: West Woods, Antietam National Battlefield, National Park Service. Cultural Landscape Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Capital Regional Office. Washington, D.C.
As a direct result of the 1992 revised General Management Plan, Antietam national Battlefield recognized the need to reestablish historic woodlots within the vicinity of Sharpsburg, Maryland. These woodlots played an important role in the battle serving as screens for strategic military movements, as landmarks for both Union and Confederate armies, and more importantly as sources of cover. Major skirmishes took place along the edge of the woodlots where many lives were lost. Without the historic woodlots, the historic scene is incomplete and the spatial quality and character are no longer understood. This makes it difficult to relate to the visitor the importance of this landscape feature for the battle of Antietam. The primary goal is to recreate the historic scene at the time of the battle. The goal of this report is to determine the character and boundaries of the West Woods, an historic woodlot. Once determined, the National Park Service will restore and maintain the woodlot utilizing the same management principles that were used in the 1860s. Historic documentation and existing conditions surveys of historic woodlots in the Sharpsburg vicinity are the basis for the restoration and species selection. This report represents the combined efforts of the National Resource Division, Antietam National Battlefield, and the Professional Services Division, National Capital Region. Some information provided relates to other significant woodlots at Antietam, but this report does not intend to present specific recommendations for the East and North woods. To continue the efforts of the reestablishment of particular historic woodlots, research is recommended in the future for the East and North woods an any other significant woodlots within Antietam National Battlefield boundaries that played an integral role during the battle.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Joseph, Maureen
- Date of Issue
- 1994-12
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Capital Regional Office
- Units
- ANTI , NCR
- Keywords
- Agriculture, Antietam, Confederate Army, cultural landscape report, Dunkard Church, Farming, Mary Locher Farm, Maryland, Military, Miller Farm, orchards, Reforestation, Sharpsburg, The Civil War, Union Army, Woodlot
- Subjects
- CRIS-CL: 600029: Antietam National Battlefield