Book Review--Lincoln and McClellan at War

Hearn, Chester G. Lincoln and McClellan at War. Baton Rouge, LSU Press. 2012. Index, notes, bibliography, 4 maps, 257 pages, 221 pages of text. ISBN 9780807145524, $45.

The  difficult relationship of Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan is certainly not a new one to readers of Civil War literature. Thus, while not breaking much new ground here, Chester Hearn has written an interesting and easy to read volume on the strained relationship between president and general.

What we have here are two people new to their commands. Lincoln was still a relatively inexperienced politician and McClellan, despite already being called the "Young Napoleon" in some circles, was new to leading an army this large. Of course McClellan might say leading an army this small but that's another issue.

Lincoln put his faith in McClellan to be able to end the war quickly. However Lincoln was unable to stay out of the way and McClellan bristled at what he considered to be the interference of Washington. In McClellan's eyes Lincoln was a gorilla and an unwelcome distraction. In Lincoln's eyes McClellan had a case of the "slows" and he even went so far as asking McClellan if he could borrow his army it he wasn't going to use it. The mutual distrust and sarcasm did not bode well for their relationship.

McClellan was a Unionist and certainly wanted to end the war however he and Lincoln had different strategies on how to do such. Lincoln wanted an aggressive general who would attack Robert E. Lee while McClellan preferred to be more cautious and fight a war of maneuvers. When Lincoln proposed a campaign to take the Rebel army located near Bull Run McClellan declined immediately and countered with what was to become the Peninsula Campaign. In traditional McClellan manner this was a slow and plodding campaign that while ultimately getting near Richmond did not achieve what McClellan had promised.

An area that is covered multiple times is the continued requesting of troops by McClellan. He consistently tells Washington he is out manned by the Confederate forces and promises to attack if only he had X number more troops. When the Secretary of War provided more men suddenly the Confederate army had even more. Whether McClellan actually believed the numbers provided by his spy Allan Pinkerton or if Pinkerton is providing numbers to prop up claims by McClellan is an interesting aspect to ponder. Of course Washington was on to McClellan and several times Lincoln called him on soldier counts.

After much back and forth McClellan was given what amounts to a final chance when the Confederate army went north of the Potomac in September 1862. The battle of Antietam gave McClellan a chance to inflict a large amount of damage on Robert E. Lee's troops. While certainly not a grand victory the major opportunity was lost when Union forces did not follow the damaged Confederates out of Maryland despite having fresh troops with which to carry on the battle. McClellan made what to him would be another blunder by calling the battle a Union victory. This proclamation gave Abraham Lincoln enough to go on in order to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. McClellan, not being an abolitionist, despised that the war was turning into one of emancipation rather than reconciliation.

By November 1862 the president was left with few options and removed McClellan from command. It does appear though that Lincoln learned from his time with McClellan as future generals were not given the time and leeway that McClellan was.

While not a cut and dried book saying that McClellan was bad and Lincoln was good as is so often the case, the book does seem to come down harder on McClellan and his failings than it does on Lincoln and his inexperience. Time and research have shown this to be the correct assessment however.

Overall, this was an interesting and easy book to read. I would have liked to have seen a couple of more maps and maybe some illustrations throughout but that is just me. Really just a minor quibble in what is otherwise a fascinating read for anybody interested in the eastern theater of the Civil War. Recommended.

Thanks to LSU Press for sending a complimentary review copy.

Interview--John Hoptak

I had the pleasure of meeting John Hoptak on his regular stomping ground: the Antietam National Battlefield. My wife and I had a battlefield tour scheduled with him until a freak October snow storm wiped that out. Fortunately I was able to hear him give a presentation the next day and I learned a lot from it. John is also the author of two books published by The History Press. Please see my reviews here and here. In addition John writes the blog The 48th Pennsylvania Infantry.

 

CBR-Hi John. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for readers. First off can you tell us little about yourself?

JH-Sure, Robert, it will be my pleasure. First, though, I want to thank you for this invitation for this interview to talk about my two books with the History Press, published as part of their Civil War Sesquicentennial Series. I grew up in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, studying history, and the Civil War in particular, for as long as I can remember. Of special interest to me was (and remains) the Civil War history of my home region, which is why I spend so much time studying the First Defenders, 48^th Pennsylvania and other units recruited largely from Schuylkill County, such as the 96^th PA and 50^th PA. I earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Kutztown University and a master’s degree in history from Lehigh University. I have been working for the Park Service since 2006 when I was hired on seasonally at Antietam National Battlefield. Last year, I worked a three-month detail at Gettysburg National Military Park, and will be doing so again this year. I consider myself one lucky guy to work at these two battlefield parks, alongside the best Park Rangers in the business. In addition to this, I also teach courses part-time for American Military University; courses in American history, Civil War history, and Mexican-American War history.

CBR-Can you remember what sparked your interest in the Civil War?

JH-This is a question I have been asked for the past thirty years and even so, I have never been able to develop a good answer. The short answer is, “I don’t know.” I remember visiting Gettysburg when I was very young and something just clicked. I got hooked, or bit, as some say, by that Civil War bug at a very young age. And my family has always been most supportive. Every year would include several trips to Gettysburg or other battlefields and even from a young age I thought how great it would be to one day work on a battlefield as a Park Ranger. Every trip included coming home with more books, more plastic toy soldiers. . .and a greater interest in the story of the war. The interest I have in the war has been there, always present, for as long as I can remember.

CBR-As a park ranger at Antietam National Battlefield can you tell us what a typical day is like for you at work?

JH-Well, it depends on the season. In the spring, summer, and fall, it is quite busy and typically you can find me working at the information desk, orienting visitors to the battlefield, or providing interpretative programs, such as half-hour long Overview and Aftermath of Battle talks, or a two-hour-long battlefield tour. When not working the desk or presenting programs, I do research, learning more about the battle and the history of the Park.

CBR-Your two most recent books have been published by The History Press. What has it been like to work with them?

JH-Overall, very, very good. I missed a few deadlines with the Gettysburg title and went way over my word count, which they originally set at just 50,000 words, and each time I missed a deadline the editors there were most accommodating, allowing me some extra time to get it done. Their art direction and the layouts of the books are also superb; they really make an eye-appealing product. I was hoping they would have gone with a different title for the Gettysburg book, though, either, simply, The Battle of Gettysburg, or, as I suggested, Gettysburg: A Perfect Hell on Earth. But, other than this, they have been great to work with.

CBR-Your first book with The History Press, The Battle of South Mountain (MD) , would seem like an obvious choice to write about seeing where you work. Did this book come about because of your work and what were the advantages and, if any, disadvantages of writing about something that took place in your back yard so to speak?

JH-I was first put in touch with Doug Bostick, editor of the Sesquicentennial Series, by friend Eric Wittenberg, who has also done a number of excellent titles for this series. When I spoke with Doug initially, I thought he was inquiring about me doing the Antietam title, but at that time, the History Press was focused more on examining the smaller, or lesser known battles of the war and not the big ones, so we discussed South Mountain. I have long had an interest in the Battle of South Mountain, for as long as I can remember. My birthday just so happens to fall on September 14 so, growing up, I would always associate my birthday with the Battle of South Mountain. In addition, the 48^th Pennsylvania fought there. And for years the Battle of South Mountain has languished in the larger shadows cast by Antietam and all too often, you hear South Mountain referred to as a either a skirmish or a prelude, when, in fact, it was in its own right a major battle (with casualties equaling those sustained at First Bull Run), and a battle of vast consequence. I was thus hoping to bring the story of the battle from out of those shadows as best I could. With that said, the contract I signed gave me just one year to complete the manuscript, so I had to undergo a crash course, so to speak, in the records, the letters, the diaries, and the terrain.

CBR-For many, if not most, people interested in the Civil War Gettysburg is the turning point, if you will, of the war. To be chosen to write the Gettysburg volume for The History Press’s sesquicentennial series, Confrontation at Gettysburg: A Nation Saved, a Cause Lost (Civil War Sesquicentennial), is certainly an honor. How did you end up being selected to write this volume?

JH-Well, I sometimes think because no one else wanted to! This was a tough, tough challenge; to condense so critical a campaign and so important a battle into a single volume is almost impossible. And as the old saying goes, it is always more difficult to write less than to write more. I am reminded of that quote, and I can’t remember now off the top of my head who said it, but at the end of a lengthy letter, many pages long, the man who wrote it apologized for the length of the letter, stating the letter “would have been shorter had I had more time.” Most of the other books on the campaign that are currently still in print and on the shelves are 400-500 pages in length; to try and condense it all into 200 was tough. I was literally up all night some nights wondering why I ever agreed to write the book. But, you are right, I do consider it an honor and I was floored when Doug Bostick, the managing editor of the History Press’ Sesquicentennial Series, asked if I would be interested in writing it since there are so many others out there just as capable of writing it. I debated it in my head over and over again for days, before finally accepting.

CBR-Please describe for readers your goal in writing this book and what you hope they take away from it.

JH-As stated in my introduction, I wrote this with the general, interested public in mind, setting out neither to pave new ground in the interpretation of the battle nor to mine new, previously unused sources. From the get-go, I wanted to synthesize the most recent scholarship into an easily digestible, single volume. Throughout the writing of the book, I imagined myself providing a tour to a family visiting the battlefield for the first time. I attempted to explain why the battle was fought, how it unfolded, and what happened as a result. My hope is that readers are inspired to learn more after reading this introductory volume.

CBR-It seemed that for the most part you didn’t take any views that would be seen as controversial (some may not like your thoughts on the 20th Maine however). In fact I felt your view was more that the generals on the field really seemed to do the best they could under the circumstances. Do you feel this is a fair assessment?

JH-Yes. I always try to give these generals the benefit of the doubt. All too often, traditional interpretations of the major battles of the war imply that their outcomes were based solely and entirely on the generals at the top; their personalities, their whims, and so on, when we know there were so many more factors were involved. Again, as I stated in my introduction, I tried to approach this book more as a storyteller than historian. I did try to present both sides of a controversial issue and let the reader decide, but even so, I do think that all generals did the best they could under the circumstances. At Antietam, for example, one of the most frequently stated thoughts involve Burnside and his bridge; the thought being that he could have easily waded the creek. I remind people that Burnside was a trained, professional soldier and if we can think of different options or possibilities today then, rest assured, he thought about them, too. There then must have been reasons why he did not—or could not—wade the creek near the bridge. And for Sickles, too, at Gettysburg. Even though he was not a soldier, I do think he was doing what he thought was best for his men at that moment—all the back-biting and wars in the newspaper came later. There are times when I let my own thoughts known in the Gettysburg book, so I guess I was not entirely successful at remaining neutral.

CBR-It’s time to put you on the spot just a bit. Did the Union army and George Meade win the battle or did Robert E. Lee and Confederate army lose? In your mind is there a key moment or decision that led to this victory or loss?

JH-A great question and I am not sure if there is a correct answer to this. While one can argue either side, if I was forced to choose a side, then I would have to say that the Union army won this fight. The soldiers in blue demonstrated a remarkable tenacity and doggedness during those three days; even after the First and Eleventh Corps were smashed to pieces on July 1. On Day Two as well, with Greene holding on firmly to Culp’s Hill, with the Fifth Corps racing to the assistance of the Third and in holding the Union left, and the 1^st Minnesota with their dramatic charge, there was certainly no quit in the Union. This is not to say that that Confederate soldiers were any less brave or heroic, and it must also be mentioned that the Union army held a good defensible position, overall, and especially on Culp’s and Cemetery Hill. But, then again, it was the Union officers selecting this ground. I do think Robert E. Lee expected far too much of his men; as I noted in the book, the thought that his army could, indeed, be defeated never seemed to have crossed Lee’s mind. But it was the tough, determined stance of the Federals, along with the generalship of such soldiers as Meade, Hancock, Howard, and a host of other officers of lower rank—such as Strong Vincent, George Greene, etc, that more “won” the battle than Lee “lost” it. I am reminded of the famous line Pickett allegedly spoke. Supposedly when asked why his charge had been repulsed, he said “The Yankees had something to do with it.” Again, just my thoughts here; not sure if there is a correct answer to this.

CBR-I mentioned in my review your lack of end notes but rather the use of a “chapter notes” section. Was this your decision or something you and your editor came up with due to the large volume of literature available on the battle? With the book now being available do you still think this was the way to go?

JH-This was a difficult decision to reach, and it was reached as an agreement between myself and my editors for a number of reasons. First, and simply practically speaking, I had already far exceeded my word limit and adding notes would have multiplied that number by many more thousands. Secondly, since the book was a synthesis of the recent scholarship, and an overview of the campaign, I thought it would be better to point the reader in the direction of the works published in the past few decades, those I referenced most when preparing for this volume, with the hope that they would next pick up those works for their future study. Again keeping the purpose of the book—a concise, narrative summary of the campaign and battle—and the intended audience in mind—the first time student of Gettysburg—we thought this would be the way to go.

CBR-Your book also employs two distinct styles of maps. Would you describe for readers the different styles of maps and the reason for including both?

JH-The maps prepared by Mannie Gentile I consider more works of art than precision-maps. Mannie worked with me in the South Mountain book as well, and what were trying to do here was harken back to the types of maps one might find in late-19^th Century works; thus, I was going more for the imagery and artistic value here. Hal Jaspersen’s maps are much more precise, detailed and necessary for understanding the sometimes confusing battle sequences. Both Hal and Mannie are incredibly gifted at their crafts and their maps, I believe, work well together.

CBR-What kind of feedback has your book received so far?

JH-So far the feedback has been positive, and I thank you for your kind and favorable review posted a few weeks back. There is no doubt that I made a few mistakes or that others will disagree with some of my assessments (such as my look at the 20^th Maine on Little Round Top), so I am sure criticisms will come, but that’s to be expected. So far, though, the book has been well-received.

CBR-The literature on Gettysburg is so vast and continuing to grow that the new student can easily be overwhelmed and that is where your book is really a Godsend. It seems almost every regiment at the battle has a book detailing the tiniest of movements. There are discussion forums where only the Gettysburg campaign is discussed. The battle has a magazine devoted to it. Is there really anything new left to be said about Gettysburg? Are we in danger of missing the forest for the trees at this point?

JH-It is true the literature is vast and the interest immense, but this is a good thing. As long as we continue to study the battle and the war, we ensure what Lincoln prophesied in his famed Address comes to his fruition, that we will never forget both the cost and the meaning of this fratricidal war. I am not sure if anything “new” can be said, for I am confident that others in years past have thought certain ways about certain things. But I am most certain that we need to continue to write those books, to study the regimental or individual actions, and to keep publishing those magazines, for they can only help us better understand the battle, the soldiers who fought it, the reasons why, and the war itself. As long as there is interest, then there should be books. We cannot and can never know everything—even though sometimes I encounter people who think they do—but this is not the point. The point is only to learn more. So while I can see how new students to the war and to Gettysburg in particular can easily get overwhelmed, this does not mean that the historiography should end or that we should stop studying. I can only hope that if they do pick up my book as an introduction, they then move on and dive deeper and deeper in those vast annals of Gettysburg historiography, continuing to study and to read all those books, and perhaps someday adding to it as well.

CBR-I know you are extremely busy and have a lot on your plate. Do you have any thoughts on what your next book will be about?

JH-I am still exhaling from the Gettysburg book, so I think it will be a while before I begin working on a new project. I promised myself, though, well before Gettysburg was completed that I would go back to my roots, so to speak, and do something with the 48^th, or with General James Nagle, of whom I have long wanted to write a biography. But again it might be awhile. I got something much more important coming up in the immediate future: fatherhood; my first baby is on her way, due to arrive in mid-May. I have a feeling she will be taking up most of my time.

CBR-John, I want to thank you for taking the time to open up and answer my questions for readers. I truly enjoyed your book and hope you have much success with it.

Many, many thanks, Robert, I am glad you enjoyed it and I thank you again for the opportunity to answer these questions.

Book Review--Stephen Recker's Rare Images of Antietam

Recker, Stephen. Rare Images of Antietam: And the Photographers Who Took Them. Another Software Miracle, LLC, Sharpsburg, MD. Index, bibliography, maps, b/w and color photos. 152 pages, 147 pages of text. ISBN 9780971548619, $29.95.


September 17, 1862 is a date that will likely stand forever as the most bloody day in American history. Approximately 23,000 Americans would be killed, wounded, or missing. Their memory stills haunts the Antietam National Battlefield today.

While the very early photos by Alexander Gardner have been well documented by William Frassanito in Antietam: The Photographic Legacy of America's Bloodiest Day as Recker admirably shows this was not the end of Antietam photography but rather the beginning.

Mr. Recker has put forth a monumental goal for himself: "...marks the beginning of my attempt to document, organize, and interpret, in a comprehensive fashion, the historical photographs associated with the Maryland Campaign of 1862, taken after Alexander Gardner & Co. left the field with their wagon-load of death-study negatives..."(page 6) I think readers will agree with me he has accomplished this goal and has laid the foundation for what I hope and anticipate will be many future volumes.

The book begins with a brief outline of the history of early photography at Antietam. From there the book is laid out into twelve battlefield locations. A period map at the front of the book will help readers gather their bearings as to where they are. The areas covered are: McClellans' Headquarters, Nicodemus Mills, the National Cemetery, East Woods, Bloody Cornfield, West Woods, Dunker Church, Mumma Cornfield, Bloody Lane, Samuel Piper Farm, Burnside Bridge, and the Final Attack location. Each location is shown by period photos from the authors collection or from repositories that he has found through his research. Where appropriate modern photos show the changes or similarities to over 100 years ago.

Many photographers work is covered here. Mr. Recker highlights the work of eleven photographers showing their work again with modern photos for comparison where appropriate. Photographers showcased include E. M. Recher (or Recker as occasionally found [author Mr. Recker and photographer Mr. Recher/Recker are not related]), David Bachrach, B.W.T. Phreaner, J.H. Wagoner, F.M. Yeager, W.H. Tipton, W.B. King, Levi Mumper, S.F. McFarland, J.G. McPherson (MacPherson), and E.M. Garrott.

Lest readers get the view this is strictly a coffee table type photography book there is considerable research that is included. In sections dealing with specific photographers Mr. Recker includes a goodly amount of biographical information much of which is taken from period sources. Mr. Recker has also made careful analysis of these photos in his research. A prime example comes from the Antietam National Cemetery. While comparing an 1866-67 stereoview of wooden headstone markers to contemporary photos Mr. Recker has proven that not all modern markers are likely to match up with the original burial locations. (page 35).  It is attention to detail like this that makes this book a must "READ" as well as a must "VIEW".

The photographs included are beautiful to look at. The cover image will no doubt draw the casual reader in but once hooked I would challenge a reader to put this volume down. This is a book that should be on the shelves of any student of Antietam and the Civil War in general or anybody with an interest in Civil War photography.

I highly recommend a visit to the Virtual Antietam website that Mr. Recker runs. It is a great resource and for those inclined you may purchase signed copies of this book.

Interview--Jim and Suzanne Gindlesperger

James and Suzanne Gindlesperger have written a couple of very interesting books dealing with the monuments on the Gettysburg and Antietam battlefields. On his own Jim has written several highly acclaimed books and has been nominated for the prestigious Lincoln Prize. Suzanne is a co founder of a very successful writing group. I am honored that they have agreed to answer some questions for us. Links to my reviews of their books and also a link to their website may be found at the end of the interview. If you haven't seen their books yet I highly recommend them!

 

 

CBR--Jim and Suzanne, Thank you so much for agreeing to answer some questions. First off, can you tell readers a little bit about yourselves?

Thanks for asking us, Robert.  Well, we’ve been married for 42 years and we live in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  We have two children and two rescue dogs.  We both enjoy the same things, especially tramping over Civil War battlefields, so it makes it easy to do projects like our books together.  Jim works at Carnegie Mellon University, and Sue is a Travel Consultant for AAA.

CBR--What led to your interest in the Civil War? Was it a particular book or visit to a battlefield?

It really wasn’t anything specific that we can recall.  We both have always enjoyed history, and with both of us having ancestors who fought in the Civil War it was a natural progression.  Because Antietam and Gettysburg are the two closest major battlefields to where we live, we just seemed to gravitate to them at first, and from there we just expanded our interests to the point now where most of our vacations seem to center around battlefield visits.

CBR--You've co-authored two books in the So You Think You Know... series, one dealing with Gettysburg and your recent book dealing with Antietam. Can you please describe your books and also what was the inspiration behind them?

Both books are similar.  We have always enjoyed learning some of the “behind the scenes” stories that you don’t often read about in the usual books about the battles.  We find them fascinating, and they give a truer picture of the men who fought.  Both books include photos of many of the monuments and locations on the battlefields, along with maps and GPS coordinates so people can locate them easily.  Then, we added stories about each one, trying to focus on the things we are often asked, such as why the monument sits where it does, what does it represent, who designed it, and, of course, the human interest stories.  Some of these stories are humorous, some are sad, but they all tell the story of the men who fought.  In a way, it’s kind of our own little tribute to them, hoping that people who read about them will not forget what they did.

Both battlefields, but especially Gettysburg, have been written about extensively.  But we haven’t found many books that tell the stories behind the men who fought, or the monuments that they built.  We wanted to stay away from the battle details, the tactics, and the strategies, because they had been done so well by so many others that we didn’t see any way we could add anything.  But the approach we have taken seems to have taken hold with many readers who tell us that they enjoy both the photography and the stories that they hadn’t heard before.

CBR--What has been the most interesting thing you have learned while researching these two battlefields?

One of the things we quickly picked up on in our early battlefield visits was the significance of the monuments.  Each one tells a story, and we’ve tried to pass that along in our books.  We tell people to take a few extra minutes to study the monuments, to look at the inscriptions, or focus on the figures shown and what they are doing.  In nearly every instance the monument depicts some significant event that the regiment or individual was involved in.  That is really what got us interested in the behind-the-scenes stories we referred to.  We wanted to find out what the men who fought were trying to tell us with their monument, and we learned that the scenes shown weren’t just something general but were actually testimonies to someone who did something outstanding in the battle, or to honor the entire regiment for some stand they took or some charge they were involved in.  Too often these monuments are taken for granted.  We look at them for a moment and move on to the next,  and people would be surprised at how interesting their stories really are.  It might take a little digging when you get back home, but it will add to anyone’s appreciation of the battle and is well worth the time. 

CBR--How have the books been received by readers?

They have been received extremely well.  The Gettysburg book won the bronze award for the ForeWord Review’s Book of the Year in 2010, and that really seemed to trigger a lot of interest.  In fact, the reception the Gettysburg book got was the real reason we decided to do the one on Antietam.

It’s really gratifying to have strangers come up to us at a book signing or after one of our lectures and tell us that they didn’t have much of an interest in the Civil War until they read our books.  And how flattering is it when a licensed battlefield guide tells us he uses some of our stories in his tours?  It doesn’t get much better than that.

CBR--Many writing partnerships are done long distance but the two of you are married. Can you describe how you do your research and who is responsible for what? Does one of you do the writing and the other the photography or is the writing more collaborative?

Our research techniques are really pretty hard to describe.  Maybe because we really don’t have a specific procedure.  One of us can be taking a picture and the other will say, “Here, let me have the camera a minute,” and then take a photo of something that the other didn’t see.  As a result, we have a lot of photos of the same thing that we can choose from, with different angles or lighting effects.  And we often look at the pictures later and truly don’t remember which one of us took some of them. 

We don’t have a set pattern, where one takes the pictures and the other writes the stories.  While one of us is talking about something we learned about an individual or a regiment, it may remind the other of something that seems totally unrelated, and we write it down so we can try to work it in somewhere later.  It sounds pretty haphazard, and maybe it is, but it seems to work for us.

Our work really is a joint effort, and we’ve always had the luxury that we don’t take our writing too seriously.  We do it because we enjoy it, and we don’t put any pressure on ourselves to get something done by a certain time.  We don’t even submit it to our agent until it is finished, so we don’t have to rush to meet any contract deadlines.  That keeps it fun. 

CBR--Time to put you on the spot. Of these two battlefields do you have a favorite? Also, any particular monuments that stick out as being your favorites and why?

Jim;  For me, each battlefield has its own strong points.  Gettysburg is a treasure trove of stories, simply because it is so large and so many troops were involved.  But Antietam is such an easy battle to follow, and the field itself is small enough that it can easily be covered in a weekend.  So I guess I would have to say I don’t have a clear cut favorite.

But I do have some favorite monuments.  At Antietam I like the 90^th Pennsylvania monument, mostly because it is so unique.  The fact that Gary Casteel, a friend of ours, sculpted it, helps, too.  And I like the story behind the 51^st Pennsylvania at the Burnside Bridge.  They had their whiskey ration taken from them as punishment for some infraction, and when their colonel asked them if they thought they could capture the bridge, they immediately saw a chance to negotiate.  They said they could take the bridge if he gave them back their whiskey.  Both got what they wanted.

One of my favorite spots at Gettysburg isn’t even a monument.  It’s a rock on Culp’s Hill where Private Augustus Coble of the 1^st North Carolina left his mark.  He was so proud of his participation in the battle that he found a way to go back to Gettysburg many years later and find the boulder where he fought, somehow carving his name and regiment into it.  It shows how important the battle was to those who fought there.

And because I enjoy irony, I also like the Excelsior Brigade monument in the Wheatfield.  It was supposed to include a bust of General Daniel Sickles, but when the time came for the bust to be sculpted, an audit revealed that the money to pay for it was missing.  Turns out that the good general was responsible for the missing money, so he never got his bust on the monument.  A fitting end to the story, I think.  Although later, as a Congressman, he was responsible for the act that established the battlefield as a national park, so in some respects, he got his recognition anyway.

 

Suzanne:  Like Jim, I can’t pick one battlefield over the other.  Each holds a special place for me.  Gettysburg has the most spectacular sunsets and watching them from Little Round Top is an experience everyone should enjoy.

I do have a special place, though, along Wheatfield Road.  There’s a marker for Captain Jedidiah Chapman of Connecticut who died while leading his company towards the Rose Woods.  I came across this marker several years before the naturalization project began in Gettysburg.  When I found it, it was hidden in overgrown weeds and seemed forgotten.  I wondered who he was.  Since that time I’ve learned a bit about him and his family.  Sadly, he was so young when he died, leaving a wife and children.  Whenever we’re in Gettysburg, I try to visit his marker to thank him for his sacrifice.

I have two favorites at Antietam.  The first is the Dunker Church.  It’s plain and simple and so quiet  whenever you enter, so unlike that day in September 150 years ago.  I like to sit in one of the pews and listen to the silence and offer a prayer  not only for  those who fought there, but for my loved ones as well.

The second place is unique, and as Jim mentioned, it’s one of his favorites, too.  It’s the monument to the Ninetieth Pennsylvania Infantry and is three fixed bayonets and a hanging cook pot.  It sits along Cornfield Avenue and is shaded by the tree line.  On one visit, it was covered with bright orange Monarch butterflies.  What a treat that was!  

CBR--Jim, you've written several other Civil War related books. Would you care to let readers know about your earlier works?

My first book, Escape from Libby Prison, documents the famous tunnel escape.  This was the largest Prisoner of War escape in American military history, and according to the National Park Service, my book was the first in-depth account published.  Escape from Libby Prison won the George Washington Honor Medal for Excellence from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.  It was also featured in a Discovery Channel documentary, and Warner Brothers purchased the film rights.  Tom Hanks and Dylan Sellers were to be the producers, but unfortunately, after a few years, Warner Brothers decided not to follow through with it.

My second book followed the cadets of Virginia Military Institute in the Battle of New Market.  It was titled Seed Corn of the Confederacy, a title that Jefferson Davis gave the cadets.  It was the first book about New Market that was devoted exclusively to the participation of the VMI cadets, and the director of the VMI museum wrote that the story had never been told better.

My third book, Fire on the Water, focused on the voyages of the CSS Alabama and the USS Kearsarge.  The Alabama accounted for nearly one of every four Union merchant ships lost during the entire Civil War, with more than 60 ships destroyed.  The Kearsarge was one of the Union ships charged with finding and sinking the Alabama.  The two finally met in an epic battle off the coast of France on June 19, 1864.   I used ship logs and diaries to document the words and lives of the participants and was able to offer a look into life at sea during the Civil War.  I also examined and discussed the many controversies surrounding the battle.  Fire on the Water also won the George Washington Honor Medal for Excellence and was nominated for the Lincoln Prize.

CBR--Suzanne, you are a co founder of Pennwriters. Can you let readers know about this  organization?

What began as a brainstorm of five people, Pennwriters has grown as a not-for-profit organization of more than 450 members from Pennsylvania and beyond.  It was established in 1988 to be a network for published and aspiring writers of all genres.   We offer a three-day writers conference each year as well as area events, email groups, online classes and social networking.  I encourage any writer who needs help and encouragement to visit www.pennwriters.org

CBR--So what is up next for the two of you? Any books in the future for readers to be on the lookout for?

We have a couple of projects in the works.  We are working together on a second volume of So You Think You Know Gettysburg? that we are kind of excited about.  There were so many pictures and stories that we wanted to include that we couldn’t fit them all into one book, so that is something that we definitely want to do.  And Jim has had a long time interest in the trial and hanging of Henry Wirz, the Commandant of Andersonville Prison.  He is actively gathering information on that and plans to do an objective study of Wirz and the trial.  Sue has an idea for a book on field hospitals that is just starting to take shape, so she hopes to pursue that at some point.  All in all, it looks like we have enough ideas that we should be busy for a while.

Thanks so much for allowing us to be a part of this interview, Robert.  We really appreciate it.

CBR--And thank you for taking the time to participate. I really appreciate your time and highly suggest readers purchase your  books. They are both entertaining and informative!

 

 

Please see my review of So You Think You Know Antietam here.

Please see my review of So You Think You Know Gettysburg here.

 

Please visit James and Suzanne's website here.

Book Review--So You Think You Know Antietam

Gindlesperger, James and Suzanne Gindlesperger. So You Think You Know Antietam? The Stories Behind America's Bloodiest Day. John F. Blair Publisher, Winston-Salem, NC. 2012. 234 pages, 199 pages of text. Color and B/W photos, maps, index, four appendices. ISBN 9780895875792, $19.95.

Coming off the success of their prior book with a similar name except dealing with Gettysburg (see my review here) it was only natural for husband and wife authors James and Suzanne Gindlesperger to create another highly readable and visually appealing book dealing with another great Civil War battle.

This time around they have chosen to tackle Antietam. On that September day in 1862 approximately 23,000 men were casualties with over 3,500 paying the ultimate price. Now the well preserved battlefield stands as a monument to these men no matter which side they were fighting for or what their reason for fighting was.

Part history, part travel log, part pictorial reference this is a book that should be on the library shelves of anybody interested in the battle of Antietam or any student of Civil War memory. While not a good introduction to the battle itself this is a great book for anybody travelling the main park service roads.

While this book can certainly be read on it's own (that's what I did) it's value would be on the battlefield and for those interested in the dozens of monuments that commemorate various people, places, brigades, and more.

The book is broken into ten chapters each covering a section of the battlefield. Each chapter begins with a brief outline and includes a Mapquest map helping travellers keep their bearings. For each battlefield marker included there is a photo as well as GPS coordinates. Modern photos are sometimes supplemented by historical photos and artwork. The text accompanying each stop on the tour describes the significance of the subject and often times points out information about the physical monument including dedication dates and artist information. The four appendices cover Robert E. Lee's "Special Order 191" or his lost order, orders of battle for both sides, and a listing of Medal of Honor winners associated with the battle. I would challenge almost anybody (licensed guides and park rangers don't count) to not learn something new from this book.

With beautiful photos and and interesting and highly readable text this is surely a book that will find it's way on to the shelves of many Civil War readers. Highly recommended!

Book Review--The Battle of Antietam

Alexander, Ted. Battle of Antietam: The Bloodiest Day (MD) (Civil War Sesquicentennial Series).   The History Press. Charleston, SC. 2011. B/W photos, maps, index, bibliography, notes, order of battle. ISBN 9781609491796, $19.99.

Ted Alexander is the chief historian for the
 Antietam National Battlefield. In this role it would be expected that he would be able to write a clear and concise work on the battle. Overall he has succeeded. While by no means is this work going to supplant  Stephen Sears massive work Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam that is not the goal of works from The History Press. For those looking for a good introduction to the battle this may be your best option.

The book starts out with a history of the Sharpsburg area and it's surroundings. The town was originally founded in 1763. After losing a close vote to become county seat the area of Sharpsburg remained mostly rural farm land while the town of Hagertown became more industrialized. On September 17, 1862 this farm land would see some of the most violent fighting our country has known.

Mr. Alexander covers the major areas of fighting near Antietam Creek well: chapters cover the Cornfield and the East Woods, West Woods and the Dunker Church, Bloody Lane, and Burnside Bridge. Each are covered in good depth but not to a point where an unfamiliar reader is confused. While pointing out many of the "highs and lows" Alexander tends to stay away from the finger pointing and the blame game that often occurs in books. Union General George McClellan is spared the beating he is given by many historians for his slow reactions and General Edwin Sumner is spared the critisism often dealt his way in regards to his early morning actions at the West Woods.


In his book Alexander does more than cover just the military aspects of the battle. As the subtitle to the book says this was America's bloodiest day. With over 23,000 total casualties both armies took a beating. An excellent chapter covers the aftermath of the battle including dealing with the dead, both human and animal, hospitals and the civilian aid given to the injured, the spread of disease to both military and civilians, and the huge amount of property damage caused. All was not doom and gloom however as Mr. Alexander points out the medical advances brought about by Dr. Jonathan Letterman. Many of these were first implemented at Antietam.

The Confederate army, tired and defeated, retreat across the Potomac on the evening of September 18. McClellan rather clumsily sends a rather small grouping of soldiers after Lee. This leads to the Battle of Shepherstown, where Union troops are defeated by a Confederate force led by Stonewall Jackson, thus sustaining another 363 casualties the majority suffered by the 118th Pennsylvania.

With the fall of 1862 being a major Confederate disappointment, and General McClellan not following up Abraham Lincoln had seen enough and removed "Little Mac" from command. While having been relieved of command there can be little doubt that McClellan and the Union army achieved a great victory that September day. So great in fact that it paved the way for President Lincoln to unveil his Emancipation Proclamation. While the proclomation's value to slaves in seceeded areas can be debated it's longer term value to the Union cause can not be.

The book wraps up nicely with a chapter covering post battle events such as the founding of the Antietam National Cemetery, the founding of the Antietam National Battlefied, soldier reunions, improvements to the battlefield, and more.

The book is really helped along by the wonderful maps provided by Steven Stanley. There are dozens of b/w photos helping visually further the story. Also included are an index, bibliography, notes, and an order of battle. This is not a book for those with a good knowledge of the battle. I doubt you will find anything new here. For those just coming to the battle, or like me have a bit of knowledge but want to know more, this is a book I can heartily recommend. It will help when you move on and read Sears, Harsh, or Carman.

For those with more interest you might like to check out Ted Alexander's appearance on Civil War Talk Radio by clicking here.

Upcoming Posts--E-Book Style

Well, Confederate Book Review is being forced into the 21st century whether I want to be or not. I have received 2 review copies in the last few weeks. Both are in PDF format. Now I have resisted having an e-reader of any kind and reading for long periods on a computer is not my favorite thing to do but that is going to have to change I am afraid. My wife has a Kindle (OK it was originally mine but she has gotten a ton of use out of it) and now has a Nook Tablet that she uses constantly. She loves it. I will be joining the digital revolution soon enough though. My parents are going to buy me an iPad 3 (or whatever the new version will be called) as my Christmas gift when it is released. The last I saw this is possibly going to be in March. We'll see. I am sure once I get used to it I will enjoy it. There's just something about a real physical book that I think I will always prefer. Gotta change with the times though.

While I really do prefer the real book I can see the advantages for publishers especially when sending out complimentary review copies. The expense is really negligible as opposed to a hard copy of the book. Chances are the PDF cost pennies at best while the physical book would run several dollars or more depending on whether a real trade edition or "ARC" is sent. The digital copy also saves on postage which is at least a couple of bucks. Add it up then multiply it by however many review copies are sent out then multiply that times how many books a publisher releases and at this point we are talking some real money. Yes, the digital review copy is here to stay and as I said earlier I've gotta change with the times.
Onward to the new e-books I have received!


From the great folks at Savas Beatie is the much waited for Unholy Sabbath: The Battle of South Mountain in History and Memory, September 14, 1862 written by Brian Matthew Jordan. Having read John Hoptak's excellent The Battle of South Mountain last year I am eagerly looking forward to reading this.




Thanks also go out to author S. Thomas Summers for sending along a copy of his recently released book of Civil War poetry titled Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War. Through a series of brief poems we trace the service of a young Confederate private during the Civil War. Seems like an interesting concept. Seeing that the book has received several 5 star reviews on Amazon I have hope that this will prove an interesting read. The book is published by Anaphora Literary Press.

Savas Beatie Author Interview

Having recently had the pleasure of visiting Antietam National Battlefield I have gained an interest in and appreciation for this complex battle. Publisher Savas Beatie has a new book out titled Unholy Sabbath: The Battle of South Mountain in History and Memory, September 14, 1862 written by Brian Matthew Jordan. Here Jordan tells the story of an often overlooked battle that is seen by many as just a prequel to Antietam. Using many primary sources readers will be able to see the importance of the action that took place at the three gaps (Fox's, Turner's, and Crampton's) on South Mountain. If the author achieves his goal the battle will no longer be seen as just a trivial part of the Maryland Campaign that led to Antietam but will be seen as an important turning point in the campaign in and of itself. The book contains maps, photos, index, and bibliography. While I have not seen a copy of the book yet this looks like it will be a winner. Knowing the quality of other SB books this will no doubt be an attractive book as well.

For those wanting further information about the book, the author, or the author's methods and goals of the book SB has been kind enough to post an interview with Mr. Jordan. Read the full interview here.

Book Review--The Battle of South Mountain

Hoptak, John David. The Battle of South Mountain. The History Press, Charleston, SC. 2011. 221 pages, 182 pages text, index, bibliography, notes, Order of Battle, b/w photos, maps. ISBN 9781596294011, $21.99.

Before the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam to the majority of readers) armies led by Generals George McClellan and Robert E. Lee met at a series of mountain passes known as South Mountain.

Antietam interpretive park ranger John D. Hoptak starts his wonderful book with an introduction to Robert E. Lee's first foray north of the Potomac River. Lee had approximately 70,000 men and enjoyed the numerical edge over George McClellan's army. Instead of the planned upon success Lee had many issues to deal with: his army was tired, food was scarce, straggling troops, and a lukewarm reception at best by Maryland citizens.

Ultimately the Battle of South Mountain was really three battles to control mountain passes: Fox's Gap, Frostown and Turner Gaps, and Crampton Gap. The battle that took place at Crampton Gap was a key in McClellan's failed attempt to free the troops held in siege by Stonewall Jackson at Harper's Ferry. Each of these is given a full chapter treatment that more than adequately covers the battle there.

Mr. Hoptak shows us the Union forces fighting hard and aggresively as they slowly beat back the Confederates who had held the higher ground. At the end of a long day of fighting Union troops succeeded in pushing the Confederates off the mountain and forced them into retreat. All was not rosy however as the follow up to this victory did not take place as planned. Despite Union efforts, Jackson was still able to receive a surrender from the troops at Harper's Ferry. Afterwards Jackson was ordered north eventually meeting up with James Longstreet and D.H. Hill at a town called Sharpsburg near the Antietam Creek. The bloody fighting there has overshadowed South Mountain for nearly 150 years.

While there have been other works dealing with South Mountain John Hoptak has written a book that will surely appeal to many interested in the Civil War. His writing is clear and the research thorough. The bibliography is a nice mixture of primary and secondary sources. I would be remiss not to mention the maps produced by Mannie Gentile. Hand drawn, these are not the standard maps you may be used to but rather delicately produced works that add to the book tremendously. Part of the History Press Civil War Sesquicentennial Series this is a book that should be in any Civil War library and without doubt must be owned by anybody interested in the Maryland Campaign.

Be sure to click on the links associated with John and Mannie's names to visit their excellent blogs. For further information click here to read an interview with John conducted on the Civil War Trust site.

Thank you to the good folks at The History Press for providing a review copy.