September 17, 1862-one of the most consequential days in the history of the United States-was a moment in time when the future of the country could have veered in two starkly different directions. Confederates under General Robert E. Lee had embarked upon an invasion of Maryland, threatening to achieve a victory on Union soil that could potentially end the Civil War in Southern Independence. Lee's opponent, Major General George McClellan, led the Army of the Potomac to stop Lee's campaign. In Washington D.C., President ...
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September 17, 1862-one of the most consequential days in the history of the United States-was a moment in time when the future of the country could have veered in two starkly different directions. Confederates under General Robert E. Lee had embarked upon an invasion of Maryland, threatening to achieve a victory on Union soil that could potentially end the Civil War in Southern Independence. Lee's opponent, Major General George McClellan, led the Army of the Potomac to stop Lee's campaign. In Washington D.C., President Lincoln eagerly awaited news from the field, knowing that the future of freedom for millions was at stake. Lincoln had resolved that, should Union forces win in Maryland, he would issue his Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. All this hung in the balance on September 17: the day of the battle of Antietam. The fighting near Sharpsburg, Maryland, would change the course of American history, but in the process, it became the costliest day this nation has ever known, with more than 23,000 men falling as casualties. Join historian Daniel J. Vermilya to learn more about America's bloodiest day, and how it changed the United States forever in That Field of Blood.
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The Emerging Civil War Series publishes short accounts of major events in the Civil War that are designed to be accessible to a broad public as well as making a contribution to scholarship. Daniel Vermilia's recent contribution to the series "That Field of Blood: The Battle Of Antietam, September 17, 1862", fulfills both these goals and more. Vermilya is a licensed battlefield guide at Antietam and has worked as a park ranger at Antietam, Monocacy, and Gettysburg. His lucidly and clearly written book offers readers a good basic understanding of the Antietam campaign, the battle, and its significance. Vermilya also addresses several controversial issues in studying the battle and does not shy away from offering his own perspective. The book may be read while touring the Antietam Battlefield or away from the field in one's home to gain an overview of the battle.
Fought on September 17, 1862, Antietam was the bloodiest day in American history with over 23,000 casualties (dead, injured, missing). Vermilya had an ancestor who fought and died at Antietam. He writes movingly about the carnage and the horror of the battle and displays passion for his subject as well as knowledge. The book also recognizes the historical significance of the battle in giving President Lincoln the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation and in helping to keep the European powers from recognizing the Confederacy.
The first two chapters of this book offer a brief overview of the Maryland Campaign, resulting from Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North. (Lee's second invasion resulted in the Battle of Gettysburg, nine months after Antietam). This material is complex and important to understanding the battle. The background offered in this book is short, but essential.
Most of the book deals with the battle itself, which pitted the Army of the Potomac of George B. McClellan against Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Vermilya's account and driving tour cover the major actions of the 12-hour battle from the Cornfield to the Sunken Road to Burnside's Bridge, to the last-minute arrival of troops from Harpers Ferry which saved the Confederate Army. The story is told simply with less detail and confusion that are found in longer histories of the battle. Vermilya's text is enhanced by many images and maps which give the reader a connection to the action and which clarily the flow of the battle. The book is also enhanced by many quotations from participants at Antietam, particularly from soldiers on the ground. I had a feeling of sadness in reading this book as Vermilya emphasizes throughout the terrible human costs of Antietam. The concluding sections in the book discuss Lee's retreat from Antietam and the aftermath and significance of the battle. Appendices discuss various aspects of the history of the Antietam Battlefield.
Vermilya's book also addresses some of the controversial issues surrounding Antietam in ways that will be useful both to newcomers and to those familiar with the literature surrounding the battle. He raises several issues, two of which are highly important. First, Vermilya characterizes the battle as a clear-cut Union victory rather than as the tactical draw as it is more frequently portrayed. He argues that the Army of Northern Virginia was defeated at every turn on the battlefield and was forced to leave the field and withdraw to Virginia just as Lee was forced to leave the field and withdraw a day after the Battle of Gettysburg.
The second and closely related point involves the assessment of Union General George B. McClellan's performance. Many students of the battle are highly critical of McClellan for his conduct of the Maryland Campaign and the Battle of Antietam. They argue that more aggressive, committed leadership would have resulted in a clearer victory, perhaps including the destruction of the Confederate Army and the end of the war. While acknowledging McClellan's faults, Vermilya praises McClellan's conduct of the battle and the results he achieved. Vermilya tries hard to put himself into McClellan's position to understand and support most of the decisions McClellan made. In some ways, Vermilya makes a good case but not a case that is likely to satisfy every informed reader. The critical point for Vermilya is that McClellan's task was at all costs to keep Lee out of the North and to compel him to retreat to Virginia, and McClellan did that.
I enjoyed thinking about Antietam again through Vermilya's book. His book will appeal to newcomers to the battle and to informed readers. The battle of Antietam and the Civil War in general will repay much thought and much revisiting. The publisher of this book, Savas Beatie, kindly sent me a review copy.
