I just finished ANTIETAM A Soldiers Battle by John Michael Priest. I thought it was a most eye opening account of what every CW soldier who faced the enemy on the battle field seen. It gives a hour by hour account oof the WEST WOODS, MUMMAS FARM, THE SUNKEN ROAD(Bloody Lane), THE LOWER BRIDGE and many more areas of the battle field in cronological order. I would recomend this book to everyone CW buff or not, just to see what the men went through.
Historicaly Correct.
Nice to have you on the board. Do you have a shorter name we can call you by? I read that book you posted on. It's very good. Very detailed with an hour by hour, sometimes minute by minute accounting of the action. Lots of soldiers eyewitness accounts. Priest seems to withhold judgment (his judgment) of the decisions made that day by both sides, and pretty much leaves it to the readers to decide for themselves. The material on the Bloody Lane was especially good. Lots of maps too. Antietam's a huge field and he's got it subdivided pretty well. As well as can be expected I think considering the constant movement back and forth, all day, of regs, brigades, corps. I'd give it a thumbs up.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
It's been many years since I've read it, but it struck me with its extraordinary detail. (There was a secret in there. Priest was a high school teacher [may still be] in Hagerstown. He had his students researching and compiling tidbits from multiple sources.) Apparently, White Mane regretted publishing the book (but not that much) ... it became bigger than what they were comfortable handling.
I guess they got through the "difficulty" and are presumably happy with the success of that and subsequent Priest books. You must also read his Before Antietam; The Battle for South Mountain. It has the same meticulous detail and minutiae. Don't know about his Overland Campaign books yet, but they're the top of my list when I get to that part of the war -- based on my appreciation of his Antietam works.
Ole (that's a bunch easier to type than Historicaly Correct)
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
I've read Priest's Antietam and South Mountain books years ago. I've been meaning to re read his South Mountain book. I was rather impressed with both, but I recall reading negative reviews of some of his other books, especially his book on Pickett's Charge. Has anyone else heard about negative reviews of his work?
Respectfully
__________________ Up men, and to your post! And let no man forget today that you are from old Virginia!
Didn't know he had written anything on the Overland Campaign. I'd like to find those. Thanks for the heads up Ole, and Hist.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
I enjoyed Antietam (bought an autographed copy at Antietam) but never got through South Mountain. I went directly to the relevant part of the battle and couldn't find what I wanted. I'll go back to it someday when there's more time.
BTW, I hereby give this nickname to Historically_Correct: HC
Works for me. "Hist" was pretty lame. Thanks Gary.
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
Priest did "Nowhere to Run" and "And Victory without Triumph" -- both on the Battle of the Wilderness.
Haven't read them yet, but his Antietam books got me interested in him as a writer.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
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ANTIETAM The Soldiers Battle 
I just finished ANTIETAM A Soldiers Battle by John Michael Priest. I thought it was a most eye opening account of what every CW soldier who faced the enemy on the battle field seen. It gives a hour by hour account oof the WEST WOODS, MUMMAS FARM, THE SUNKEN ROAD(Bloody Lane), THE LOWER BRIDGE and many more areas of the battle field in cronological order. I would recomend this book to everyone CW buff or not, just to see what the men went through. 
Historically_Correct's new nickname 
Linear Mode
