War at Your Doorstep: The Story of the Mumma Family at the Battle of Antietam

Mumma Farm in Maryland.

This lesson is part of the National Park Service’s Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) program.


The Bloodiest Day in American History

23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into the North and led Abraham Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Afterwards the area on and around the battlefield became a huge hospital and burial ground.

The only deliberate destruction of someone’s home during the battle was the burning of the Mumma Farm right in the middle of the battlefield. Confederate soldiers were ordered to burn these structures to prevent their use by Union sharpshooters. Fortunately, Samuel Mumma and his family had fled to safety before the battle. The Mumma family rebuilt the home in 1863.

This lesson plan will use primary and secondary sources related to the Mumma Farm and family to help students understand how the Battle of Antietam and its aftermath had a profound and lasting impact on the Mumma family and other families near the battlefield.

Click here for the full lesson plan.

Objectives

1. Students will be able to name three impacts of the Battle of Antietam on the local citizens. 2. Students will be able to explain what happened to the Mumma farm and Mumma family during the Battle of Antietam.
3. Students will use primary and secondary sources to perform historic research.
4. Students will analyze and interpret a historic building, structure, or site in their community.
5. Students will be able to demonstrate the value of historic places.

Materials for students

This lesson plan contains maps, readings, historic photographs, letters, and architectural drawings. The materials can either be used directly on the computer, projected on the wall, or printed out, photocopied, and distributed to students. Many of the links for these documents and images will take you to high-resolution images that your students can study in detail.

Full Lesson Plan