Final Attack Trail Map (click to enlarge)

Length:  1.7-mile loop (add 1.5 miles for side trips to the Otto Farm and Hawkins’ Zouaves Monument)
Time:  1 hour (2 hours with side trips)
Difficulty:  Moderate with a few very steep hills

The Final Attack Trail begins at the Burnside Bridge stop on the Antietam National Battlefield Tour. There is a brochure that goes along with the trail that is available for free at the Visitor Center, so be sure to stop there first. Information on the brochure corresponds to numbered posts along the route.

After beating back the Georgians defending the Rohrbach Bridge (aka Lower Bridge, aka Burnside Bridge) around 1 PM on September 17, 1862, Union general Ambrose Burnside spent the next two hours getting 8,000 men of the 9th Corps over the bridge and to the west side of Antietam Creek. There were 3,200 additional troops commanded by General Isaac P. Rodman in the 9th Corps, but these men had been sent south to cross the creek at Snavely Ford. By 3 PM, Burnside was ready to renew his attack on the Confederates who had fallen back to the northwest on the ridges just outside of Sharpsburg.

The Final Attack Trail takes hikers through the terrain covered by the Union 9th Corps as it advanced towards the new Confederate positions and eventually engaged them in what was to be the final battle at Sharpsburg. There is also an opportunity to make side trips to the Otto Farm and to the 9th New York Infantry “Hawkins’ Zouaves” Monument, trips that add 1.5 miles to the otherwise 1.7-mile loop trail.

To start the hike from the Burnside Bridge parking lot, look for a gap in the fence on the opposite side of the road. A sign identifies the trail.

Start of the Final Attack Trail at Antietam National Battlefield

The Final Attack Trail starts off by crossing an agriculture field—soybeans when I did the hike—along a mowed path between the crops. To keep the landscape similar to what it was like in the 1860s, the National Park Service leases the historical farmlands to modern-day farmers. Typical crops now growing are feed corn and soybeans. Some land is also used for dairy farming.

Final Attack Trail starts off by crossing a soybean field, Antietam National Battlefield

The trail passes through a narrow stand of trees—less than 100 yards deep—at the far end of the soybean field before coming out onto another field. Stops 2 and 3 on the trail (per the trail brochure) are on this second field, which is located near the center of the Union battle line. And by the way, while you might think of farm fields as being on level ground, the terrain in this area is quite hilly.

Stop 3 on the Final Attack Trail at Antietam National Battlefield

The Final Attack Trail circles the field, then curves to the west (right) at another stand of trees. After walking along the trees for 150 yards you’ll come to an intersection, but keep straight until you reach the Stop 4 post (.5 mile into the hike). This stop is on Otto Lane, the original road leading to the Otto Farm. If you want to visit the farm, keep hiking straight. There is a monument just up ahead. If you don’t want to hike to the farm, a .4-mile round trip detour, then turn around and head back to the intersection you just passed.

Stop 4 on the Final Attack Trail is on Otto Lane, Antietam National Battlefield

OTTO FARM SIDE TRIP

Take Otto Lane, which is now a mowed grass path, to the farm. The road has been here since the early 1800s.

Otto Lane leads to the Otto Farm at Antietam National Battlefield

The monument you could see from the Stop 4 post is the 11th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Monument. The 11th Ohio advanced to this position and remained here until the conclusion of the Battle of Antietam.

11th Ohio Infantry Monument at Antietam National Battlefield

The hike to the Otto Farm is downhill all the way along a gradual slope. The farm buildings consist of the Otto Farmhouse and an old barn that is on the verge of falling down. The 90-acre farm was established by John Otto and his new wife, Dorcas, in 1825.

After the fighting at the Burnside Bridge, the Confederates retreated through this area. Later in the day, Union colonel Thomas Welch set up artillery pieces south of the barn. At the very end of the battle, in a reversal of fortune, newly arrived Confederate reinforcements under the command of General Ambrose P. Hill attacked the Union left flank at the Otto’s cornfield farther to the south. Hikers on the Final Attack Trail will pass through the cornfield later in the hike.

Otto Farmhouse at Antietam National Battlefield

After the battle, the farmhouse and barn were used as a field hospital. Soldiers stole most of the Ottos’ food, and of course the crops were ruined. After the war, Otto put in a compensation claim with the federal government for $2,350 but was only repaid $900.

When done at the farm, walk back to Stop 4 to continue the hike on the Final Attack Trail.

FINAL ATTACK TRAIL CONTINUED

The intersection where the Final Attack Trail turns south is a little confusing because there are a couple paths to choose from. The correct path is the one that runs between two fences. This is the historic Otto Lane, and it is marked with a directional post. You can also take the left turn just past Otto Lane. Both routes run slightly parallel to each other and merge 300 yards ahead, though if you take Otto Lane, you must zig zag to the right through a gap in the fence. Posts with directional arrows mark the turns. On the map at the top of this page, I drew in the second path with a black line.

Final Attack Trail continues south on Otto Lane, Antietam National Battlefield

The jog away from Otto Lane towards the other trail comes just 175 yards from the Stop 4 intersection. When you get to the merger, you can see a tall monument in the distance on a hill.

Final Attack Trail at Antietam National Battlefield

At .8 mile into the hike (excluding the mileage to the Otto Farm) is the turnoff for the Hawkins’ Zouaves Monument. The hike to the monument is 1.1 mile, round trip.

Trail to the Hawkins’ Zouaves Monument at Antietam National Battlefield

HAWKINS’ ZOUAVES MONUMENT SIDE TRIP

Historically, Zouaves were a French infantry regiment that fought in North Africa, originally made up of Algerians. Hawkins’ Zouaves was an American military group founded by Rush Hawkins that dressed in uniforms inspired by the French Zouaves. The group joined the Union army as the 19th New York Infantry Regiment but was commonly called Hawkins’ Zouaves. The Zouaves advanced farther west towards Sharpsburg than any other Union regiment, reaching Harpers Ferry Road before being ordered to retreat. Of the 373 men in the regiment, 240 were killed or wounded. The monument marks the general area of their most forward position.

Turn right at the intersection with the Final Attack Trail and hike up a slight hill for a little over a tenth of a mile to Branch Avenue.

Hawkins’ Zouaves Trail at Branch Avenue, Antietam National Battlefield

Turn right at Branch Avenue and walk about 100 yards to where the trail continues into the woods on the other side of the road. There is a Confederate tablet (details troop positions during the battle) at the turn.

Trail to the Hawkins’ Zouaves Monument continues on the other side of Branch Avenue, Antietam National Battlefield

The trail runs west, sandwiched between another agriculture field and a narrow stand of trees. Sometimes it veers slighting into the trees, so there is some shade provided on a sunny day. Follow this for a quarter mile. The last 500 feet is up a steep hill.

Typical terrain on the trail to the Hawkins’ Zouaves Monument, Antietam National Battlefield

The trail eventually comes out on a paved walkway that leads to the monument. Take a right. The monument is a little over a tenth of a mile ahead.

Paved path to the Hawkins’ Zouaves Monument at Antietam National Battlefield

Hawkins’ Zouaves Monument at Antietam National Battlefield

In addition to the Zouaves Monument, there is a monument for the 8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and a mortuary cannon for Union general Isaac P. Rodman, who was killed during the final attack. This type of monument marks the position where a general was killed or mortally wounded. The Rodman mortuary cannon is one of six such memorials at Antietam. Three are for Confederate generals (George B. Anderson, Lawrence O’Bryan Branch, and William E. Starke) and three are for Union generals (Israel B. Richardson, Joseph K. Mansfield, and Rodman).

8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Monument at Antietam National Battlefield

Mortuary cannon for Union general Isaac P. Rodman at Antietam National Battlefield

When done at the Zouaves Monument, walk back the way you came to the Final Attack Trail. In truth, it’s a long walk just to see a monument.

FINAL ATTACK TRAIL CONTINUED

Stay straight at the intersection with the trail to the Hawkins’ Zouaves Monument to continue on the Final Attack Trail.

Intersection of the Final Attack Trail and the trail to the Hawkins’ Zouaves Monument

The next point of interest is the 16th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Monument (Stop 5). In 1862 this area was a 40-acre cornfield. Union soldiers were advancing westward through this field when Confederate reinforcements commanded by General Ambrose P. Hill arrived from the southwest and slammed into the Union left flank. Taking much of the heat was the 16th Connecticut and the 4th Rhode Island infantry regiments. The monument to the 16th Connecticut, which is up a very steep hill, marks the regiment’s general location on the battlefield. It was dedicated in 1894.

Steep hill on the Final Attack Trail leads up to the 16th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Monument at Antietam National Battlefield

16th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Monument at Antietam National Battlefield

From the monument, the Final Attack Trail continues south through more fields, some planted with soybeans and some just weeds—no corn when I visited. The far end of the loop, marked by Stop 6 on the hike, is 1.1 mile from the start (excluding the Otto Farm and Zouaves Monument side trips). There is a mowed field and two benches for those who need a rest. This stop is at the very southern end of the battlefield.

Typical terrain on the southwest end of the Final Attack Trail at Antietam National Battlefield

Stop 6 on the Final Attack Trail at Antietam National Battlefield

The Final Attack Trail now curves to the north and continues through very hilly terrain. In fact, the steepest hill on the hike comes just after the turn north. The trail drops down one ridge, levels out for 500 feet, then heads up an equally steep hill to the top of a second ridge. From the top of one ridge to the next is .3 mile.

Steep hills on the southeast end of the Final Attack Trail at Antietam National Battlefield

On the way up the hill is an intersection with a connector to the Snavely Ford Trail. As I remarked in my Snavely review, if you want to hike either of these trails, start at the beginning at the Burnside Bridge parking lot. I can’t think of any reason to cut from one to the other unless somebody is chasing you.

At the top of the hill is Stop 7, which according to the trail brochure, offers one of the best views of the battlefield in the park. It might have been a great place to watch the battle back in September 1862, but today there is nothing to get excited about because you are just looking at land. There is a wayside exhibit and the 12th Ohio Infantry Regiment Monument at this stop.

View of the battlefield from Stop 7 on the Final Attack Trail at Antietam National Battlefield

12th Ohio Infantry Regiment Monument at Antietam National Battlefield

The terrain temporarily levels out past Stop 7. A section of the trail runs along an old stone wall.

Typical terrain on the east side of the Final Attack Trail at Antietam National Battlefield

At 1.4 miles into the hike (Final Attack Trail mileage only), the trail zig zags between gaps in a wooden fence and makes its final turn to the east towards the Burnside Bridge. There is another short hill just past the turn, and two cannon are positioned at the top (Stop 8). Confederate artillery batteries at this location shelled Burnside’s 9th Corps during its attempt to capture the Rohrbach Bridge earlier in the day. Once the final attack began, the Confederates retreated and the spot was occupied by Union guns.

Cannon at Stop 8 on the Final Attack Trail at Antietam National Battlefield

From here it is a straight shot back to the Burnside Bridge area, and downhill all the way. As at the start of the hike, the trail passes through the same narrow stand of trees and flanks a soybean field.

Final Attack Trail runs along a soybean field as it approaches the Burnside Bridge parking area, Antietam National Battlefield

The hike ends at the Burnside Bridge overflow parking lot near the William McKinley Monument. Take a left to get back to your vehicle.

Final Attack Trail ends near the William McKinley Monument at Antietam National Battlefield

I hiked every trail at Antietam National Battlefield, and the Final Attack Trail is definitely the hardest. However, it gives you a great idea of the difficulty the Union and Confederate soldiers had chasing each other from ridge to ridge. And don’t forget, they were moving cannon through these hills as well. When I was at the Final Attack stop on the Antietam National Battlefield Tour, I read about how the Confederates moved the cannon during the battle, and I wrote, “Now take a look at the terrain in front and behind you. I get tired just thinking about walking between these ridges, let alone dragging a cannon with me.” On the Final Attack Trail, I had the opportunity to walk between these ridges, albeit without a cannon in tow.

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