DOC Antietam : The Soldiers' Battle by John Michael Priest in History

Review

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The first hand account by the soldiers on the bloody Battle of AntietamBy Joe OwenCivil War author and historian John Michael Priest's classic book "Antietam: The Soldiers Battle" is considered the definitive book on the bloody battle of Antietam fought on September 16 and 17; 1862. The author has written the book from the soldiers (both Union and Confederate) perspective and accounting of one of the most deadliest battles of the Civil War. The soldiers who wrote about their experience describe what they saw and did. Fromn Sergeant WIlliam Potts of the 124th Pennsylvania Infantry to Captain David G. Maxwell of the 35th North Carolina Infantry; these soldiers experienced terrible conditions during the battle. Seeing fellow soldiers blown apart; maimed; wounded; killed instantly the carnage of battle and the terrible aftermath is written in a chronological order. The author begins with the statement; "This is a book about battle; More especially; it is a book about the human dimension in a battle; before generals could rationalize actions; historians could impose order upon chaos; the army could build a tower and lay out the battle lines- and the National Park Service could transform the whole into something approaching a pastoral setting". This is a book about what the soldiers saw; fought; and died in.Excellent battle maps describe the various advances; defenses; marches; and layout of the battle. Photographs of both Union and Confederate Officers and Enlisted men are in various chapters with their personal experiences about Antietam. Tragically; some of the men would be killed less than a year later at Gettysburg and other battles thereafter. Mr. Priest also has in the closing chapters the gruesome statistics of the fatalaties; killed; wounded; mortally wounded and MIA by regiment both USA and CSA.This is one of the best written books about Antietam (Sharpsburg) and the first invasion of the north by General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia and how General George B. McClellan of the Union Army of the Potomac fought the ANV invasion. As stated before; this is not a book based on the generals strategy or tactics; but is based on first hand accounts of the battle. It is a sobering; fascinating; and excellent read that is a MUST READ for any Civil War scholar; student; or buff to have in their Civil War Library; especially the eastern theatre of the war; the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac. A GREAT READ!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. almost like you were there.By BoExcellent book. Having lived very close the the battlefield I've spent many days walking those hallowed fields. Mr Priests book is very detailed as to what the soldiers experienced on that horrible day. Makes you feel as if you were right there hearing the shells whistle; the whine of the bullets and the screams of the men and horses. I heartily recommend this book if you are interested in what it must have been like to be there.4 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A story of the fear; the blood and the muck of battle.By Tim JohnsonI am not an expert on the Civil War much less on the battle of Antietam but as a read about the substance of battle for the muscat-holding soldier in any Civil War engagement; Priest's book is about as good as is available. The wealth of primary sources-letters; diaries;newspaper articles;anything that illuminates this battle from the viewpoint of the average soldier; is brought into his examination. The result is a compilation of incidents that gives essence to the terror and; in modern view; numbing bravery of the action's soldiers were ordered to undertake as a matter of course-not as something only asked under extraordinary circumstances. The reader must ponder the nature of the glue that bound men to do things that any sane person would find impossible-yet the impossible was normally asked and just as normally undertaken. Antietem: A Soldier's Battle should be read by any person unfamiliar with the Civil War as the first book they read because it will give the reader a grasp of the nature of the conflict from the receiving end of muscat volleys and cannonballs in full sight bouncing along the ground ready to shatter any living creature in its path. I had not encountered any book from any period of history that cast any light on the subject of animals in war-specifically the horses that pulled the artillery or provided transport for officers. Again; Priest's book was very illuminating in these dark corners of often forgotten history. Read this book-you will not regret it.