This volume ranks among the best works
of military history that I have read. Sears is a top-drawer writer
and historian, and this book displays both those skills. It’s one
of the few histories I’ve read that could be legitimately described
as a page-turner.
Sears does a great job of unfolding the
context for the Battle of Antietam—of 336 pages in the main body of
the book, fully 180 are devoted to establishing the background. Much
of that material is spent elaborating General George B. McClellan’s personal history and conduct up to the collision between the armies on
September 17, 1862. I didn’t come away feeling that any of the
detail was unnecessary. In many respects the book is an examination
of McClellan, and Sears is not among his fans.
Those looking to redeem the general
from history’s opprobrium will need to look elsewhere. By the
extensive use of original documents, Sears has documented the man’s
failings as a combat commander, although he balanced his critique
with a fair assessment of McCellan’s strong record of organizing
and training the Army of the Potomac.
The threads of political intrigue that
were whirling about Washington are well represented, as is the
dithering of the Great Powers as they grappled whether or not to
support the Rebellion.
From the first bullets of the
skirmishers to the slow withdrawal from the battlefield, Sears is
able to narrate the action in such a clear way I was able to follow
it without difficulty. The biggest problem was keeping track of which
commanders were attached to what unit, as the officers were mowed
down so rapidly even regiment and brigade commanders were quickly
used up. The maps Sears has included are excellent; you might want to
mark the maps with post-notes to enable you to find them easily.
This book will be a treat for those who
enjoy military history, especially as regards the Civil War. I
recommend it highly.
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