Sample Programs

Full Day Antietam

Letterman Programs usually begin with the facilitator meeting the group at their site at the start of the day.  During this time, the knowledge level of the group will be assessed, as well as the areas of greatest importance to your group then tailoring the rest of the day based on those evaluations.   During the drive to the Battlefield, the facilitator will begin setting up the background of why the Battle of Antietam happened, why it happened in Sharpsburg and other information that will help prepare the participants to better understand the rest of the day.

The group will visit all significant sites associated with the Antietam campaign including, but not limited to: the Visitor’s Center, Cornfield, Dunker Church, Bloody Lane and Burnside Bridge among other sites specific to the needs of your group.

Planned stops or stands along the route will be selected for historical significance, visual impact, vignette suitability, or logistical necessity. Some of the topics covered during stops include:

• Leadership-strengths and weaknesses
• Courage and innovation
• Communication
• Logistics and resources
• Stress and fatigue
• Artillery and its effects
• Medical understandings of the day
• Military medical care before and after Letterman Plan
• Need for change in a system
• Strategic Policy
• Critical thinking
• Evacuation
• Healthcare issues

A Letterman Program consists of systematic preliminary study of the battle of Antietam, an extensive visit to the actual sites associated with that campaign, and an opportunity to integrate the lessons derived from each.  This program links the historical event, systematic preliminary study, and actual terrain to produce battle analysis in three dimensions. It consists of three distinct phases: preliminary study, field study, and integration.Training aids will improve both the preliminary and field study phases. Aids used may be maps, group activities, photographs, film, artifacts, and a terrain board. Instructional methods include lecture, facilitation, and group discussion.

Sample Full Day Schedule                                                      

Half Day Antietam

The Half Day Antietam Program  focuses on the same issues and concerns as the full day, but in a more truncated fashion.  Half day programs may or may not include program/tour at NMCWM, depending upon the client’s needs and limitations.

Sample Schedule:

Letterman Programs are able to be held at numerous sites, including, but not limited to:

Antietam Battlefield

Gettysburg Battlefield

Town of Gettysburg

Harper’s Ferry

Frederick City