ePub Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam by Stephen W. Sears in History

Review

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Vivid Account of one of the Bloodiest Battles in HistoryBy TiresiasThis is a detailed; but highly readable account of the entire Antietam campaign; from Lee's decision to invade the North; the practical problems he encountered when his army had to advance from its base in Northern Virginia; the complex stratagems he hoped to employ to entrap McClellan's Army of the Potomac; how these almost led to his destruction when a copy of his marching orders fell into McClellan's hands; and the heroic delaying actions (as well as inertia on the part of several Northern generals) which gave him barely enough time to regroup his dispersed forces. The battle itself—which claimed more American casualties than any other day in the entire history of this country's wars (of course; both sides were American)—takes up over half the book; and is described in enough detail that the reader can comprehend not only what was going on; and what went wrong; but also get a vivid feel for what it might have been like to be there. The author is not sparing in discussing the mistakes made by both sides; as well as the heroism—and cowardice—of the young men and their field officers who actually had to fight in this charnel house for which neither side was really prepared. Lee—outnumbered more than two to one—managed to fight the battle to a draw; but he was lucky that the Northern Army made several crucial mistakes; and that A.P. Hill arrived in the nick of time to prevent his position being overrun by Burnside's slow-moving flanking attack. Nonetheless; Lee was forced to withdraw; and the North could claim its first success in the Eastern theater of the war. In many respects; Antietam marks the turning point in the Civil War.The book centers on the military aspects of the Antietam campaign; but deals with the politics enough to put the fighting in context; and make it clear what the impact of this momentous battle was: it probably played the crucial role in persuading the British and French that the Confederacy might well lose; and gave Lincoln the moment he had been waiting for to turn the war into a fight against slavery; which gave it a moral dimension previously absent; and further doomed any prospect of foreign intervention. For any reader with more than a casual interest in the period; and certainly for any Civil War buff; this is a must read; as well as for anyone about to visit the battlefield.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Best account of the battleBy Bradley NelsonI haven't read every book on the battle of Antietam; but I would be surprised if I ever find one better than this one. Sears has a powerful narrative voice and did a masterful job telling this story of one of the most pivotal battles of the war.Really; this is a book of the first year and a half of the war; a history of the Army of the Potomac under George McCellan. It starts with background and context; which includes the outbreak of war; McCellan's rise to command; the Peninsula Campaign; and finally the battle of Antietam.Battle histories can be complex and confusing. Sears does well in telling this story in a clear; logical way. He is balanced in giving perspective to both North and South; though so much focus is given to the failed leadership of George McClellan (and Lincoln's hope of issuing his Emancipation Proclamation) that at times the book as a whole tips to a mostly northern perspective.The book finishes with the failure of McClellan to follow-up this victory-by-default and his dismissal from command. Sears also gives significant treatment to the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation; reactions to it; and its impact. Both within the book and in the appendix. The same goes for the lost order 191; who knew about it and when; and how it was used (or not used) by McClellan.Overall; this is an essential book; not just for understanding the events of the battle; but the context and significance of it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Bloody Good BookBy jim passarelliI thoroughly enjoy reading the Civil War narratives authored by Stephen Sears. They are always informative yet personal and emotional in their context and content; which can be difficult to achieve for writers of non fiction military campaigns. This book is thoroughly researched and infused with the personal thoughts of soldiers; civilians and officers and politicians through their letters and dispatches. It reads like a novel rather than the non fiction it is. In fact; I have found it so enjoyable that this is the third time I have read it over the years. My only complaint would be that Sears doesn't spend enough time on the South Mountain action as it it such an important prelude to the ensuing battle of Antietam. But I still find it a " bloody" good book to read for Civil War enthusiasts.