A Day in September: The Battle of Antietam and the World It Left Behind

by Stephen Budiansky

A panoramic account of the fateful Civil War battle and its far-reaching consequences for American society and culture.


The Battle of Antietam, which took place on September 17, 1862, remains the single bloodiest day in America’s more than 3,600 men died in twelve hours of savage fighting, and more than 17,000 were wounded. As a turning point in the Civil War, the narrow Union victory is well-known as the key catalyst for Lincoln to issue his Emancipation Proclamation.


Yet Antietam was not only a battle that dramatically changed the fortunes and meaning of the war; it also changed America in ways we feel today. No army in history wrote so many letters or kept as many diaries as the soldiers who fought in the Civil War, and Stephen Budiansky draws on this rich record to re-create the experiences of those whose lives were forever changed, whether on the battlefield or in trying to make sense of its horrors in the years and decades to follow. Antietam would usher in a new beginning in politics, military strategy, gender roles, battlefield medicine, war photography, and the values and worldview of the postwar generation.


A masterful and fine-grained account of the battle, built around the intimate experiences of nine people whose lives intersected there, A Day in September is a story of war but also, at its heart, a human history, one that encompasses Antietam’s enduring legacy.


 

Genres: History, Civil War, Military History, Nonfiction, American History, American Civil War

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Historian and journalist Stephen Budiansky is the author of twelve books about military history, science, and nature.

His latest book is The Bloody Shirt: Terror After Appomattox, which chronicles the struggles of five courageous men in the post-Civil War South as they battled a rising tide of terrorist violence aimed at usurping the newly won rights of the freedmen.

Reviews

[Glenn Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

The technique of using character studies of the importance of this battle made the book come alive. The author relates little known or mostly forgotten aspects of each of the characters and does not cover their flaws. I knew the battle’s slaughter but not of the reasons or the far reaching effects.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting format for a history book about a battle; each chapter is told through the experiences of an eyewitness. My only complaint about the book was that it didn't really tell the story of the battle itself, more a book of character sketches than anything else. My only other complaint, and it's an insignificant one, is that Bruce Catton, perhaps the best Civil War historian of the 20th century, isn't mentioned until the epilogue. A worthy effort overall.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Battle of Sharpsburg, more commonly known as the Battle of Antietam, remains the bloodiest day in American military history with over 20,000 casualties. Budiansky approaches the narrative of the battle like the flanking tactics so commonly used in the war, attacking the analysis from the least expected vantage point and not necessarily the minutiae of the battle itself. How did Robert E. Lee come to align himself with the South and what dominos fell to get him in position to invade Northern Territory (albeit a border state)? Why was General McClellan so incapacitated by what ifs and nefarious possibilities to the brink of incompetence? The book clearly echoes other historical accounts of the dissonant gap between McClellan’s self-reflection and promotion and his actual accomplishments. And thus, his relationship with Lincoln, under enormous pressure to reunify and restore the nation, but also to potentially impart progress to validate the conflict, was under constant strain. To be sure, the battle itself was not ignored in the least. The miasma of smoke, gore, noise, and utter confusion surrounding the infamous locations of Bloody Lane, Dunker Church and Burnside Bridge are well documented. Yet the battle played a significantly larger role in the grand scheme of things, serving as an abject failure for Lee to command a significant victory in the North and thus, delaying European recognition of Confederate sovereignty. The battle also became a catalyst for Lincoln to issue his iconic (but unpopular) Emancipation Proclamation, using war measures as a means to support runaway slaves and to command the military to seize them from rebelling states as contraband. Almost equally compelling was the near conclusion of the book which speaks briefly to the mental effect the battle and the war had on young men, often accused of faking their trauma or having it ignored while simultaneously seeing an increase in institutionalized veterans. As a result, for many years neither Antietam or the war were discussed at length in vast public circles or publications. It was only a few decades later that veterans began to open up to the tragedy having reunions honoring both the Union and the Confederacy as heroic men who fought for a cause. It’s easy to wonder if the seeds were sown for the United Daughters of the Confederacy to seize upon the opportunity then to perpetuate the myth of the Lost Cause painting an entire demographic of racist traitors as sympathetic war gods. And finally, and perhaps most strangely, the book does not speak of Clara Barton well who I always knew to be a strong female icon of the era. According to the sources, it seems she capitalized on the war effort to self-aggrandize as much as anyone. If you like military history or even just the Civil War, this is a worthwhile read.

[Chad Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Budiansky's "A Day in September: The Battle of Antietam and the World It Left Behind" offers a fresh perspective on one of the bloodiest days in American history. Released in 2024, this compelling work examines the Battle of Antietam through the lens of nine key figures, including Clara Barton and Abraham Lincoln, providing a multifaceted view of the conflict and its far-reaching consequences. Budiansky, a seasoned author with 18 books to his credit, brings his expertise in military history and biography to bear in this nuanced exploration. The book's structure is particularly noteworthy, using the pivotal battle as a fulcrum to examine both the lead-up to the conflict and its aftermath. This approach allows readers to grasp the broader context of the Civil War and its impact on American society. While Civil War enthusiasts may find familiar ground in the battle details, Budiansky's true strength lies in his analysis of the societal changes catalyzed by Antietam. He delves into how the battle influenced various aspects of American life, from advancements in military tactics and medical care to shifts in diplomacy and the relationship between science and religion. The author's exploration of post-war trauma and its effects on veterans is particularly insightful, shedding light on an often-overlooked aspect of the conflict's legacy. Budiansky's ability to make complex subjects accessible to general readers is evident throughout the book, as he weaves together personal narratives with broader historical trends. However, the book is not without its limitations. Some readers may find the lack of traditional footnotes frustrating, as Budiansky opts for a more general "Notes on Sources" section. Additionally, Civil War buffs seeking new revelations about the battle itself may be left wanting. Despite these minor drawbacks, "A Day in September" stands as a valuable addition to Civil War literature. It offers newcomers an engaging entry point to understanding Antietam's significance, while providing seasoned readers with a thought-provoking examination of the battle's long-term impact on American society.

[Matt McKeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Budiansky follows the major figures in the Antietam Campaign, Lee, Longstreet, McClellan, Clara Barton, Lincoln, Oliver Wendall Holmes(a young officer), and a great unsung hero: Dr. Jonathan Letterman, who organized a vastly improved system for treating the wounded.

Well written, interesting, I enjoyed it. Didn't break new ground, except for Letterman.

[Randall Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is a book about the Battle of Antietam, the narrative of the the battle itself comprises only a fraction of the story. This isn't a bad thing as Budiansky tells the story through the eyes and experiences of various actors in the drama. It is still a gripping and informative volume.

We learn about Longstreet, but also about Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., the future Supreme Court Justice who was seriously injured in the battle.

There is a good deal of information about the military training the leading generals had at West Point and how that affected their tactical and strategic decisions. There is a detailed recounting of the Union surgeons who treated the wounded and what they learned in the Civil War. These experiences led to subsequent advances in military medicine and the treatment of wounded soldiers. The Sanitary Corps, also worked to reduce deaths from non-battle causes, e.g., dysentery, scurvy, malnutrition, and other communicable diseases.

There is also a great chapter about Clara Barton that opened my eyes about her true self. Clearly, the fanciful stories of her we read as kids were not accurate portrayals of her persona and character. Spoiler alert, she wasn't quite the "Angel of the Battlefield" we were taught as youngsters.

There is also an interesting thread throughout the book about Karl Marx and his observations, from Europe, about the nature and progression of the military campaigns. I've read a lot of Marx over the years. However, before reading this book, never knew he published a volume solely about the US Civil War. Considered me edified.

Probably not the deep detail desired by true military historians on the opposing forces, order of battle, equipment and tactics, etc.. That's all in there; however, in retelling the story thru the eyes of these disparate actors, Budiansky had woven an interesting and page turning tale. For a more detailed version, consider Stephen Sears' Landscape Turned Red.

[Jim Gallen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Day In September is an account and an analysis of America’s bloodiest day of warfare, September 17, 1862, when the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac clashed along the banks of Antietam Creek near the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. Drawn extensively from accounts, letters and diaries of participants, each chapter’s subtitle is its prominent character: Who Would Be A Soldier, Robert E. Lee; A Problem of Engineering, George B. McClellan; The Assault Heroic, Volunteer BrigadierJacob Cox of Ohio; Organizing For Carnage, the Union’s Jonathan Letterman, M.D.; Passion and Irony, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.; War At The Operational Level, James Longstreet; Laid In Our Dooryards, Photographer Alexander Gardner; Woman’s Work, Clara Barton and Emancipation, Abraham Lincoln. The text is beneficially supplemented by maps, photos, an index and extensive bibliography. Author Stephen Budiansky begins with biographical introductions to the primary generals, Robert E. Lee and George B. McClellan followed by accounts of organization for the battle, the medical corps, hour-by-hour accounts of the battle itself and finally, the changes that flowed in its wake. The contribution of this work to the Antietam canon is found in its subtitle, The World It Left Behind. This is the story, not only of a battle, but its lasting impact.

This work sheds insights into Lee’s character and background I had not discerned from other reading, extensive though it be. His devotion to the Army is presented as based, not in martial ardor, but in the alternative it offered to a younger son of limited means seeking to avoid domination by an overbearing father-in-law. A quote during his service as superintendent of West Point is telling. “I can advise no young man to enter the Army. The same application, the same self-denial the same endurance, in any other profession will advance him farther and faster.” For himself, “The more comfortably I am fixed in the Army, the less likely I shall be to leave it.”

Lee’s background having been presented, the text digresses into a study of the science of warfare, drawing on West Point engineering professor, David Hart Mahan, and French theorist Henri Jomini, before following Lee to the brink of the invasion of Maryland.

The focus shifts to George B. McClellan, a West Point graduate who had two horses shot out from under him in Mexico and served as a railroad executive before rejoining the Army and assuming command of the Army of the Potomac. Despite building boats too large for locks through which they must pass and failing on the Peninsula, McClellan still thought himself th b“ chosen instrument to carry out his (God’s) schemes” while Lincoln was resigned to “use the tools we have.”

The characters having been introduced, the narrative flows into the battle and the plight of the wounded. Mars’ tales are told and men’s transformation from idealists to hardened soldiers are chronicled by the literati among their number, in this case prominently, Holmes, Ambrose Bierce and William Dean Howell. Step-by-step military operations of both sides are examined. Long before television brought war into living rooms, photographs carried its images far from the battlefield. Note the haunting picture of the beautiful, majestic, but slain horse. The nurse’s work launched Barton’s reputation as “Angel of the Battlefield” that would make her a symbol of and spokeswoman for all who cared for those who bore the battle. As war is too important to be left to the generals, the politicians played their roles through oversight and enunciating the causes for which the war was fought.

The fighting ends, but memory endures in the lives its warriors. It echoed in strife over military cemeteries, veterans’ organizations, battlefield preservation and the lessons it teaches.


Readers will appreciate “A Day In September” not only for its depiction of the battle, but for its placement of Antietam in the evolution of the Civil War: how soldiers and armies got there, what they did and how Antietam changed them and the armies, nation and the world it left behind.

[Urey Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antietam was a pivotal battle – it put a permanent end to foreign recognition of the Confederacy. It gave Lincoln the Union victory he needed to promulgate the Emancipation Proclamation – he had been sitting on it for just such an event. Budianski approaches Antietam from a novel aspect – devoting nine chapters to each of nine people variously present and involved in the battle.

Some are obvious – Lee, McClellan, Longstreet and Cox all commanding troops and intimately involved in the fighting, the strategy and tactics. Lee’s strategic genius may have been somewhat less than conventional history accords to him. McClellan may be one of the most infuriating, damaging and arrogantly narcissistic figures of the Civil War years – and that’s saying something in that age of politically appointed general officers and outrageously elevated concepts of personal honor and ambition. He certainly was Lincoln’s bane, as Budianski makes abundantly, breath-takingly clear.

Others are less obvious, but significantly involved. Oliver Wendell Holmes who fought the battle, and was gravely wounded. Jonathan Letterman, MD, and his innovations recovering, triaging and treating wounded in the thousands, many of which are still in use in our modern military. And of course, Lincoln himself and the Emancipation Proclamation issued in the aftermath.

A couple – Alexander Gardner (photographer) and Clara Barton – are more side show subjects, enabling Budianski to expand into topics less particularly focused on the battle, such as then conventional views of death, Barton’s selfishly erratic and self-absorbed nature, and similar broad points of discussion that, although interesting, really have little or nothing to do with the actual battle.

Budianski employs this segue technique quite effectively in every chapter, using the chapter person’s history and experience to delve into more expansive subjects – Civil War weaponry, tactics of the day (illuminating), logistics of the day, medical arts and sciences – many topics which are misunderstood by postulations of modern day considerations imposed upon actual 1860 era necessities. Interesting, perceptive and informative... a good read for anyone with an interest in Civil War history.

[Alan Kaplan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Day in September was a book of the year by the Wall Street Journal. This book is about the Civil War battle at Antietam, Maryland told thru 9 individuals including Robert E. Lee and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Holmes story is amazing. He was part of the Massachusetts militia and he was shot in the neck fleeing from the battle. He survived and lived until his 90's as a much esteemed Supreme Court Justice. Also mentioned is Jonathan Letterman, MD who is today unknown, but as the medical director of the Army of the Potomac organized and greatly improved the medical treatment of the injured. Dr. Jonathan Letterman may not be as well known as General Ulysses S. Grant, but he played just as important a role in winning the Civil War for the Union. He is the father of battle medicine and the Letterman Hospital in San Francisco is named for him. Who knew? One of the saving graces of Civil War medicine was the almost universal use of anesthesia for the thousands of amputations. Surgeons used chloroform or ether. Some patients died from overdoses of chloroform or the dangerously explosive ether, but benefits so outweighed the risks that objections to to their use quickly vanished. The deification of Lee is over. The author believes the Southern general, James Longstreet, was the better tactician. Longstreet lost the historical war, by accepting the Southern defeat, and even worse joining the Republican Party. He is buried in Gainesville, Georgia. He was subsequently cancelled by the South. George McClellan, the commanding general of the Army of the Potomac is condemned for is refusal to fight. It is believed that if his tactics had been better, the Union army could have destroyed Lee's Army of Northern Virginia that day and the war would be quickly over, and thousands would have been saved. McClellan has long been a punching bag for historians. Antietam was probably the most important battle of the Civil War. The Confederate invasion of the North was stopped. Due to that, no European powers recognized the South, and Lincoln was able to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. At Antietam, the idea of human slavery died.

[Michael Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Budiansky wrote one of the best modern biographies of Justice Oliver Wendall Holmes Jr. Holmes was seriously wounded at Antietam. His father, OWH Sr., the poet, essayist and physician, wrote a very popular article, "My Hunt After the Captain" about rushing to Antietam to find and help his son when he got the news that he was in mortal danger. OWH Jr. had people calling him "the Captain" for years afterwards. Jr. was embarrassed by the article.

Budiansky starts this book by telling the story of the Holmes, father and son, at Antietam. He sets out to give a broad view of the battle by telling the story through nine participants. Some are well known. Lee, McClellan, Longstreet, Holmes and Lincoln each get a chapter. Union General Jacob Cox, Doctor Jonathan Letterman, who was medical director for the Army of the Potomac, war photographer Alexander Gardner, and pioneering war nurse Clara Barton, each get a chapter.

Budiansky uses his subjects to portray facets of the battle. He surveys the evolution of military strategy though Lee and Mclellan. He sketches the rise of photography through Gardner, who took the first battlefield photographs. Doctor Letterman and Clara Burton lead to a description of the huge advances in battlefield medicine during the war. General Cox leads to a discussion of new infantry tactics. Budiansky gives thoughtful summaries in each of these areas.

The book is not a very good guide to the battle. The battle of Antietam was a dragged-out confusing battle. There were several different fronts. Armies joined into the battle over several days from multiple directions. There was no clear-cut winner, and it just petered out at the end.

Budiansky has sections of fairly detailed battle descriptions, but they are in the middle of chapters on larger issues. If you are not fairly familiar with the battle, it will be difficult to follow what happened. The maps are helpful but very busy.

I would not read this as an introduction to the battle. I would say the Stephen Sear's 1983 "Landscape Turned Red" is still the best book on the battle. This book does provide valuable background and color to the story.

[Frank Kohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam, also known as the bloodiest day in American history, was gruesome in its carnage while also being a pivotal event during the Civil War and to the decades which followed.

The author has chosen nine individuals who participated in the battle as a focal point for events leading up to the battle and subsequent repercussions following it. Some of the individuals are well known such as Robert E Lee, George McClellan and of course Abraham Lincoln. Some are lesser known: Dr. Jonathan Letterman and Alexander Gardner. All shared the same experience, yet had unique perspectives of it.

The one chapter that surprised me concerned the only woman on the author’s list of notable participants, Clara Barton. Overall, the author had a very negative analysis of her work establishing The American Red Cross, her work on the battle fields and her subsequent activities throughout the rest of the nineteenth century. He was largely critical of her work and ethics which gave me pause to consider if I myself had an erroneous attitude toward her. This conflict will bear further reading.

Overall, recommended for Civil War enthusiasts.

[noreast_bookreviewsnh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Day in September: The Battle of Antietam and the world it left behind by Stephen Budiansky
.
.
If you are looking for one book on the Battle of Antietam, this is not the one. While I had high hopes for this book, it unfortunately did not meet the mark. To me it felt like a scattered collection of essays and anecdotes rather than a fluid storyline.

The book does cover a great variety of topics relating to Antietam, such as the basics of the battle itself, the relationship between McClellan and Lincoln, some backstory on Robert E Lee and McClellan, Clara Barton and the Red Cross, the GAR after the war and many other interesting anecdotes and side stories. My main gripe is that there isn’t a great flow and although the central theme is Antietam, it just doesn’t effectively weave a coherent narrative.

I would recommend “A Fierce Glory” by Justin Martin as a great alternative to this book as the perfect one volume book for those interested in the Battle of Antietam.

3/5 stars in this one.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quite eclectic work that isn't really about Antietam. It's more "here's what it was like to be a Civil war soldier [or general; or president], with Antietam as an example." The chapters on Lee and McClellan are more background than anything else. Longstreet's chapter addressed the battle more directly, but even then it was tough to get a feel for that fateful day (it is clear that Budiansky is no military historian--or at least not used to writing about battles).

He is incredibly hard on Lee, McClellan, and Clara Barton, but I can't say I blame him. (Though he calls Guelzo's the best of the Lee biographies, and Guelzo is not nearly so condescending.) Budiansky is also an OW Holmes Jr specialist, so there is a meandering chapter on him as well. I'm sounding harsh, but the detail about what it was really like as a soldier or battlefield surgeon or local farmer is very, very well done. This is certainly a book worth reading. But please not the only one.

[Eric Bottern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a very interesting read, but not as informative as I had hoped. A collection of narratives on a variety of characters, I enjoyed the many perspectives provided.

I think the Budiansky did a great job of not catering towards a specific audience in his recollections and was quite critical of all characters(certainly has a soft spot for Holmes though). Both the prologue and epilogue stood out to me in how well they were written and I think the book would have benefited from this style permeating throughout.

Possibly due to the fact I’m a novice on the battle; I didn’t appreciate the book largely glazing over the pivotal moments. Combining that with a two page long appendix of those involved that seemed to not even cover half of those actually mentioned, I found myself using my phone for clarification.

I enjoyed reading it and would recommend, but I don’t think this is a starter to delve into Antietam.

[Charles Inglin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this account of the battle of Antietam. Rather than concentrating on the battle itself, the author includes material to provide a little more context to the affect of the battle. He includes details on the fighting for the gaps in South Mountain that preceded the battle itself, as well as related activity at Harpers Ferry. He provides some warts and all characterizations of Lee and McClellan, as well as figures such as Oliver Wendell Holmes and Clara Barton. He considers how the battle affected the continuing conduct of the war and Northern politics. The writing is clean and precise and easily followed.

[Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting history of the United States from its beginnings to the early 1900's with the Battle of Antietam as a pivotal point in the history. The story is told through 9 individuals with their experiences in the battle and life before and after.
My complaint about the book is that it really does not tell the story of Antietam and the accounts from the 9 individuals is uneven. To me the most interesting were Letterman and Barton as I knew the least about them. For many of the others there are more detailed stories about them and the Battle.
At times I found the story was repetitive and stretched as the author tried to tie the battle into changes in the United States.

[Robert Melnyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about the battle of Antietam. The book spent only a little amount of time discussing the battle itself. It focused on the mindset of many of the main characters involved in the battle, such as Lincoln, Lee, McClellan, Longstreet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., and Clara Barton. I have read many book on the Civil War. This was not among the best, but it was well written, well researched, and definitely held my interest. If you enjoy American History, especially Civil War history, you should enjoy this book.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be redundant to write a book on the battle of Antietam. Many volumes have been written by historians and participants telling how this group moved there and that group moved there, and how many dead and wounded were the result. The author used a different approach: singling out characters from the battle and describing how they influenced (both positively and negatively) the battle, and its aftermath. A quite novel and interesting approach that opened a new window into this pivotal and overshadowed battle.

[Bryan Fichter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Day In September is not a tick-tock of the battle of Antietam but something more interesting: an examination of the battle as a catalyst for social and military developments, from the Emancipation Proclamation to the development of what we would call military science. There are also penetrating sketches of various characters who played roles both big and small that day. Clara Barton's image as an angel of mercy takes a real beating, for example.

[Kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the more compelling books I've read about the Civil War, A Day in September offers a detailed look of the Battle of Antietam. The author captures the brutal realities of the conflict, focusing on the immediate and lasting physical and mental toll it took on everyone involved—from the soldiers on the battlefield to the civilians in the surrounding communities. By focusing in on this single, pivotal day, the book provides an impactful perspective on the war and its profound legacy.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author of the excellent Bloody Shirt, Budiansky covers Antietam with the same forensic lens, illuminating the battle as a microcosm for the Civil War. The book is short and the coverage of the actual battle brief, the book is more useful for how it details the generals, the armies, the medical corp, death in the Civil War, photograph, women in the war and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

[Robert L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the work, but….

This insightful work, with a unique perspective exploring the far reaching impacts of the war on aspects of postbellum society and individual lives, is certainly a worthy read on multiple levels. However, the strong and overtly anti-southern biased treatment of the South and Southerners significantly dims its shine.

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disjointed. All over the place. A book about Antietam the author spends more time on Gettysburg. The author indicates he is dividing the book into several people but each chapter only spends a few paragraphs to pages on the person and then the author goes off on a tangent. Very disappointed in this work.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave this book 4 stars instead of 3 because the author’s approach to telling the story was unique. The uniqueness was offset by a plodding writing style. I love military tactics but found my mind wandering because of long paragraphs without a clear point. On the other hand, I loved learning new facts about the Civil War. Never too old to learn something new.

[Chris Titus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about Antietam, but not a good book for someone unfamiliar with the battle already and the basics of the Civil War too. This is really a series of perspectives about some main generals and other historical figures who participated in the battle. I enjoyed it, but would have been fairly lost without a lot of context.

[Morgan Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected. This is a very unorthodox book that does not really give you an in depth history of Antietam, but rather a wide-ranging view of the Civil War with Antietam as a motif.

If you’re looking for a tactical summary of Antietam, this is not that book. It is, however, an excellent read.

[Paul Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting treatment of both the battle and major participants. This is not at all a "who shot whom where and when" kind of history - rather it examines a lot of the auxiliary aspects that purely military histories don't touch. Highly readable, and not too long.

[kevin moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent theme for deeper understanding of Civil War players - addresses their roles prior to and in Antietam. Mostly a development of their character in context of the war and this battle. Instructive.

Just want too afield from me with last two: Clara Barton and Lincoln.

[Robert Minkoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another Civil War battle book, this one about Antietam. I've read the author's early biography of Oliver Wendell Holmes (a Civil War veteran of that battle), so much of this was repitive for me. But I still love the diagrams and arrows showing the give and take of specific battles

[John D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book gives a broad overview of the battle, but it does a great job of explaining why it happened, what went on, and the outcome. The best part is how it shows what an average person was thinking and experiencing during that time in America.