A Farmer, a Physician, and a General: Henry Rohrbach, Nathan Mayer, and Isaac P. Rodman – John Schildt
The Antietam Institute will wrap up their Summer Lecture Series on August 31, with esteemed local historian John Schildt presenting “A Farmer, a Physician, and a General: Henry Rohrbach, Nathan Mayer, and Isaac P. Rodman.” Although not on the battlefield proper, the Henry Rohrbach farm sat just east of the Lower Bridge and would serve as a staging area for the Federal forces, a headquarters, and a hospital on September 17, 1862. A farmer, Henry Rohrbach; a surgeon, Dr. Nathan Mayer; and a soldier, General Isaac P. Rodman, would share the trauma of war at the house and barn of the Rohrbach farmstead.
Reverend John Schildt graduated from Shepherd College, Wesley Theological Seminary and has studied at Western Maryland College, Gettysburg Seminary and West Virginia University. John’s first book, September Echoes, published in 1960, was the first on Antietam since Francis Palfrey in 1887. This led to an appointment to the Maryland Centennial Committee. He wrote the account of the battle for the Official Centennial Program and was the guest speaker for the 125h anniversary. John has been a lecturer and guide for several Civil War organizations, Round Tables, and many other groups. John led his first tour of Antietam in 1958. Since then, 2,000 additional tours have followed. John has written over thirty-five books relating the various aspects of the Maryland Campaign of 1862 and local history. This list includes Drums along the Antietam, Roads to Antietam, Four Days in October, Islands of Mercy, and Roads to Gettysburg. He and his wife and daughter live in Sharpsburg.
Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during the Antietam Institute’s Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2026 schedule.
These indoor programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures are free and open to the public. Each week, Antietam Institute holds a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.
