jjares reviewed The Battle of Antietam: A Captivating Guide to an Important Battle of the American Civil War on + 3278 more book reviews
The larger number of illustrations and maps (compared to other publications) is a welcome addition to this book. I felt that things were more understandable because the reader could refer to the maps while reading. The photo on page 29 shows why amputations were so common. The Minie ball created a sizeable crater when it struck a bone.
Thanks also for the thumbnail sketches of the various Union and Confederate leaders. By telling the relationships between the officers, it helped the reader understand that the West Point officers were a small, tightly-knit group who knew each other's foibles and strengths. Even though they might now be on different sides, they knew how to use their own skills against their (previous) friends and fellow officers.
By seeing the difference between the equipment given to the Union vs. Confederate soldier, it was obvious that the rebels were expected to do more foraging for food than the Union side. I really liked that chapter. The photo of "Bloody Lane" brings home the incredible cost of the Battle of Antietam. It's hard to understand the loss of 600,000 men during the Civil War without such a staggering photo. One cannot see the road for the bodies.
On the heels of the Union "success" at Antietam, Abraham Lincoln was able to reframe the war as a battle for the rights of the black man. Thank you for a fine lead-up to the battle and an excellent explanation of the important points in this significant fight.
Thanks also for the thumbnail sketches of the various Union and Confederate leaders. By telling the relationships between the officers, it helped the reader understand that the West Point officers were a small, tightly-knit group who knew each other's foibles and strengths. Even though they might now be on different sides, they knew how to use their own skills against their (previous) friends and fellow officers.
By seeing the difference between the equipment given to the Union vs. Confederate soldier, it was obvious that the rebels were expected to do more foraging for food than the Union side. I really liked that chapter. The photo of "Bloody Lane" brings home the incredible cost of the Battle of Antietam. It's hard to understand the loss of 600,000 men during the Civil War without such a staggering photo. One cannot see the road for the bodies.
On the heels of the Union "success" at Antietam, Abraham Lincoln was able to reframe the war as a battle for the rights of the black man. Thank you for a fine lead-up to the battle and an excellent explanation of the important points in this significant fight.
