“Nothing to the right!”: The plight of the 13th New Jersey – Marty Pritchett

The 13th New Jersey Infantry saw its “baptism of fire” at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, arriving only days after mustering in, and suffered heavy casualties, including the death of Captain Hugh C. Irish. Becoming one of the bloodiest engagements for the unit, the 13th New Jersey would place three monuments at Antietam marking its positions near the Cornfield and Dunker Church, as documented by Colonel Ezra A. Carman. Join us on June 6, as Institute historian Marty Pritchett follows the footsteps of the 13th New Jersey Volunteers and shares the stories.

Martin Pritchett was born in southern Kansas and is a member of the Oklahoma Shawnee tribe. He grew up in a military family that took him from the Midwest to Europe. He is a veteran of 23 years in the United States Coast Guard and Texas General Land Office, specializing in coastal search and rescue, environmental protection response, and maritime port safety. After seven years as an Antietam Battlefield Ambassador, Martin became a Certified Antietam Battlefield Guide.

This two-hour hike covers approximately 1 ½ miles, across moderate terrain and park trails. All excursions will run from 9:30 to 11:30 am and start at the Visitor Center overflow parking area. The “Following in the Footsteps” hikes are for current members only, and advance registration is required (login before registering), but there is no fee to attend. Members are required to purchase the park entrance pass at the Visitor Center.