Much happened between September of 1862 and July of 63.
The first was the Battle of Antietam, which saw the most casualties in a day
The second at Gettysburg, the battle that took the most American lives.
One the start of a campaign, the other the beginning of the end according to history.

After General Lee invaded Maryland the Union wen to intercept
Hoping not only to stop him, but to push him back into Virginia.
Following Antietam, Lee returned to Virginia to recover
The battle having ended in a draw, after so many losses that is a hard concept.

Lee’s return was to be executed at Shepherdstown Ford
Although the Union didn’t know at the time if the move was retreat or regroup
General George McClellan sent troops to monitor the progress
To see if they could determine the motive, was inaction something they could afford?

With the regiments sent on September 19 was the 20th Maine
A group who was new and relatively untrained.
They had only watched the carnage at Antietam,
Now they were sent with a purpose, to see if fighting should begin again.

The South soon realized that the Union remained close at hand,
So Stonewall Jackson sent Hill to help draw them off.
Hill managed more than that, he pushed the Union back
The 20th Maine was close, but orders were followed, they did not stand.

The 20th moved forward into Virginia, and as they reached the other side
The sound to return reached their ears,
So they turned and headed back, with Lieutenant Colonel Chamberlain at the front.
Calmly astride his horse, he directed his men back, and as necessary told them to hide.

One thing the men of the Maine 20th learned from crossing at the C&O
It made a perfect trench, giving them all that they needed to fight.
After returning to the Union’s side, the battle continued until night,
The men now more guarded they were less likely to go.

After night fell Hill returned to Stonewall, his mission done
The battle had ended, the Confederates suffering slightly greater losses.
The men did as told, following the orders to the letter from their bosses.
The 20th was fortunate, only three were wounded, still it was a battle no one won.

As Lee tried to extend the Confederate’s reach into the North
The C&O and Potomac were the real divider between the two sides
So battles were frequent, though none were pivotal to the war’s end
It had a devastating effect on the lives of those who lived along it and died.

This is perhaps best illustrated before the Battle of Antietam
When the South did its best to hamper transport on either shore.
In September 1862, the Confederates planned to cross the canal,
Which they did, but they also planned to do damage according to folklore.

Their attempts to demolish the Monocacy River Aqueduct did not succeed though
So they settled for doing harm to Lock Number 27 instead.
Then the Confederates proceeded to their goal
The Battle of Antietam where many on both sides would be bled.

Though little happened and no battles occurred at this time,
The place would return to the South’s attention
As they tried to hamper and hinder the North
Though in the end only time ravaged the place to destruction.

The race to reach Harpers Ferry was like a game of cat and mouse
As each side made stops along the route
Trying to be the first to reach the destination
As they both fought for the future of their nation.

Each of these moves is an interesting tale
Spanning just a few days, so much was at stake.
Skirmishes did not last long as movement was key
Because the main point was who would have control of Harper’s Ferry.

There were four days where General McClellan had his troops moving fast
Because were behind the movements based on the orders from Less
So avoiding fights as they passed through Rockville was the best way to get there
To stop the South at South Mountain they stayed alert and aware.

Headquarters for the Union were set at Falls Road
But they were not immune from attacks and setbacks.
The South destroyed the B&O bridge over Monocacy River
In response, the Union pushed the South’s rear guard back with a shiver.

The battle lasted from Beallsville on the 9th
And continued all the way to Hyattstown were the South finally stopped.
This was when Lee made his boldest move, sending Stonewall ahead
Divided they were able to finally take Harper’s Ferry in the North’s stead.

General Lee desired the capture of Harpers Ferry.
To this end he split his forces, sending Stonewall Jackson to take it,
An order that was followed on September10th.
However, the Union found out and they would not just sit.

Having intercepted a copy of the orders, General McClellan had to act.
As Williamsport was a point along Jackson’s way
Men were sent to follow and fight as was needed.
With Lee’s army divided, the Union saw a good chance to attack.

The result was skirmishes and battles along the canal.
During this time though they did well
The Union made a mistake, allowing the Confederates to consolidate,
The first sign of trouble came too soon, leaving the Union on mistakes to dwell.

Lee’s desire to take Harpers Ferry was just the beginning.
For that was accomplished by Stonewall on the 15th of September
Giving the Rebels the foothold they needed for the first major assault
The battle of Antietam, it has become one of the worst battles anyone would remember.

General Robert E. Lee saw a distinct opportunity
Following the Confederate victory at Manassas.
First, it was a chance to try a Northern invasion
And perhaps draw Maryland into Confederate unity.

That meant the C&O Canal was brought into the plan
And so war was brought to this already trouble place.
Now soldiers tried hard to destroy the dams
Though they were repelled , each and every man.

Battles began all up and down the waterway
During the summer and fall of 1862
And the Confederates surged across the Potomac
Near Leesburg at this point in time they often took the day.

Their goal was two fold, first move the fight forward
Keep the enemy on the defensive;
Second to see if they could expand the nation they sought
The indignation they felt they wanted to be stirred.

A number of battles were fought through the season
With hope and strategy backing Confederate reason.
However, the Battle of Antietam left the South pretty battered
Their hopes somewhat dampened, though not yet shattered.

The calm of the water and the light of the day
Make it appear that it is just another mighty fine day
Along the C&O with all it has to offer.
In this case it is a family at work in order the bills to pay.

Their house stands nearby, a possible benefit to their hard work.
The trees stand tall like sentinels permanently at attention.
It is an interesting scene where so little is known
A few words, a hint, just enough to show vague intention.

Are the couple heading home after a long day?
Or perhaps they are just visiting in the warm light of day.
And what of the man who is so close behind?
Is he a helper someone they must pay?

The only certain is that it is one fine day.
No distress or misery can be found during an inspection.
Feeling the warmth of the sun through the lens of the past,
Any sorrow or pain is lost upon introspection.

It reminds us to enjoy the time that we have.
Each fine day is something to appreciate
No matter what is tearing us apart
Take time to reflect and you may find a new way to start.

Spectators are those who sit by and watch
But who is to say just who spectates and who acts?
We are all voyeurs from time to time
And when things are slow it’s easy to slack
Even amidst the progress of getting a job done
If things aren’t moving along as we thought
We tend to sit and observe those around
To see if there’s anything new to be taught.
The man with the horse, how do they interact?
Is it a trip into town to get things that are needed
Or are they just walking at peace
In a world where all things have been seeded?
Perhaps the man in the middle of the road is the hardest at work.
Perhaps just a few seconds of breaks he is taking
As his back is quite tired and his lungs are aching
And he’s decided that for a minute his work needs forsaking.
The men on the boar look at peace and at ease
But it is impossible to believe that they are out for a joy ride
Simply enjoying the water on a mighty fine day
Perhaps they are talking, a new course to decide.
A snapshot in time that likes to tell lies
Deceiving and tricking your eyes.
Everyone appears to be at peace
Caught in a moment that will never cease.

Looking into what appears to be ruins is a tricky thing to do
Because it is nearly impossible to tell what lesson to learn.
High walls that appear to scorn the passage of time
Amidst puddles that demonstrate the power of nature when she yearns.

Collapsed structures look lonely and depressed
Against a clear sky that warns not to give in.
Just what should you please when this is what meets your eye?
Is pressing forward insane? Is quitting a sin?

From the wreckage we much pull out what lessons we will
Giving voice to the emptiness or hope that we feel.

Once it was mighty and served a set purpose
Today it stands broken and hopeless in disarray.
The lesson could be about how futile it is to try
As we are unlikely to know when the place gave into decay.

Or we could be reminded that we should always take care
That the things that we love and work to create
Need to be equally loved and tended to long after we’re gone.
It is a long raging debate.

The message is yours alone to decide
For there is nothing the remains will confide.

One of the best things about the C&O Canal
Is the fact that it is a National Park,
A place protected and given over to the public
To inspire ideas and imaginations to spark.

There is nothing quite like a quite ride on the water
Leaving worries behind on the shore
And heading downstream with friends at your side
With the right attitude you will not be bored.

For decades this has been true on the mighty C&O
Drawing people to its passage and alone for a ride.
No longer as vital to moving goods along the way
It has become a tool of learning to help people decide.

What is important in our daily lives?
How have things changed over the years?
Can history repeat itself again?
Just what are your worst fears?

You are invited to think, ponder, and dream
See the creation of man and what he’s not touched
The dichotomy and contrasts make for a pleasant trip
From buildings to birds and trees and such.

Though the water way has changed
There is much that is still the same.
A quiet boat ride will help to frame your mind
To show you life and what we could never tame.

For all of the natural beauty and the artificial marvels
In the end it is the people who really make the photo in the end
So much changes with the passage of time
But it is the people who imagination will bend.

A short caption, a blurb that meant little at the time
Something cool for a scrapbook of those in the shot
Becomes so much more as generations find the book
And in the style and questions are caught.

The blurb is but a brief foray into what happened
A hint at the lives of those with eyes on the camera
That is when imagination takes over and fills in the gaps
And runs remarkable lengths with unbelievable stamina.

We construct a history for the people based on their appearance
Give them the lives we expect them to have for the place
And the time where they lived
And then left, with only the photo as a trace.

The C&O continues to function as the dream of a man
And then the work of a country brought it into being
But it is those who have lived along it, who lived and died
It is their lives who make such photos worth seeing.