Antietam : The Soldiers' Battle

Book Description

On September 13, 1862, in a field near Frederick, Maryland, four Union soldiers hit the jack-pot. There they found, wrapped carelessly around three cigars, a copy of General Robert E. Lee's most recent orders detailing Southern objectives and letting Union officers know that Lee had split his Army into four vulnerable groups. General George B. McClellan realized his opportunity to destroy the Army of Northern Virginia one piece at a time. "If I cannot whip Bobbie Lee," exulted McClellan, "I will be willing to go home." But the notoriously prudent Union general allowed precious hours to pass, and, by the time he moved, Lee's army had begun to regroup and prepare for battle near Antietam Creek. The ensuing fight would prove to be not only the bloodiest single day of the entire Civil War, but the bloodiest in the history of the U.S. Army. Countless historians have analyzed Antietam (known as Sharpsburg in the South) and its aftermath, some concluding that McClellan's failure to vanquish Lee constituted a Southern victory, others that the Confederate retreat into Virginia was a strategic win for the North. But in Antietam: The Soldiers' Battle, historian John Michael Priest tells this brutal tale of slaughter from an entirely new point of view: that of the common enlisted man. Concentrating on the days of actual battle--September 16, 17, and 18, 1862--Priest vividly brings to life the fear, the horror, and the profound courage that soldiers displayed, from the first Federal cavalry probe of the Confederate lines to the last skirmish on the streets of Sharpsburg. Antietam is not a book about generals and their grand strategies, but rather concerns men such as the Pennsylvanian corporal who lied to receive the Medal of Honor; the Virginian who lay unattended on the battlefield through most of the second day of fighting, his arm shattered from a Union artillery shell; the Confederate surgeon who wrote to the sweetheart he left behind enemy lines in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that he had seen so much death and suffering that his "head had whitened and my very soul turned to stone." Besides being a gripping tale charged with the immediacy of firsthand accounts of the fighting, Antietam also dispels many misconceptions long held by historians and Civil War buffs alike. Seventy-two detailed maps--which describe the battle in the hourly and quarter-hourly formats established by the Cope Maps of 1904--together with rarely-seen photographs and his own intimate knowledge of the Antietam terrain, allow Priest to offer a substantially new interpretation of what actually happened. When the last cannon fell silent and the Antietam Creek no longer ran red with Union and Confederate blood, twice as many Americans had been killed in just one day as lost their lives in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Spanish-American war combined. This is a book about battle, but more particularly, about the human dimension in battle. It asks "What was it like?" and while the answers to this simple question by turns horrify and fascinate, they more importantly add a whole new dimension to the study of the American Civil War.

Customer Reviews:

Eyewitness accounts and loads of maps.......2006-12-23

In "Antietam: The Soldiers' Battle," author John Michael Priest tells the story of the American Civil War's bloodiest day using a compilation of eyewitness accounts. The book also includes no less than 72 sketch maps of the battle. Between the plentiful maps and the chronologically-arranged accounts, the reader can easily follow the ebb and flow of the battle.

The book contains surprises, such as a mention of Gen. Robert E. Lee harassing Confederate stragglers, the soldiers' nearly universal dislike of shelling and occasional acts of cowardice or outrageous bravery. It's astonishing how close together opposing units were when they fired at one another. The author claims that Confederate defenders of the Bloody Lane fired at Max Weber's Union brigade at a range of 60 feet!

My favorite vignette concerns the half-crazed Swedish commander of the 20th New York Regiment, Col. Von Vegesack. When a Maine colonel helpfully suggested that the 20th's colors be lowered because they were drawing too much Rebel fire, Vegesack ranted, "Let them wave. They are our glory."

While many historians write about Antietam in broad strokes, this book gets into the details. For example, every student of the battle knows that Gen. John Sedgwick's Union division got ambushed and cut to pieces in the West Woods. Priest's book shows exactly how this disaster unfolded and where each unit was positioned. Most historians criticize the clumsy commitment of Col. William Irwin's VI Corps Union brigade. Yet, this unit -- which included the 20th NY -- defeated a Confederate thrust that threatened to retake Bloody Lane.

It's easy for armchair strategists to say that the Union commanders should have done this or the Rebel commanders should have done that. But, the general impression from reading this book is how difficult it must have been to impose any sort of control on a large battle like Antietam. This book should serve as a handy and useful reference for students of the battle.

Terrific read.......2006-10-07

I can't say enough good things about this book. Prior to visiting the Antietam battlefield, I read Sear's Landscape Turned Red to get an overview. But then after seeing the battlefield I was eager to read more. Priest's book was just what I wanted. It is a compilation of first person accounts that puts you right in the middle of the action. You'll feel the shells and bullets flying all around. I've now read this book at least ten times, learning and understanding more with each read. I've also recently revisited the battlefield to help me put everything together.

Outstanding, gripping first person accounts.......2006-06-10

Terrific book. Unique in its approach of using first person accounts to describe in detail one of the most horrific fights of the ACW. Priest puts you in the thick of the action. Contains numerous great maps as well.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys military history, and consider it one of the best written on the Civil War.

Deja vu.......2006-05-14

John Michael Priest " Antietam: The Soldier's Battle" is like deja vu. The Minnie balls are fast and thick and the double canister cut down your men. Of the 226 men you led into the cornfield (1st Texas) that warm day of 17th of Sept 1862, only 40 men came out.
This book reads just like you were there. AWESOME and highly reccomended. The research is impressive and for those looking for who shot whom up on one of the most bloodiest days of the war, this book is it.
My research was also in to try to identify what battery fired the U.S. 12lb Sperical Shot recovered at Sharpsburg Pike near the prison at Antietam that I own.

Impressive work, the effort shows.......2004-02-20

I agree with a previous reviewer that Priest's book works best with a general Antietam book like Sears's. My approach to understanding Antietam was to (1) read Sears's Landscape Turned Red; (2) visit the battlefield (this is key to understanding the numerous references in Priest's book to "Mumma's swale," "the high ground 600 yards south of the Dunker Church," etc.--with a mental picture everything fits together better); (3) buy a topographic battlefield map, such as the one by Trailhead Graphics (for sale at the Battlefield's Visitor Center); and (4) read this book. My only criticism of the maps is the lack of a small-scale "finder" map that shows the battlefield and the area around Sharpsburg. As for the author's large-scale "handdrawn" maps, I found them very useful, and they are placed well, usually never more than a page or two from the action they refer to (I read the original 1992 edition, so I'm not sure if the maps are placed as well in this 1994 edition from a different publisher). As for the text, it's wonderful: well edited and even well indexed. The emphasis on the more "minor" actions on September 17, 1862 that a more general book would breeze over or ignore because of space limitations is appreciated.

The Antietam Campaign (Military Campaigns of the Civil War)

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Informative Essays about America's Bloodiest Day of Battle
Outstanding information and viewpoints of Antietam!
Gallagher has done it again! A great addition to the series!
Gallagher has done it again! A great addition to the series!

The Antietam Campaign (Military Campaigns of the Civil War)
Gary W. Gallagher
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 080782481X
Release Date: 1999-05-12

Book Description

The Maryland campaign of September 1862 ranks among the most important military operations of the American Civil War. Crucial political, diplomatic, and military issues were at stake as Robert E. Lee and George B. McClellan maneuvered and fought in the western part of the state. The climactic clash came on September 17 at the battle of Antietam, where more than 23,000 men fell in the single bloodiest day of the war.

Approaching topics related to Lee's and McClellan's operations from a variety of perspectives, contributors to this volume explore questions regarding military leadership, strategy, and tactics, the impact of the fighting on officers and soldiers in both armies, and the ways in which participants and people behind the lines interpreted and remembered the campaign. They also discuss the performance of untried military units and offer a look at how the United States Army used the Antietam battlefield as an outdoor classroom for its officers in the early twentieth century.

The contributors are William A. Blair, Keith S. Bohannon, Peter S. Carmichael, Gary W. Gallagher, Lesley J. Gordon, D. Scott Hartwig, Robert E. L. Krick, Robert K. Krick, Carol Reardon, and Brooks D. Simpson.

Customer Reviews:

Informative Essays about America's Bloodiest Day of Battle.......2003-05-31

Just like previous reviewers, I agree that this book is a fine addition to the on-going series about the Military Campaigns of the Civil War. This installment about the Battle of Antietam is particularly strong because of the quality of scholarship included and the distinguished group of historians that Gallagher gathered for this edition.

Each author includes an interesting essay that details a specific aspect of the battle. Some examples of topics that are covered include: the supply challenge the Confederacy faced, how new Union recruits reacted to the carnage of Antietam, the role Confederate artillery played, and why McClellan failed to pursue Lee after the battle. I found that every essay presented a compelling argument and really offer the reader a detailed analysis that you will not find in other books about the battle.

As always, this type of book is not aimed at telling the history of what happened at Antietam. If you are looking for a general narrative of the battle - this is not the right book. On the other hand, it is designed for those who are somewhat familiar with the battle and are looking for the most current research from a find group of historians. I highly recommend the book for people who fall into this category. It will greatly enhance your understanding of key aspects that affected the battle which has been the bloodiest day in US military history.

Outstanding information and viewpoints of Antietam!.......2002-09-25

Similar to past works of Gallagher's, this book contains invididual chapters written by popular Civil War historians keying in on battle concerns, myths, strategies and political concepts during the campaign. I really enjoyed reading William Blair's chapter on how Marylanders caught in the middle of political unrest viewed the campaign and Lee's invasion. Brooks Simpson's chapter on how the Army of the Potomac was McClellan's bodyguard according to Lincoln really made me understand the political frustrations the Lincoln party had in regards to McClellan's slow moving and cautious approach to battle. Keith Bohannon's view on Confederate logistical problems was very informative and really brought forth information as to Lee's reasons for invading the north and also his retreat.

These chapters are just some of the great amount of information brought together in a very fine book. I would recommend this book to someone who has already read a book on the battle itself before reading this one. This book contains some fighting information but isn't one for coverage on the entire battle. It is one for understanding political unrest, commander motivations, strategies and little unknown and sometimes unclear myths that surround the entire campaign in September 1862. 5 STARS!!!

Gallagher has done it again! A great addition to the series!.......2000-08-01

Once again, Gary W. Gallagher has compiled a wonderful collection of essays in this latest volume of the Military Campaigns of the Civil War Series. Each chapter or essay focuses on a different aspect of the campaign and is written by a different author. This allows for a new perspective on the campaign with each chapter. Among the topics covered by the various essayists are Confederate perception of Antietam as a victory or defeat, Confederate logistics, Confederate artillery, the use of the Antietam battlefield as a classroom for military leaders in the 20th century, the impact of new recruits on the Army of Potomac's effectiveness, and the experiences of individual units.

All of the essays are well-written and contain wonderful insights into their selected aspects of the campaign. Due to the focus of the series on military events, other important issues related to Antietam are only briefly mentioned. Most notably, issues related to emancipation and foreign intervention are mentioned in passing. This, however, is a result of the decision by the editor and the press (University of North Carolina Press) to focus on military aspects. Despite this weakness, I would highly recommend this and all other books in the Military Campaigns of the Civil War series to anyone with an interest in the Civil War.

Gallagher has done it again! A great addition to the series!.......2000-07-10

As usual, Gary W. Gallagher has compiled a wonderful collection of essays on a wide variety of topics related to the selected campaign, in this case Antietam. Among the topics are Confederate public perception of Antietam as a success or failure, Confederate logistics, the impact of untrained newly recruited troops on the Army of the Potomac, Confederate artillery, experiences of individual units, and how the campaign served as a lesson for future military leaders.

As with the other books in the series, this book is hard to put down. The essay format covering a variety of topics, along with the quality of writing allows a different perspective on the same events with each new chapter. I would recommend this and other books in the series to anyone with an interest in the Civil War.

The Soldier Boy's Discovery (Bonnets and Bugles Series #4)
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It was better than last but still...

The Soldier Boy's Discovery (Bonnets and Bugles Series #4)
Gilbert Morris
Manufacturer: Moody Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802409148

Book Description

Discover how good friends Jeff and Leah settle their own conflict and learn valuable lessons about friendship and forgiveness.

Customer Reviews:

It was better than last but still..........1999-08-24

I did like this book but It was missing something. I didn't really like the ending chosen but thouhgt the main story was great. I hope Gilbert Morris keeps on writing.

An address delivered upon the occasion of the dedication of her monuments erected by the state of Ohio to the memory of the illustrious dead upon the battlefield of Antietam: September 17, 1903

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An address delivered upon the occasion of the dedication of her monuments erected by the state of Ohio to the memory of the illustrious dead upon the battlefield of Antietam: September 17, 1903
Robert P Kennedy
Manufacturer: s.n
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008AKOHQ

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Antietam: The Soldiers' Battle
John M. Priest
Manufacturer: White Mane Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000L9VN4M

Antietam: The Soldiers' Battlefield : A Self-Guided Mini-Tour

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Quick and Valuable Little Guide Before You Go

Antietam: The Soldiers' Battlefield : A Self-Guided Mini-Tour
John Michael Priest
Manufacturer: White Mane Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Gleam Of Bayonets: The Battle Of Antietam And Robert E. Lee's Maryland Campaign, September, 1862

ASIN: 0942597672

Customer Reviews:

Quick and Valuable Little Guide Before You Go.......2005-09-23

A great little book to take a look at before you go or to read on the way there. It's short and to the point. Terrific drawings of each area.

Also has such a "you are there" feel that it is an especially valuable little synopsis for historians, researchers, writers, and others who won't be visiting the site in person.

This book matches the tour stops, and can be used with the Park Service's auto-tour map or audio cassettes, too.

Highly recommended.

The monuments at Antietam: Sharpsburg's silent sentinels

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The monuments at Antietam: Sharpsburg's silent sentinels
Charles S Adams
Manufacturer: Charles S. Adams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 1888256087

Secret warriors: female soldiers in the Civil War: eager for adventure, or to accompany their husbands, hundreds of women assumed male identities and marched ... An article from: New York Times Upfront

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Secret warriors: female soldiers in the Civil War: eager for adventure, or to accompany their husbands, hundreds of women assumed male identities and marched ... An article from: New York Times Upfront
Sean McCollum
Manufacturer: Scholastic, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from New York Times Upfront, published by Scholastic, Inc. on December 13, 2002. The length of the article is 1444 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Secret warriors: female soldiers in the Civil War: eager for adventure, or to accompany their husbands, hundreds of women assumed male identities and marched into battle. (times past).
Author: Sean McCollum
Publication: New York Times Upfront (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 13, 2002
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Volume: 135 Issue: 6 Page: 25(5)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Addresses delivered on the occasion of the dedication of the New Jersey monument on the battlefield of Antietam, September 17th, 1903

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Addresses delivered on the occasion of the dedication of the New Jersey monument on the battlefield of Antietam, September 17th, 1903
James O Smith
Manufacturer: M. Plum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Antietam-the Soldier's Battle

Manufacturer: White Mane Pub\, Shippensburg PA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I98EC4

Book Description

The Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen is a well-researched and easy-to-use reference work covering sixteen centuries of Scottish lives. From St. Patrick in the 4th century through David Hume and the Scottish Thought up until the late Victorian era with the death of General Sir James Hope Grant in 1875, this is the final revised edition of Chambers' much-quoted work first published in 1832-35.

Scotland has produced a wealth of eminent people in every field of human endeavour including philosophers, theologians, historians, military leaders, statesmen, physicians, writers, scientists and artists; names include Sir David Brewster, James Bruce, Gilbert Burnet, Robert Burns, Rev. Dr. Thomas Chalmers, the Earl of Elgin, James Gregory, Sir William Hamilton, David Hume, John Knox, John Law, Henry Mackenzie, James Macpherson, Patrick Nasmyth, Mungo Park, John Playfair, Dr. Thomas Reid, John Tobias Smollett, Dugald Stewart, Thomas Telford, James Thomson, Thomas Thomson, Sir William Wallace and James Watt.

Over 850 substantial biographies are printed using original research from a wide range of source materials including histories, memoirs, periodical articles and private information. In addition to the alphabetical entries, the dictionary is illustrated with portrait plates and has two quick-reference indexes. This is a valuable and detailed work forming an essential biographical reference tool for libraries and students in all disciplines.

A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen 5 Volumes

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A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen 5 Volumes
Robert Chambers and Thomas Thomson
Manufacturer: BLACKIE & SON LTD (UK)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UDH2ZI

A Biographical Dictionary Of Eminent Scotsmen V1

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A Biographical Dictionary Of Eminent Scotsmen V1

Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1432633309

Book Description

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

Biographical Dictionary Of Eminent Scotsmen, A (4 Volumes0

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Biographical Dictionary Of Eminent Scotsmen, A (4 Volumes0
Robert Chambers
Manufacturer: Reprint Services Corp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen. 5 volumes
Robert Chambers
Manufacturer: Blackie & Son Ltd
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Binding: Hardcover
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A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen. In Five volumes. Originally edited by Robert Chambers

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A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen. In Five volumes. Originally edited by Robert Chambers
Robert and Thomson, Rev Thos Chambers
Manufacturer: Blackie and Son
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Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LKVYAY

A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen: 3 Volume Set

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A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen: 3 Volume Set
Robert (original editor); Thomson, Rev. Thomas (revised) Chambers
Manufacturer: Blackie & Son
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TF6L4K

A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen: With a supplemental volume, continuing the biographies to the present time,

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A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen: With a supplemental volume, continuing the biographies to the present time,
Robert Chambers
Manufacturer: Blackie
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Binding: Unknown Binding
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A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen
Rev Thomas Thomson
Manufacturer: Blackie and Son
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A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen
Robert Chambers
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