Antietam Bridge, On the Sharpsburgh and Boonsboro Turnpike, No. 3, September 1862 1862

This albumen print captures the Antietam Bridge, taken in September 1862 by Alexander Gardner. The image shows the bridge as a symbolic connection but also a stark reminder of division. Notice the covered wagons crossing, their presence invoking a sense of pilgrimage or exodus, a recurring motif in art and history. The image resonates with the ancient theme of crossing boundaries, much like the "Bridge of Souls" found in mythology, linking the living and the dead. This is evocative of the psychological weight carried by survivors and the nation, haunted by the memory of those lost. The bridge, an enduring symbol of connection, takes on a new meaning in the context of Civil War photography. It reflects a yearning for reconciliation amidst profound trauma, embodying the cyclical nature of history, as old symbols resurface, imbued with new layers of significance.