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To Antietam Creek

The Maryland Campaign of September 1862

D. Scott Hartwig

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A richly detailed account of the hard-fought campaign that led to Antietam Creek and changed the course of the Civil War.

In early September 1862 thousands of Union soldiers huddled within the defenses of Washington, disorganized and discouraged from their recent defeat at Second Manassas. Confederate General Robert E. Lee then led his tough and confident Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland in a bold gamble to force a showdown that could win Southern independence. The future of the Union hung in the balance. The campaign that followed lasted only two weeks, but it changed the course of the...

A richly detailed account of the hard-fought campaign that led to Antietam Creek and changed the course of the Civil War.

In early September 1862 thousands of Union soldiers huddled within the defenses of Washington, disorganized and discouraged from their recent defeat at Second Manassas. Confederate General Robert E. Lee then led his tough and confident Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland in a bold gamble to force a showdown that could win Southern independence. The future of the Union hung in the balance. The campaign that followed lasted only two weeks, but it changed the course of the Civil War.

D. Scott Hartwig delivers a riveting first installment of a two-volume study of the campaign and climactic battle. It takes the reader from the controversial return of George B. McClellan as commander of the Army of the Potomac through the Confederate invasion, the siege and capture of Harpers Ferry, the daylong Battle of South Mountain, and, ultimately, to the eve of the great and terrible Battle of Antietam.

Reviews

Reviews

The first volume of this two volume set is so very well written and all-inclusive on the detailed facts of this Maryland Campaign that it looks like this two volume set just might be the very best ever written on this campaign and battle.

It is difficult to imagine that a future study on this campaign could supersede Hartwig's work.

A new and monumental study of the origins and initiation of the Maryland Campaign of 1862... To Antietam Creek is a tour de force which will stand as the preeminent and final word on the subject... A must read for any serious Civil War student interested in the crucial events leading up to the Battle of Antietam. It is an instant classic on the subject, superbly written, and a ready preface to what will be an equally important and fresh approach to the battle in a second book.

Hartwig has unquestionably produced the most thoroughly researched book published in this Civil War sesquicentennial period.

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Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
7
x
10
Pages
808
ISBN
9781421428963
Illustration Description
25 halftones
Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
Introduction
1. The Return of McClellan
"General, I am in command again"
2. The Army of Northern Virginia
"Who could not conquer with troops such as these"
3. The Army of Northern

List of Illustrations
Introduction
1. The Return of McClellan
"General, I am in command again"
2. The Army of Northern Virginia
"Who could not conquer with troops such as these"
3. The Army of Northern Virginia Enters Maryland
"Our movements will be rapid"
4. The Army of the Potomac
"If we fail now the North has no hope"
5. The Army of the Potomac Advances to Frederick
"You may be sure that I will follow them as closely as I can"
5. Harpers Ferry
"To the last extremity"
7. The Battle for Mary land Heights
"For God's sake, don't fall back"
8. September 13
"My general idea is to cut the enemy in two"
9. The Morning Battle for Fox's Gap
"My God! Be careful!"
10. Afternoon at Fox's Gap
"So little did we know of the etiquette of war"
11. The First Corps Attacks
"It looked like a task to storm"
12. The Battle for Hill 1280
"Some of you will get hurt"
13. Into Turner's Gap
"An ugly looking place to attack"
14. Crampton's Gap
"The best fighting that has been done in this war"
15. Retreat from South Mountain
"God has seldom given an army a greater victory than this"
16. The Trap Closes and a Cavalry Dash
"The fate of Harper's Ferry was sealed"
17. The Fall of Harpers Ferry
"Through God's blessing, Harper's Ferry and its garrison are to be surrendered"
18. September 16
"We are entirely too methodical"
19. Eve of Battle
"I shall not, however, soon forget that night"
Acknowledgments
Appendixes
a. Opposing Forces in the Mary and Campaign
b. Strength of Union and Confederate Forces
c. Union and Confederate Casualties
List of Abbreviations
Notes
Essay on Sources
Index

Author Bio
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