I Dread the Thought of the Place

The Battle of Antietam and the End of the Maryland Campaign

De: D. Scott Hartwig

Narrado por: David Stifel

The memory of the Battle of Antietam was so haunting that when, nine months later, Major Rufus Dawes learned another Antietam battle might be on the horizon, he wrote, "I hope not, I dread the thought of the place." In this definitive account, historian D. Scott Hartwig chronicles the single bloodiest day in American history, which resulted in 23,000 casualties.

The Battle of Antietam marked a vital turning point in the war: afterward, the conflict could no longer be understood as a limited war to preserve the Union, but was now clearly a conflict over slavery. Though the battle was tactically inconclusive, Robert E. Lee withdrew first from the battlefield, thus handing President Lincoln the political ammunition necessary to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Based on decades of research, this in-depth narrative sheds particular light on the visceral experience of battle, an often misunderstood aspect of the American Civil War, and the emotional aftermath for those who survived. Hartwig provides an hour-by-hour tactical history of the battle, beginning before dawn on September 17 and concluding with the immediate aftermath, including General McClellan's fateful decision not to pursue Lee's retreating forces back across the Potomac to Virginia.

©2023 Johns Hopkins University Press (P)2024 Tantor Media

Terrific story

“the battle as it was” on the ground, in the corn, in the woods, under fire. I was sorry to come to the end—so I have started over!

Engaging and Revealing

Having read a few books on Antom, I was interested in this particular text due to a battlefield guides recommendation. I was told that this book would treat McClellan more fairly than Sears had. The last few chapters of the book deal with McCellan and his politicization of his position and I found it very engaging.

Small but evident Southern slant

Details interesting also choice of what to emphasize. Example story about slave who cried because his colonel enslaver was killed. Love your torturer.

Smell the Gunpowder

An excellent text, this author combines small character vignettes with the clash of arms and movements of field units in an extremely effective manner. If there this a historical text that truly lets you (figuratively) smell the gunpowder of battle this is it. This is combined with an excellent sense of pace and concept of the engagement without losing site of the overall battle. As result this audio book does not seem long at all and the while you may know the outcome of the battle, the narrative is both gripping and compelling. Historical writing at it's best the author does not losing himself in controversies of history, nor becomes bogged down in the profiles of the parties introduced. If one day a virtual and interactive companion to the battle of Antietam should be made, this text would be a superb counterpart.

Details

So many details that I now understand so much better the field, timing, and actions.

The detail

Well done with all the detail of units and individual stories. Long read but well worth the time.

Great Followup

This is the second volume about the Maryland campaign and this is the narrator who should have also done the first volume. This is a detailed examination of the battle of Antietam as well as the aftermath of the battle up to McClellan's dismissal as the head of the Army of the Potomac. Very well done and riveting.

Best compete book about Antietam

I enjoyed listening to Scott’s book on Antietam. It is a long work but a complete look at the battle. It is written in a style that makes you want read on.

Hartwig is the Harry Pfanz of Antietam

Very detailed and engaging history of the battle. Contains new interpretations and analysis, including how the battle affected civilians and McClellan’s relationship with President Lincoln. Recommend for the serious historian.