Save Historic Antietam Foundation Buys Battlefield Land at Antietam
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Save Historic Antietam Foundation buys battlefield land at Antietam.
Contact: Tom Clemens 301-432-2522
For the first time in the preservation history of the Antietam Battlefield, a non-profit organization has acquired core battlefield land along the historic Harpers Ferry Road.
The Save Historic Antietam Foundation, Inc. (SHAF) announces acquisition of a one-half acre house lot approximately one-half mile south of Sharpsburg for $132,000.
“We’ve been targeting this battlefield sector as prime for preservation for some time,” said SHAF president Dr. Tom Clemens. “This site presented an ideal opportunity.”
Purchase of the non-historic house and adjoining property is all the more important because the ground lies outside the national park boundary.
“We are not confined by an artificial Congressional boundary,” commented Clemens. “This is prime battlefield land. The battle did not start or end at a paper boundary.”
The site is high ground that overlooks the final assault of Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s attack on the afternoon of September 17, 1862. Confederates under Gen. A. P. Hill stopped Burnside’s advance, saving General Lee’s army from defeat.
“Southern artillery from New Orleans occupied the position we purchased,” remarked Clemens. “From this high ground Confederate cannoneers could pound Burnside’s assault.”
Clemens announced SHAF will be fundraising to pay for the property.
“An anonymous donor who has supported SHAF’s cause from the outset has offered a one-for-one match. We raise $15,000; the donor matches with $15,000,” said Clemens. “We’re up for the challenge.”
Clemens expects grants from other battlefield preservation sources to cover the bulk of the funding.
“SHAF is well-known, well-respected and well-linked in the battlefield preservation community,” Clemens noted. “SHAF has supported other non-profits at Antietam, donating tens of thousands toward other acquisitions. This time, they will support SHAF.”
For anyone interested in donating toward the $15,000 matching grant challenge, please visit the SHAF Facebook page or the SHAF web page. Donations can also be made through the Community Foundation of Washington County on their website, and may be tax deductible.
Here is the view from the property and location on the Carman map.


- Antietam National Battlefield and Friends of Tolson’s Chapel to Debut Film, November 5, 2023
(October 31, 2023)
- John Banks to Speak at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine
(April 14, 2023)
- Reminder! 2023 Annual SHAF Meeting
(March 29, 2023)
- March 11 SHAF Work Day
(March 10, 2023)
- SHAF Annual Membership Meeting Date Change
(March 3, 2023)
- SHAF 2023 Spring Work Day
(February 24, 2023)
- SHAF 2022 Fall Work Day
(October 21, 2022)
- SHAF Receives Donation from Jacob Rohrbach Inn
(September 26, 2022)
- Fall Antietam Work Day Scheduled
(September 6, 2022)
- SHAF News
(June 15, 2022)
- Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society Supports SHAF
(June 1, 2022)
- Images from SHAF’s 2022 Annual Meeting
(May 3, 2022)
- SHAF Annual Meeting Silent Auction Items
(April 29, 2022)
- 2022 Annual Meeting
(April 28, 2022)
- SHAF Workday Rescheduled
(March 12, 2022)
- SHAF Workday Postponed
(March 11, 2022)
- Two Important Announcements
(February 20, 2022)
- Read SHAF’s Latest Newsletter
(January 7, 2022)
- SHAF Announcement Regarding the Passing of Nancy Hammond Murfin
(November 3, 2021)
- SHAF Work Day, October 23, 2021
(October 22, 2021)
- The Historical Importance of Newly Preserved Land at Antietam
(September 29, 2021)
- SHAF Annual Meeting Link
(September 28, 2021)
- SHAF Annual Meeting Update
(August 31, 2021)
- Save Historic Antietam Foundation Buys Battlefield Land at Antietam
(July 30, 2021)
- Recap of March 13, 2021 SHAF Work Day
(March 20, 2021)
- SHAF Workday Scheduled for Saturday, March 13, 2021
(January 30, 2021)
- SHAF Statement Regarding the Destruction and Defacing of Civil War Monuments
(December 20, 2020)
- Film Supports SHAF
(June 17, 2020)
- SHAF Helps Clear Non-Historic Tree lines on ABT Property
(May 26, 2020)
- SHAF Annual Membership Meeting Postponed
(March 28, 2020)
- Next SHAF Workday, March 21, 2020
(March 11, 2020)
- March 21 SHAF Work Day Update
(January 17, 2020)
- SHAF Workday this Saturday, March 30
(October 27, 2019)
- Save Historic Antietam Foundation Creates Agency Fund
(July 4, 2019)
- Meal Choices for 2019 SHAF Annual Meeting
(April 17, 2019)
- SHAF Save the Dates
(January 13, 2019)
- Next SHAF Work Day, September 28, 2019
(January 8, 2019)
- Agenda for General Membership meeting
(October 25, 2018)
- Next SHAF Workday Scheduled for October 27, 2018
(September 25, 2018)
- Spring 2018 workday rescheduled to Saturday, March 31
(August 23, 2018)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Save Historic Antietam Foundation buys battlefield land at Antietam.
Contact: Tom Clemens 301-432-2522
For the first time in the preservation history of the Antietam Battlefield, a non-profit organization has acquired core battlefield land along the historic Harpers Ferry Road.
The Save Historic Antietam Foundation, Inc. (SHAF) announces acquisition of a one-half acre house lot approximately one-half mile south of Sharpsburg for $132,000.
“We’ve been targeting this battlefield sector as prime for preservation for some time,” said SHAF president Dr. Tom Clemens. “This site presented an ideal opportunity.”
Purchase of the non-historic house and adjoining property is all the more important because the ground lies outside the national park boundary.
“We are not confined by an artificial Congressional boundary,” commented Clemens. “This is prime battlefield land. The battle did not start or end at a paper boundary.”
The site is high ground that overlooks the final assault of Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s attack on the afternoon of September 17, 1862. Confederates under Gen. A. P. Hill stopped Burnside’s advance, saving General Lee’s army from defeat.
“Southern artillery from New Orleans occupied the position we purchased,” remarked Clemens. “From this high ground Confederate cannoneers could pound Burnside’s assault.”
Clemens announced SHAF will be fundraising to pay for the property.
“An anonymous donor who has supported SHAF’s cause from the outset has offered a one-for-one match. We raise $15,000; the donor matches with $15,000,” said Clemens. “We’re up for the challenge.”
Clemens expects grants from other battlefield preservation sources to cover the bulk of the funding.
“SHAF is well-known, well-respected and well-linked in the battlefield preservation community,” Clemens noted. “SHAF has supported other non-profits at Antietam, donating tens of thousands toward other acquisitions. This time, they will support SHAF.”
For anyone interested in donating toward the $15,000 matching grant challenge, please visit the SHAF Facebook page or the SHAF web page. Donations can also be made through the Community Foundation of Washington County on their website, and may be tax deductible.
Here is the view from the property and location on the Carman map.


- Antietam National Battlefield and Friends of Tolson’s Chapel to Debut Film, November 5, 2023
(October 31, 2023) - John Banks to Speak at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine
(April 14, 2023) - Reminder! 2023 Annual SHAF Meeting
(March 29, 2023) - March 11 SHAF Work Day
(March 10, 2023) - SHAF Annual Membership Meeting Date Change
(March 3, 2023) - SHAF 2023 Spring Work Day
(February 24, 2023) - SHAF 2022 Fall Work Day
(October 21, 2022) - SHAF Receives Donation from Jacob Rohrbach Inn
(September 26, 2022) - Fall Antietam Work Day Scheduled
(September 6, 2022) - SHAF News
(June 15, 2022) - Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society Supports SHAF
(June 1, 2022) - Images from SHAF’s 2022 Annual Meeting
(May 3, 2022) - SHAF Annual Meeting Silent Auction Items
(April 29, 2022) - 2022 Annual Meeting
(April 28, 2022) - SHAF Workday Rescheduled
(March 12, 2022) - SHAF Workday Postponed
(March 11, 2022) - Two Important Announcements
(February 20, 2022) - Read SHAF’s Latest Newsletter
(January 7, 2022) - SHAF Announcement Regarding the Passing of Nancy Hammond Murfin
(November 3, 2021) - SHAF Work Day, October 23, 2021
(October 22, 2021) - The Historical Importance of Newly Preserved Land at Antietam
(September 29, 2021) - SHAF Annual Meeting Link
(September 28, 2021) - SHAF Annual Meeting Update
(August 31, 2021) - Save Historic Antietam Foundation Buys Battlefield Land at Antietam
(July 30, 2021) - Recap of March 13, 2021 SHAF Work Day
(March 20, 2021) - SHAF Workday Scheduled for Saturday, March 13, 2021
(January 30, 2021) - SHAF Statement Regarding the Destruction and Defacing of Civil War Monuments
(December 20, 2020) - Film Supports SHAF
(June 17, 2020) - SHAF Helps Clear Non-Historic Tree lines on ABT Property
(May 26, 2020) - SHAF Annual Membership Meeting Postponed
(March 28, 2020) - Next SHAF Workday, March 21, 2020
(March 11, 2020) - March 21 SHAF Work Day Update
(January 17, 2020) - SHAF Workday this Saturday, March 30
(October 27, 2019) - Save Historic Antietam Foundation Creates Agency Fund
(July 4, 2019) - Meal Choices for 2019 SHAF Annual Meeting
(April 17, 2019) - SHAF Save the Dates
(January 13, 2019) - Next SHAF Work Day, September 28, 2019
(January 8, 2019) - Agenda for General Membership meeting
(October 25, 2018) - Next SHAF Workday Scheduled for October 27, 2018
(September 25, 2018) - Spring 2018 workday rescheduled to Saturday, March 31
(August 23, 2018)