Good news! No matter which guide you select, you will receive a well-rounded tour of the Battle of Antietam. Every guide has researched and walked the fields around Sharpsburg for years.
In addition to a sound overview of the battle, I like to emphasize the human interest stories. Who were the men that were fighting? What type of weapons did they use? What did they witness?
I also like specialty tours. If you had an ancestor who fought with a particular unit, I can highlight that unit during the tour.
I am open to various forms of transportation on tours: cars, buses, bicycle, segways, horses, carriages, and walking.
My interest in the Civil War began as a child. My father would take me to battlefields such as Antietam, Gettysburg, and Shiloh. I always considered Antietam my home battlefield because I live close-by in Hagerstown.
You can’t see the rolling hills and uneven terrain in a book. The best way to learn about the Battle of Antietam is to get out on the field.
If you are having a bad day, just think about the brave soldiers who fought at battles such as Antietam. I have never experienced a day as bad as those soldiers did.
My background includes:
- Antietam Battlefield guide since 2007 with over 1,000 tours conducted
- Member of the Hagerstown Civil war Round Table for over 30 years, serving as president for three years.
- Author of five books, the most recent being “A Civil War Journey: The Letters of John W. Brendel”
- Book reviewer for Blue and Gray magazine
- Speaker for several Civil War Round Tables and veteran organizations
- Retired battalion chief of the Hagerstown Fire Department
- Volunteer firefighter with over 40 years of service, including five years as a fire chief
I hope to see you soon!
Justin Mayhue