Bloody Lane

Bloody Lane (Sunken Road)
Part of Battle of Antietam
Sharpsburg, Maryland
Looking south along the former Sunken Road
Site information
OwnerUnited States National Park Service
ConditionPreserved and interpreted
Location
Coordinates39°28′30″N 77°44′40″W / 39.47500°N 77.74444°W / 39.47500; -77.74444
Site history
BuiltEarly 19th century (eroded farm lane)
In useSeptember 17, 1862
MaterialsDirt, rail fences
Battles/warsBattle of Antietam

The Bloody Lane, also known as the Sunken Road, is a preserved section of the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland. It served as a natural defensive trench for Confederate soldiers during the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. This small farm lane became one of the most iconic sites of the battle due to the intense and deadly fighting that occurred there. It remains a central feature of the battlefield and a poignant reminder of the staggering casualties the American Civil War produced.