Description
Book SynopsisA guide to the sites in Maryland and West Virginia associated with the Antietam campaign, including excursions to Harpers Ferry and South Mountain. Thorough descriptions and analyses, augmented with vignettes and numerous maps, it conveys the mechanics as well as the human experience of the campaign.
Trade Review“A refreshing and original study of America’s bloodiest day that is free of the clichés found in some previous works on this subject. Using original sources and consulting the latest scholarship on Antietam, Rafuse has written a superb battle and campaign study.”—Ted Alexander, chief historian of Antietam National Battlefield
"Excellent guides at a reasonable price, written by experts on the battle."—James Durney,
Suncoast Civil War Society Newsletter"A necessary addition to any Antietam library."—James Durney,
TOCWOC, A Civil War Blog"I've often expressed my admiration for Nebraska's
This Hallowed Ground series of Civil War battlefield guides, and this latest volume by Ethan Rafuse continues the series's tradition of consistent quality in information and presentation. . . . I would recommend this volume as the best general use touring guide for this campaign."—Andrew Wagenhoffer, Civil War Books and Authors blog
"Rafuse provides a helpful guidebook dedicated to this single campaign arena. Employing the latest research, he guides the visitor (in person or by armchair) through all the various stops associated with the fighting at South Mountain, Harpers Ferry, and Antietam."—M. J. Smith Jr.,
Choice"
Antietam, South Mountain, and Harpers Ferry: A Battlefield Guide is a worthy continuation of the University of Nebraska Press series. . . . Meticulous maps as well as detailed sources and recommendations for further reading add to the experience of reading this volume."—Timothy B. Smith,
Register of the Kentucky Historical Society Table of ContentsAcknowledgements
Introduction
How to Use This Guide
Antietam
The Road to Antietam
Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center
Stop 1 Battlefield Vista
1a Lee Arrives, September 15, 1862
1b Lee Deploys and Plans, September 16, 1862
1c Lee's Battle Plan, September 17, 1862
Stop 2 Pry House
2a The Federals Arrive, September 15, 1862
2b McClellan Deploys His Command, September 16, 1862
2c McClellan Plans and Manages the Battle, September 17, 1862
Overview of Hooker's Fight, 5:309:00 a.m.
Stop 3 North Woods
3a Hooker Moves into Position, September 1617, 1862
3b The I Corps Attacks, 5:006:00 a.m.
Stop 4 East Woods
4a Twilight Skirmish, September 16, 1862, 4:307:00 p.m.
4b Ricketts's Battle, September 17, 1862, 5:007:00 a.m.
Stop 5 The Hagerstown Pike
5a Doubleday's Attack, 6:006:30 a.m.
5b Into the Cornfield, 6:007:00 a.m.
Stop 6 The Cornfield
6a Hood's Counterattack, 6:457:15 a.m.
6b Hood's Repulse, 7:157:45 a.m.
6c Hill Arrives, 7:458:30 a.m.
6d Greene's Advance, 8:159:00 a.m.
Overview of Sumner's Fight, 9:00 a.m.2:00 p.m.
Stop 7 West Woods
7a Sumner Arrives, 7:009:00 a.m.
7b Into the West Woods, 9:009:30 a.m.
7c McLaws Arrives, 8:009:30 a.m.
7d "We must get out of this," 9:0010:00 a.m.
7e Gordon's Charge, 9:4510:15 a.m.
Stop 8 Dunker Church
8a Greene Seizes the West Woods, 9:00 a.m.12:45 p.m.
8b Franklin's Battle, 1:003:00 p.m.
Stop 9 Bloody Lane
9a French Arrives, 7:309:30 a.m.
9b French's Attack, 9:3011:00 a.m.
9c The Union Breakthrough, 11:00 a.m.1:30 p.m.
Overview of Burnside's Fight, 10:00 a.m.6:00 p.m.
Stop 10 Burnside Bridge
10a "A Difficult Task," 9:0011:15 a.m.
10b The Federal Success, 11:15 a.m.1:30 p.m.
Stop 11 The IX Corps Attacks
11a The Federals Deploy, 1:003:00 p.m.
11b Christ's and Welsh's Advance, 3:154:30 p.m.
11c Rodman's Attack, 3:154:30 p.m.
Stop 12 Otto Cornfield
12a A. P. Hill Arrives, 3:004:15 p.m.
12b The 16th Connecticut, 3:454:30 p.m.
12c The Federals Hold the Bridge, 4:306:00 p.m.
Stop 13 Lee's Headquarters
13a Lee's Council of War, September 17, 1862
13b The Day After, September 18, 1862
Stop 14 National Cemetery
14a Lee Retreats, September 1821, 1862
14b Antietam National Cemetery
Optional Excursion 1 Bloody Lane
Stop A Hill's Defense, 9:30 a.m.
Stop B Weber's and Morris's Attacks, 9:3010:00 a.m.
Stop C Kimball's Attack, 10:0010:15 a.m.
Stop D Anderson and Richardson Arrive, 10:0011:15 a.m.
Stop E The Irish Brigade Attacks, 11:1511:45 a.m.
Stop F The Sunken Road Is Captured, 11:45 a.m.12:15 p.m.
Stop G The Union Attack Stalls, 12:152:00 p.m.
Optional Excursion 2 Burnside Bridge
Stop A Toombs's Position, 7:3010:00 a.m.
Stop B The First Federal Assault, 10:0010:30 a.m.
Stop C Nagle's Attack, 10:4511:15 a.m.
Stop D The Federals Capture the Bridge, noon1:00 p.m.
Stop E The Union Bridgehead, 1:003:00 p.m.
Stop F Rodman's March and Crossing, 10:30 a.m.1:15 p.m.
Stop G The Federal Pause, 1:003:00 p.m.
Optional Excursion 3 Boteler's Ford
Stop A Recrossing the Potomac, September 1819, 1862
Stop B The Battle of Shepherdstown, September 1920, 1862
South Mountain
Overview of the Battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862
Stop 1 Fox's Gap
1a Cox's Attack, 5:00 a.m.noon
1b Union Victory, noon10:00 p.m.
Stop 2 Mt. Tabor Cemetery
2a Meade's Assault and Rodes's Defense, 4:306:00 p.m.
2b Hatch's Assault, 4:3010:00 p.m.
Stop 3 Mountain House
3a Gibbon's Attack, 5:009:00 p.m.
Stop 4 Burkittsville
4a Franklin's Assignment, 5:00 a.m.noon
4b The Federal Attack, noon5:45 p.m.
Stop 5 Gathland State Park
5a Cobb's Defense, 5:456:00 p.m.
5b Last Stand at Crampton's Gap, 6:007:00 p.m.
5c Franklin Moves into Pleasant Valley, September 15, 1862
Harpers Ferry
Overview of the Siege of Harpers Ferry, September 1315, 1862
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park Visitor Center
Stop 1 Harpers Ferry
1a Strategic Point and Deathtrap
1b The Confederates Converge on Harpers Ferry, September 1013, 1862
1c The Hapless Defenders, September 1013, 1862
Stop 2 Bolivar Heights
2a The Noose Is Closed, September 13, 1862
2b Confederate Bombardment, September 1415, 1862
2c Harpers Ferry Falls, September 1415, 1862
After Antietam
Appendix A Orders of Battle
Appendix B Organization, Weapons, and Tactics
Sources
For Further Reading
