As mcpherson shows, by september 1862 the survival of the united states was in doubt. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Mcpherson, paints a masterful account of this pivotal battle, the events that led up to it, and its aftermath. Making sense of the american civil war series i have mentioned here before.
This cataclysmic battle was the bloodiest day of fighting in american history, with a stunning number of casualties left in its wake. The war is commonly referred to as the battle of antietam whose aftermath left more than 6,000 soldiers dead. Antietam september 17, 1862 on september 17, 1862, at antietam creek, maryland, over 23,000 union and confederate soldiers nine times the number who fell on the beaches of normandy were killed or wounded. I read and enjoyed it a few years ago, but have now just reread it as part of the lets talk about it. Dec 18, 2009 midterm crossroads to freedom slides 1. The battle of antietam, fought on september 17, 1862, was the bloodiest single day in american history, with more than 6. Antietam staff ride and valuable reading for those interested in the civil war and in the history of the military art. The civil war era won the pulitzer prize for history and his for cause and comrades. There is no denying that antietam was a pivotal moment, and that mcpherson was the ideal person to write this account. The book is about the battle of antietam to southerners, sharpsburg, a great and terrible event that made september 17, 1862, the bloodiest day in american history. Antietam pivotal moments in american history mcpherson, james m. Mcpherson oxford university press the battle of antietam, fought on september. Mcpherson tells the story of the battle of antietam the turning point of the whole civil war, and the bloodiest day in american history.
Antietamcrossroads of freedom by rachel nicole tunnell 2. Sep 08, 2002 but crossroads of freedom isnt simply about the bloodiest single day in american history, to use mcphersons phrase. Crossroads to freedom essay did antietam change the course of the civil war. Antietam bibliography for teachers national park service. Civil war history, volume 50, number 2, june 2004, pp. His other books include abraham lincoln and the second american revolution. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. James mcphersons crossroads of freedom essay example. Read crossroads of freedom pdf antietam by james m.
The battle itself occupies only about 30 pages of this 203page volume. The civil war era 1988, but the graceful prose end page 194 flawless arguments that distinguish crossroads of freedom make these ideas well worth revisiting. The pendulum of war on december 20th, 1860, south carolina was the first southern state to secede from the union. Read crossroads of freedom antietam the battle that changed the course of the civil war pdf free. Mcpherson aired his ideas about antietams importance in his 1988 bestseller, battle cry of freedom. Mcpherson aired his ideas about antietam s importance in his 1988 bestseller, battle cry of freedom. If the southern army carried the day in maryland, washington would be the next to. Antietam 1862, mcpherson dramatically sweeps the reader along and i was left with a renewed i have nearly 90 books that cover the civil war on my bookshelf. Haring prize for the most outstanding book on latin american historywalter fraga charts these slaves daily lives and recounts their struggle to make a future for themselves following slaverys abolition in 1888. In this new translation of crossroads of freedomwhich won the 2011 clarence h.
Much more than lives were at stakeboth sides were fighting for their definition of freedom. Antietam marked the crossing of confederate troops into union territory. Most books that cover the civil war compartmentalize the battles into little chapters with titles like chancellorsville, antietam and shiloh. Sa mcpherson suggests that the battle of antietam not gettysburg was the most important battle of the war and provides a convincing argument for it. Battle cry of freedom argues that the bloody clash at. James mcphersons crossroads of freedom james mcphersons book, crossroads of freedom is a war account of the battle in antietam, deemed to be the most violent, bloodiest day in american history. Antietam pivotal moments in american history series by james m. Antietam is part of the pivotal moments in american history series. James mcpherson talked about his book, crossroads of freedom. Antietam bibliography for teachers antietam expedition guide. The bloodiest day in united states history was september 17, 1862, when, during the civil war battle at antietam, close to 6,500 soldiers were killed or mortally. In a concise narrative, mcpherson takes readers through the events leading up to antietam, and through the savage fighting of the battle itself. An appropriate selection for the publishers pivotal moments in american history series, this pithy monograph by mcpherson history, princeton. The battle that changed the course of the civil war james m.
The battle of antietam fought on september 17 1862 was the bloodiest single day in american history with more than 6000. Mcpherson, paints a masterful account of this pivotal battle, the. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by. In crossroads of freedom, americas most eminent civil war historian, james m. Antietam introduction september 17, 1862, is arguably the americans bloodiest day. Read crossroads of freedom antietam the battle that. Mcpherson, acknowledged by many to be the dean of civil war historians, offers this work as part of a series identifying. Antietam is ideal for a staff ride, since a continuing goal of the national park service is to maintain the site in the condition in which it was on the day of the battle.
Crossroads of freedom by james mcpherson and nelson runger. Crossroads of freedom became one of those rare books. The battle that changed the course of the civil war. Mcpherson, acknowledged by many to be the dean of civil war historians, o. But crossroads of freedom isnt simply about the bloodiest single day in american history, to use mcphersons phrase. It was soon followed by six more states mississippi, florida, alabama, georgia, louisiana, and texas. Mcpherson the great historian james mcpherson presents his account of antietam, the savage civil war battle that made the. The battle of antietam, fought on september 17, 1862, was the bloodiest single day in american history, with more than 6,000 soldiers killedfour times the number lost on dday, and twice the number killed in the september 11th terrorist attacks. The pendulum of war 18611862 the first chapter focuses on the reasons for the american civil war and the beginning of a long journey civil wars usually start when one side is trying to control the others land or government, but in the case of this. This is an ideal study for undergraduates and other students.
Brown 15 september 2005 brigadier general, usa ret. Antietam sorry document has been removed or not existed. Antietam, by james m mcpherson, mcpherson gives us, the reader, a rundown of the battle which is referred to as. Mcpherson is a renowned civil war historian and his texts are required reading on college campuses all over america.
The pendulum of war 18611862 the first chapter focuses on the reasons for the american civil war and the beginning of a long journey civil wars usually start when one side is trying to control the others land or government, but in the case of this civil war the. There are hundreds of books that talk about wars in america, and a. James mcphersons crossroads of freedom is a model of what might be done with this approach. There are hundreds of books that talk about wars in america, and a few of them have already talked about antietam. The battle of antietam, fought on september 17, 1862, was the bloodiest single day in american history, with more than 6000 soldiers killedfour times the. On september 17, 1862, at antietam creek, maryland, nearly 23,000 union and confederate soldiers nine times the number who fell on. At antietam, the possibilities for the future of the union diverged like paths at a crossroads. This book focused on the battle of antietam, which was not only the bloodiest battle in the u. Why men fought in the civil war was awarded the 1998 lincoln prize. Antietam, pivotal moments in american history, published by oxford university. The pulitzer prizewinning author weaves strands of diplomatic, political, and military history into a swiftmoving narrative. The civil war battle waged on september 17, 1862, at antietam creek, maryland, was one of the bloodiest in the nations history. That james mcpherson would choose to devote an entire book to this battle is a.
For fifty years or more, civil war studies have echoed the theme that the battle of antietam, fought in western maryland on september 17, 1862, was the most cri we use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. James mcpherson is the author of crossroads of freedom. The bloodiest single day in american history, with more than 6,000 killed four times the number lost on dday. Mcpherson the great historian james mcpherson presents his account of antietam, the savage civil war battle that made the freeing of the slaves. The battle of antietam, fought on september17, 1862 was one of the many bloody but indecisive battles that was so characteristic of the civil war.
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