The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in American history, and the turning point of the whole Civil War. At the point where Confederate troops invaded Maryland, poised to take Washington, the morale of the Union was at an all time low. It had suffered a series of defeats, it seemed that foreign governments were on the verge of recognizing the Confederacy and legitimizing its cause, and the Emancipation Proclamation had been shelved indefinitely. McPherson
argues that the Union victory at Antietam sharply reversed all this, and gave the Union a new raison d'etre in the form of Emancipation.
McPherson combines a compelling narrative of the battle itself with a clear analysis of the political situation surrounding it. The final chapters discuss the aftermath of the battle, and its reputation as a pivotal moment in American history.
- ISBN10 0786249099
- ISBN13 9780786249091
- Publish Date 1 December 2002 (first published 1 January 2002)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 1 July 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Thorndike Press
- Edition Large type / large print edition
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 314
- Language English