Burnside's Bridge: The Climactic Struggle of the 2nd and 20th Georgia at Antietam Creek

by Phillip Thomas Tucker

5 maps 6 x 9
* First thoroughly researched study of the struggle for Burnside's Bridge
* New perspective on Robert Toombs's role in the Army of Northern Virginia Before the heroic stand of the 20th Maine at Little Round Top, the 2nd and 20th Georgia Infantries, led by Brig. Gen. Robert Toombs, held off a veritable Yankee juggernaut and triumphed at Burnside's Bridge on Antietam Creek in 1862. This detailed account profiles the troops whose last stand helped prevent the destruction of the Army of Northern Virginia, providing Robert E. Lee with yet another chance for a northern invasion. Phillip Thomas Tucker, chief historian of the 81st Training Wing, Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, is the author/editor of several Civil War titles, including The 1862 Plot to Kidnap Jefferson Davis (0-8117-1271-0).

Genres: Civil War, American Civil War, Nonfiction, Civil War Eastern Theater, Antietam Campaign

198 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2000

About the author

Phillip Thomas Tucker, Ph.D. has been recognized today as "the Stephen King of History," and the most groundbreaking historian in America, because of his great productivity of high-quality books (more than 185 books of history) in many field of history, including the American Revolution, Women's History, Civil War History, African American History, etc.
A winner of national and state book awards, Tucker has recently optioned out three books--Cathy Williams, Anne Bonny, and Mia Leimberg--for Hollywood films.
No American historian has authored more history books than Dr. Tucker. America's most prolific and innovative of historians has won international acclaim for breaking much new ground in history by authoring more than 180 history books of unique distinction. In total, he is the author of more than 225 works in history, including both books and scholarly articles.
Significantly, the vast majority of these groundbreaking books have a distinctive "New Look" focus, including five volumes of the Harriet Tubman Series and Haitian Revolutionary Women Series. An award-winning scholar of highly-original and uniquely human history, he has most often explored the remarkable lives of forgotten men and women in powerful historical narratives long ignored by other historians.
Most important, Dr. Tucker has emerged as one of America's leading Revolutionary War historians. He has authored groundbreaking Revolutionary war books, including "How the Irish Won the American Revolution"; "George Washington's Surprise Attack": "Saving Washington's Army"; "Brothers in Liberty"; "Kings Mountain"; "Alexander Hamilton's Revolution"; "Alexander Hamilton and the Battle of Yorktown"; "Captain Alexander Hamilton and His Forgotten Contributions at the Decisive Battle of Trenton"; and others no less distinguished.
The author has also written four books about female Buffalo Soldier Cathy Williams. In addition, he has completed groundbreaking New Look Glory 54th Massachusetts Regimental Series of four volumes. This important series has focused on the heroic story of the first black regiment from the North during the Civil War.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Tucker has revealed some of the most overlooked chapters of America's hidden history to present new insights and fresh perspectives. The author's books have most often broken historical boundaries, while going well beyond traditional history in bold "New Look" narratives.
As America's leading myth-busting historian with three degrees in American history, including a Ph.D. from prestigious St. Louis University where he graduated summa cum laude, America's most prolific author has mined American history's obscure depths to present unique historical narratives long unexplored and forgotten. Tucker has long focused on illuminating the previously untold stories of forgotten women (black and white), who have been long overlooked. By revealing their distinguished hidden history that had been previously lost to the American public, the author has paid long-overdue tributes to these remarkable women of great courage and outstanding character. Ahead of their time, these dynamic women defied the odds in carving out their own unique destines with their hard work, enduring faith, and perseverance.
Dr. Tucker has authored groundbreaking books in many fields of study: African American, Women's, Irish, American Revolutionary War, Buffalo Soldiers, Civil War, Tuskegee Airmen, Little Bighorn, Caribbean, Private, Spanish American War, Second World War, George Armstrong Custer, and Southern history. He has long focused on telling the forgotten stories of lost souls, outcasts, renegades, misfits, rebels, deserters (like Buffalo Soldier David Fagen), iconoclasts, refugees, nonconformists, and outliers, whose unique lives deserve attention at this late day.
The author's award-winning books have often focused on iconic turning point moments in American

Reviews

[Shelly♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bloodiest day of the Civil War happened on 17 September 1862 near Sharpsburg, Maryland and the Antietam Creek. There were many actions on the fields that day, but this book specifically focuses on the 2nd & 20th Georgia under Generals Toombs and Benning, and how their stand at what is now the Burnside Bridge saved the day for the Confederate Army - although modern day historians seem to point more to the arrival of A. P. Hills troops. While there is no doubt that those troops were essential to maintaining the pushback of the Union soldiers in this area of the field, the Georgia regiments first made a stand with little more than 300 rifles and a few canon holding off an amazing 5 charges before finally having to fall back. These same survivors rallied behind the lines and led their own charge driving back the bluecoats and saving the day.

Tucker's book is well researched with characters sketches of important soldiers along with a telling of the events through accounts left behind in letters and diaries. Let credit be given where it is due - to the courage of the Georgia soldiers.

[David Medders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tucker writes with keen insight and passion about the heroic exploits of the Georgia 2nd and 20th brigades during their tenacious defense of the Rohrbach Bridge over Antietam Creek on September 17, 1862 against the overwhelming numbers of the IX Corps of the Army of the Potomac under the command of General Burnside. This was a pivotal battle protecting the southern right flank of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia on this bloodiest day in US history. Under the fiery leadership of their leader, General Toombs, these Georgians were "truly Spartans in gray, who fought against impossible odds to achieve the Thermopylae of the Civil War." At times redundant and somewhat tedious, this book provides meaningful insight into this terrible day in American history.

[Damon Lively · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Civil War buff’s – this is a recommended read. It provides a very detailed account that vividly portrays the struggle at this area of Antietam battlefield. It has to be one of the most in depth written of this episode. It is historically from the Confederate Infantry Unit perspective and the history of Toombs as commanding those units. There are many similar acts of heroism and valor in the Civil War – this being one that may sometimes be overlooked but equally engaging in tale. You get a real visual in your mind of how climactic the moment was and how close further disaster was for Lee. It is nicely written and something I would advocate for those with in depth Civil War interest – to pick up.