When Hell Came to Sharpsburg: The Battle of Antietam and its Impact on the Civilians Who Called it Home

About this book

Discover a forgotten chapter of American history with Steven Cowies riveting account of the Battle of Antietam. The Battle of Antietam fought in and around Sharpsburg Maryland on September 17 1862 was the bloodiest day in American history. Despite the large number of books and articles on the subject the battles horrendous toll on area civilians is rarely discussed. When Hell Came to Sharpsburg: The Battle of Antietam and Its Impact on the Civilians Who Called It Home by Steven Cowie rectifies this oversight. By the time the battle ended about dusk that day more than 23 000 men had been killed wounded or captured in just a dozen hours of combata grim statistic that tells only part of the story. The epicenter of that deadly day was the small community of Sharpsburg. Families lived worked and worshipped there. It was their home. And the horrific fighting turned their lives upside down. When Hell Came to Sharpsburg investigates how the battle and opposing armies wreaked emotional physical and financial havoc on the people of Sharpsburg. For proper context the author explores the savage struggle and its gory aftermath and explains how soldiers stripped the community of resources and spread diseases. Cowie carefully and meticulously follows the fortunes of individual families like the Mummas Roulettes Millers and many othersordinary folk thrust into harrowing circumstancesand their struggle to recover from their unexpected and often devastating losses. Cowies comprehensive study is grounded in years of careful research. He unearthed a trove of previously unused archival accounts and examined scores of primary sources such as letters diaries regimental histories and official reports. Packed with explanatory footnotes original maps and photographs Cowies richly detailed book is a must-read for those seeking new information on the battle and the perspective of the citizens who suffered because of it. Antietams impact on the local community was an American tragedy and it is told here completely for the first time.