A Savage Thunder: Antietam and the Bloody Road to Freedom (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: A Savage Thunder: Antietam and the Bloody Road to Freedom Elizabeth Bush Murphy, Jim. A Savage Thunder: Antietam and the Bloody Road to Freedom. McElderry, 2009 103p. ISBN 978-0-689-87633-2 $17.99 Readers who paid attention in their history classes will probably recall that the Civil War battle at Antietam, Maryland holds an inglorious distinction: “The total for both sides—22,717 casualties—meant that the twelve hours . . . would be the bloodiest single day of fighting in American history.” Although each side would immediately claim victory, hindsight regards the battle as a draw, making the death and injury toll seem all that much more unnecessary and tragic. Murphy offers here a straightforward military history of the battle, supplying the now-legendary detail Civil War enthusiasts probably already know—the infuriating refusal of Union general McClellan to follow through on advantages; the serendipitous discovery of Lee’s battle plans; the uncanny ability of Confederate generals Jeb Stuart and Stonewall Jackson to appear almost from out of nowhere exactly where they were needed. Murphy also has some lesser-known tales to tell, from the chivalrous removal of a family from a farmhouse in the heat of battle, to an attack of bees unleashed by a Confederate volley on Union soldiers. His narrative tone remains relatively dispassionate, but he allows participants in the battle to convey through direct quotes something of the day’s fury. The page count is deceptive, since most layouts feature double-columned text, but the inclusion of many maps, portraits, and battle illustrations should make the reading load a bit less daunting. Appended material includes notes on sources, an index, and a bibliography that focuses exclusively on sources for the “voices” quoted in the text. Readers interested in the strategies and tactics will want to pair this with Warren’s Under Siege!: Three Children at the Civil War Battle for Vicksburg (BCCB 9/09). Copyright © 2009 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois