Ive looked out over the Corn Field, Ive walked the Bloody Lane and Ive stood on Burnsides Bridge, never have I felt the feeling of hallowed ground so strongly. No matter which side you stood, the sacrifices on this soil were heavy. You can almost feel it press down on you. Its unlike any other battlefield ive been too.

@JeffreyGlover65

2 жыл бұрын

Agree 100%. I took a picture of Burnside Bridge almost exactly from the spot of the B&W photo by the bridge. Trying to Imagine the men who fought there, who stood where I stood, who died where I walked. Its awe inspiring, and haunting.

@michaelvaughn8864

Жыл бұрын

@@JeffreyGlover65 My late uncle videotaped almost the entire Antietam battlefield when he took a trip there maybe 30+ years ago now, Mr. Glover with his camcorder. A recording engineer pal of his made it into a VHS cassette tape for us to watch on the VCR. The footage was amazing, sir. It was nearly like being on the site itself

@frankierodriguez4132

Жыл бұрын

I've stood there too...I've felt that feeling but damn Gettysburg has the same feeling it's unsettling

@srgmiller340

10 ай бұрын

@@frankierodriguez4132 Having been to Gettysburg and stood on the fields i felt very emotional and stood on both sides of the high watermark the low stone wall and could not hold back tears

@Jason32Bourne

4 ай бұрын

I've been to multiple Civil War battlefields, including Gettysburg multiple times and in length. Every time I go to Sharpsburg I feel a noticeable sense of pain, sadness, loss, and despair. The Wilderness and Cold Harbor I have a slight feeling of unease and depression. But Sharpsburg, is something else. It's strange.

My great great grandpa survived this battle. That's why I am here. He was on the union side. Thank you for this documentary.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching. It's amazing what people went through.

@michaelvaughn8864

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad he survived, Mr. Brou👍 My great uncle ×3 fought for a N.J. regiment there and was hit in his left calf with a mini ball. Thankfully, he survived both his wound and the war

The details you put into your videos is absolute top notch viewing… as a Brit I find the American Civil War fascinating… the amount of British sounding surnames of the Corp commanders on both sets of combatants is truly incredible… superb video…👏👏🇺🇸🇬🇧👍

@JeffreytheLibrarian

9 ай бұрын

Thank you, friend. Yes, the British Isles are going to represent a huge portion of the last names on both sides. English on the coast going back to the 17th century, and Scots-Irish and Scottish in the Appalachians from the 18th century. At the Civil War period, there are also a ton of Irish and Germans coming over, and most of them end up on the Northern side, because the factory jobs were largely in the north.

I grew up in this area and visited the battlefield hundreds of times if not thousands. Quite the experience and I recommend watching the videos available at the visitors center.

Its a strange feeling to walk the site of a major battlefield. The ground stained with so many souls its like being torn apart by the beyond, by people who must cry yet have no tears of their own. Saipan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Somme, Verdun, Normandy, Gettysburg, and Antietam. All these places I have stood but have yet to quench the tears of the fallen.

I've fought this battle on various video game simulators a thousand times, both with the units in their historically accurate positions and arriving on the field at the time they actually did, and with randomized scenarios, in which more or less units are available, or available at different times/places, etc. No matter what the variant, it always comes down to the same thing: if the Union forces can make use of their full strength, and manage some modicum of coordination so that the attacks left, right, and center are mutually supportive, or at the very least timed in such a way that they prevent the Confederates from shifting men around to reinforce threatened areas, they--the Union--can sweep the Confederates off the field. The Union attacks can even be poorly coordinated so that don't achieve immediate breakthroughs. As long as they keep pressure on the Confederate units to their immediate front and prevent them from being shifted or redeployed, the attacking Union troops will eventually hit some part of the Confederate line with too few defenders, and the entire Confederate army's position can be compromised. And if this happens early enough in the battle, with sufficient daylight and fresh troops available to exploit the breach, it can be catastrophic for the Confederate army. It's just a matter of arithmetic, geographyl: the Confederate army isn't big enough to stop the Union army on the given battlefield. I realize that video games are literally a in different universe from an actual battle, and it doesn't take much nerve to issue "orders" with no greater consequences than changing pixels on a screen; and I realize that one should be very careful about extrapolating answers to historical "what if?" questions based upon them. Never the less, seeing the same scenario unfold time and time again in the video games really drove home what a huge gamble Lee took by inviting that battle, and--despite the feelings at the time--what a huge failure it was for McClellan. Big, war-ending, one-shot battles are pretty much solely the province of video games, but at the very least, McClellan's lack of resolve and "hands off" approach to managing his army in combat probably got thousands of his soldiers unnecessarily killed. And one can't help imagining what a "grab em by the nose and kick em in the ass"-type general in the vein of Grant or Sheridan might have accomplished that day. But I can sympathize with McClellan: Pope was that kind of general.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

The major advantage to video simulations over the actual field command is that communication and control is much messier in real life. A video game has the benefit of one person directly micromanaging all the units. While in real life, a divisional or brigade commander might misunderstand an order, act to late, act to early, get lost, take the wrong road (which happened alot), etc. It would also be so hard to coordinate attacks with units a mile or more away. If you have the order to strike "when you hear the guns," it would be very easy to confuse if, for instance, the other side struck first unexpectedly somewhere else, and you then misinterpreted the cue.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

And yes, I agree with your assessment of McClellan. Pope, Burnside, McDowell, and Hooker all provide very good examples of why one doesn't just "throw the Union army at Lee."

@hatuletoh

2 жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian Yes, exactly. In a video game, you point and click at the spot you can see perfectly from a bird's-eye view, and your regiment, brigade, division, corps, or army move along at a regular rate, in perfect order, and stop exactly where you want them to. The better games have features that at least hide the enemy if your own units on the ground wouldn't have a sight-line, but the game player never has to worry about staff riders carrying orders getting lost or killed, subordinates misinterpreting the wording of an order, incompetent officers not deploying their men properly, straggling, bad maps, etc., etc. And as much as people think they want real-life verisimilitude in games, a civil war simulator that wrecked one's carefully planned attack because some war dept clerk didn't pass along the requisition for pontoon bridges quickly enough would be, I think, not a particularly enjoyable playing experience. But I also think it can be argued that a key difference, if not THE key difference, between effective and ineffective Civil War generals was that the good ones kept themselves apprised of how the battle was proceeding so that they could could make effective use of their resources; the poor ones drew up a grand plan the night before, briefed their generals at midnight while doing their best impression of Napoleon, and then hoped everything worked out the next day (and blamed subordinates when it didn't...hello General Bragg). McClellan was definitely more of the latter type, and his intelligence failures stretched from the tactical to the strategic, i.e., not knowing what his own troops were doing in the heat of a battle because he was two miles away looking at a smoke cloud through a telescope, to basing his overall strategy on the belief that Lee's army outnumbered his two to one. The Union general who ultimately beat Lee was the one who understood that that ratio was backwards, and had the resolve to attack, and keep attacking--the same way one wins playing a civil war simulation.

@kenandersen7173

2 жыл бұрын

@@hatuletoh It's clear with hindsight that Lee was very lucky here to not suffer a crushing defeat. I don't understand his deployment and seeming decision not to contest the bridges more. The only two reasons I can think of is that Lee was afraid McClellan wouldn't engage if he had done so, or he didn't want to spread out his forces too much. Even with the lesser force the bridges could have been utilized as choke points, evening the odds. The one bridge that was contested by Toombs in the South held for so long considering they only had a few hundred men and some cannons. Morale is very hard to simulate in a games and in most games Toombs would not have held so long. But it shows that even a brigade could have made a huge difference at any of the bridges. Lee letting the Union cross unopposed to the North and deploy so much of their forces in open field would have been considered a blunder on the level of Pickett's Charge, in my opinion, if he didn't get lucky.

@xisotopex

2 жыл бұрын

@@kenandersen7173 good point. there were 3 bridges for the Union to cross, and a ford that could be used to cross. The defenders apparently had favorable terrain all along those points, and it seems those points could have been held by fairly small numbers without having to compromise the general disposition of the rest of the Confederate troops. So why didnt Lee attempt to slow them down, disorganize them, keep them from crossing? It seems like it would have evened the odds quite a bit for Lee, with relatively low risk.

long live the memory of all good and brave men that stood up to the masses of stooges throughout history and yet in the future

Excellent graphics. Excellent narration. My 9y0 son loves your videos but likes this one in particular. We toured the Antietam Battlefield when he was 7. He was obsessed with Burnsides Bridge and the 11th Connecticut (Connecticut is our home). We've watched this video before bedtime a number of evenings. Thanks , I'm sure a lot of effort goes into these videos.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate that. It's great that a young guy understands that Antietam was important. Give him a high five for me!

Really well done. I recommend this video to anyone going to visit the battlefield in order to get your bearings.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Great work. These of some of the best Civil War battle commentaries around.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

I appreciate it!

I am currently reading Shelby Foote's Civil War and am at this part. Wonderfully done. Thank You

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Shelby's work is a masterpiece!

Excellent presentation. I have visited the battlefield, and all three sections can be seen in a well planned day. Lee's army was really in peril but maneuvered brilliantly to survive. Hill's arrival late in the day is one of the most dramatic moments of the war. Beautiful farmland, now so bucolic.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

Considering how outnumbered Lee was, he basically had the best outcome he could have had given the disadvantages.

@91Redmist

3 жыл бұрын

It's so beautiful, it took my breath away just minutes after arriving in the area.

@feedyourmind6713

2 жыл бұрын

McClellan's piecemeal use of his army gave Lee time to react.

@jameshood1928

2 жыл бұрын

I certainly agree that Little Mac was the master of indecisiveness. He apparently had convinced himself, with help of the Pinkerton Agency, that he was facing an enormous southern army, and thus prudence dictated caution. Lincoln didn't agree and fired him.

@feedyourmind6713

2 жыл бұрын

@@jameshood1928 And...he was a Democrat. So, there's that. Great military planner, but not a combat commander.

Very good, sir. A good old fashioned old school documentary type video 👍😎. Beats the hell out of anything on tv these days!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

This is probably the best presented, most understandable battle review i have ever seen. Using the satellite view for this is genius.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Very well done. Great detail in artwork and information. Use of the topographical view is very helpful in visualizing the events that took place. Keep them coming!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate that. I plan on getting a video out each month or so.

@michaelvaughn8864

Жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian Fine work by the way on all of your videos, sir👌 My compliments🙂

Worth a visit. You see the church, cornfield, sunken road and Burnside Bridge. Amazing battlefield.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Always important to visit and see the place in person.

@michaelvaughn8864

Жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian I've been to Gettysburg and have seen many of the battlegrounds' sites, sir. It's tough to comprehend what these men on both sides went thru in attacking & defending over and around rough topography, particularly at Devil's Den. That in itself was a total nightmare to assault😟

Just visited the battlefield in May. Thank you, this puts the visit in perspective. Very well done.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate it.

I just got back home from a visit to the Antietam/Sharpsburg National Battlefield. I watched this video on my tablet in the middle of the cornfield on the walking trail. Love your work, it really was like having my own personal historian with me. Keep them coming! Thank you!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

8 ай бұрын

Thank you! More to come. I hope you had a good visit at Antietam!

Great to have a channel where the speak is not drowned by music!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Loved the video! I subscribed and gonna watch more from you. Always a treat to find a well done history channel.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Excellent use of maps and graphics to detail the battle. Well done. Thank you!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Amazingly well put together vid. Subscribed after wartching this. I look forward to watching your other videos and hope you continue to put out more.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I will have another video up in a week or so on a western theater campaign.

Anyone who’s interested in military history should try their best to visit the Antietam battlefield because it is absolutely unbelievable. The view from Burnsides bridge and bloody lane are absolutely insane. There are so many sheer cliffs and Hills that I can’t believe they actually fought on the ground. It’s almost impassable by foot.

Excellent video. Love how you visualize and explain the movements with an aerial view.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

Just a fantastic description. I've read on this battle in the past but this was so good.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

Great vid Jeffrey...honest and unbiased. brought this critical battle home for me

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, friend!

This is, by far, the best break down of the battle that I have ever seen. Got a new sub.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

You are going to blow up Jeffrey. Your time had come! Keep em coming ❤️

This channel is one of the best civil war history channels on YT. Thanks for all your efforts on this.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

That really means a lot to me. Thank you!

Great job please make more thank you for the time u put into these they are amazing

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! The viewers make the effort worth while.

Hello, Can you do me a favor and categorize your civil war videos? They are all out if order, and I’m trying to watch them in a timeline. Thanks keep up the good work

Brilliant. As in the Gettysburg series; first time I have actually been able to follow the development of the battle. Bravo.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Excellent! This was very well done. Glad I came across your channel.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Very well done especially the movements graphics Thank you

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Very well done! I like the way you zoom in and out show topographical maps. The carnage is beyond comprehension. A senior Canadian.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated! Canada is a beautiful country, and we are lucky to have you as neighbors!

I like this, I’d love to see you do more of these type of videos on other battles. I feel like the peninsula campaign would be an interesting campaign to cover, with some interesting battles.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

I will get to the Peninsula. I will continue to make more videos. It takes about six weeks to get a big video completed.

Easily one of the best battle explanations i have ever seen. Sub'd.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

This video (and channel) is amazing. The satellite maps really help me understand the disposition of forces.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching!

Very interesting perspective, great vid

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate the nice comments, Mr. Tanzy.

One of Lincoln's greatest blunder in the Civil War was appointing McClellan overall commander of the AoP, although it must be stated that he really didn't have much to choose from. McClellan's timidity and nervousness coupled with his incessant demands for ever greater number of reinforcements from Washington infected the AoP's command structure until Grant arrived. What's worse, McClellan had a copy of Lee's battleplan but was still too cowardly to take advantage of it. Totally unfit to lead in battle. Cheers!

Great job. Really enjoyed that.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

Nice touch by explaining the origins of the Dunker Church.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Once you realize "Dunker" is a reference to baptism, the name suddenly makes sense.

I have read about this battle but this, even though less detailed, makes it so much clearer.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Superb summation

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

My great great grandfather and great great uncle fought at antietam in brooks brigade 53rd Pennsylvania inf. around the sunken road

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

That's great that you are keeping the family memory alive.

These are fantastic. I have attempted similar things using period maps overlaid on current satellite images. I would love to see your take on the Seven Days Battles around Richmond. I have walked the grounds of Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines' Mill, Glendale, and Malvern Hill many times.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate your comments. I plan on getting to those battlefields. Thank you so much.

My Great Great Grandfather was at the battle on the 2 nd day - Thanks for the great explanation of the battle.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching!

One man down every two seconds for three hours at the Sunken Road is the kind of information needed to understand the scope of the Bloodiest Day in US history. I've heard that said many times, yet brutal after-action casualty records don't quite explain the carnage appropriately.

Excellent

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Great stuff

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Well done. Thanks.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Thanks for this detailed video. My ancestor was in Duryee's brigade and it's cool to know they fought alongside the Iron Brigade

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

That is a neat connection. They were some of the first to hit the field that day.

@KneesPHD

3 жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian Yes shoutout the 107th PA Volunteers. They were in many engagements and fought in Paul's brigade on the first day of Gettysburg. That battle would be a good analysis since 1st day is often overlooked

@DiaperGranny11

2 жыл бұрын

@@KneesPHD when I visited Gettysburg, the park rangers all said the same thing; the first days fighting is often overlooked and is just as brutal as the fighting on the second day. Units like the Iron Brigade understood the gravity of the situation and fought harder than they ever had before to hold the ground. The Confederates underestimated the veracity of the Union troops fighting on home soil.

Excellent video!!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

thanks!

The Maps and animations are very helpful.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

I appreciate it!

Again, well done!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

I visited Antietam on the way home from Gettysburg in July, 2013. Being an avid student of history, in particular the wars fought and especially the Civil War, I was awed and humbled to stand on such hallowed ground, where so many thousands of brave young men on both sides lost their lives during this horrific battle. I would recommend and encourage all Americans to visit this historic battlefield.

@vieskow9544

Жыл бұрын

Yòu are so

@vieskow9544

Жыл бұрын

Right

The detail, topographic maps, animation, and presentation are absolutely wonderful. Congratulations on this epic video! Thank you for doing your part to ensure that history, as a subject, continues to be taught - at least here on youtube...

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

@mboop127

2 жыл бұрын

If history were being taught before, you never would've grown up to be a libertarian.

@cyberpimp29

2 жыл бұрын

@@mboop127 - as a life time student of history with a bachelors degree I would argue that anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of the constitution would understand that our founders were libertarian as is our founding documents. To see and judge people individually and NOT as a racial group or sexual orientation is the most just way view the world.

@mboop127

2 жыл бұрын

@@cyberpimp29 the constitution literally judges people as a racial group lol. Something you'd know if you had ever read it.

@Generalfund

2 жыл бұрын

@@mboop127 wow, just imagine an sjw forgetting the civil war, its reasons and consequences to the constitution...in a civil war video comment section. You cannot make this stuff up, folks...

Well done. I'm related to General Israel Richardson. As a little boy I use to visit Antietam Battle Field. Some day I plan to take my kids.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

That's great that you can trace your lineage back to Richardson. Do take your kids.

Actually the most amazing thing about this is that McClellan still had a job after the Peninsula Campaign.

Once again, you’ve nailed it. Your explanations are clear, concise & you clear up any confusion around the troop movement and timing of the battlefield events. Point of interest, my great uncle was a Sergeant in the Danville Artillery & was mortally wounded I’m pretty sure on Nicodemus Hill early morning action, from Union Artillery returning fire. My family doesn’t have documentation of the time, place of death, but logically I believe it had to be early morning on the hill.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Have you looked at the National Park Service soldier register about your ancestor? Here is the link: www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm

@billgardner8297

Жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian Yessir, George W.Keesee, Price’s Company , Virginia Light Artillery (Danville Artillery)

Amazing af!!!

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Incredible retelling. This is the standard now

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Good stuff

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

On the iPhone, the video went black just after beginning of battle - not sure what went wrong . Works fine on the laptop. Incredible to imagine this, following it in a bird's eye view. Thanks for the video.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

you might just need to restart youtube on your iphone. Sometimes that does the trick.

Good video

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Just saying but I had a 4x great uncle Named George E Kitzmiller and he was at this battle fighting in the ranks of Company K First Pennsylvania Reserves Infantry Regiment which was part of seymours brigade in this battle

My great-great-grandfather, Friedrich Deihle, a German immigrant, was part of the New York forces called the "Steuben Guards" or "Steuben Rifles", composed mainly of German-Americans, that assaulted the Sunken Road from the north. They were fighting to one side of the Irish Brigade. As far as I know, he was not wounded in this battle and went on to fight further battles in Virginia and was wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg while assaulting Marie's Heights. He was evacuated to a hospital in Philadelphia and was released from service after recovering his wounds. He then returned to New York and enlisted in an artillery unit that was sent to Fort Monroe, Virginia. From there his unit was deployed in the "Peninsula Campaign" until the end of the war. He then returned home to New York.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

My Civil War ancestor also came from Germany. I once read a statistic that one in three Union soldiers were German speaking.

Wow, just WOW.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

McClellan, one of the south's best generals

@michaelbarnett2527

2 жыл бұрын

And bragg, was one of the North’s.

Really enjoy your series of videos. Would suggest that you research the pronunciation of commander's names as it detracts from the overall excellent work.

5800 subs? That's low, people are ignorant. Great channel.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

"McClellan comes in cautiously." If there were never a more true and foreboding statement made.

McClellan in my opinion gets so much undeserved dirt thrown on him. What he a great military commander? No, he didn’t have what it takes. But he valued the men under his command. He didn’t feel comfortable just leading men into slaughter, even if it would mean a victory. I feel like he valued the lives of his men more than the wars outcome. And while that’s not always the best virtue for a military leader, you’d at least know he wouldn’t do what burnside did at Fredericksburg

Very good. 👍 I would have liked to know what happened to Greenes's brigade at Dunker church. They were also thrown back after multiple rebel assaults

Good concise recounting. So much more could be said about why things happened the way they did. MacClellan's poor overall grasp of the situation, even with a copy of Lee's plan, the piecemeal attacks, Lee's reckless invasion and risky position, Burnside's insistence on crossing the bridge instead of fording the creek which, in September, was pretty fordable in other places besides known fords. MacClellan could have ended the war that day but was unsure and afraid. I guess Lee knew his opponent.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

I think McClellan over managed because he didn't want to throw everyone in at once and risk mass panic. If one Corps panicked, another could be sent in. But if the whole army panicked, it would be a Bull Run situation. Yes, Burnside didn't think to ford the stream. Had he gotten over a few hours earlier, Lee might have been overwhelmed.

@peterrobinson7803

2 жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian l see it aa MacClellan under-managing, insofar as he allowed his Corps commanders to decide when they would attack. As soon as he heard Hooker was engaged, he should have sent everyone. Yes, Bullrun was in the back of his mind, and he chronicly over-estimated Lee's strength, but he played right into Lee's strengths (interior lines).

Very clear and enhanced by the use of areial photography so you can see the landscape clearly.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

I don't know if anyone has commented on the following, but Washington was not designated as the District of Columbia (Criminals) at that period. This term was to come later after the war. It was just referred to as 'Washington City'.

My great great grandfather was in company b of the 38th georgia regiment he was shot in the forehead on the 17th and lived on to die in 1880 if he had died I would not be alive today the man was tough

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

That is incredible. Definitely one tough guy.

@jacksonguillory8114

2 жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian homie was a gigachad

Does anyone know what type of federal uniforms did AP Hills Corp capture from Harper’s Ferry we talking sack coats or frocks or a mix

My great grandfather was in Brooke’s unit attacking the sunken road. 53rd Penn Vol infantry Co.I

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

That is great that you have that information and connection.

Robert E Lee from the minds of Minolta.Going to go visit September 17, 2022 for the 160th anniversary all the renovations should be complete by then Great video sir

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

Enjoy the trip in 2022! Thanks for watching!

@Nimgimmer1492

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds intriguing. I might try to attend as well. The renovations you mention . . . anything being done there that will knock our socks off?

A full quarter of McClellan's "massive" army had never fired a shot in anger, being brand new recruits. There were whole regiments who had not even received training on how to fire their rifles. They arrived in Washington DC and the next day began their march toward Antietam. I recommend this video, which is a Gettysburg Park Ranger talking about the two respective armies at Antietam, and their relative experience in the art of war. kzread.info/dash/bejne/iYSBlrWeiMSvpbw.html

@mjfleming319

2 жыл бұрын

1. Even so, McClellan still outnumbered Lee, and had a massive advantage in artillery. 2. Green troops often performed well in battle. Just weeks before at Brawners Farm, for example, the green Iron Brigade went toe to toe with Jackson’s veterans for two hours. 3. To anyone else reading this comment...don’t watch that park ranger. He’s working really hard to put a creative new spin on Antietam, but he utterly fails to take into consideration what we already knew about McClellan from the peninsular campaign: he was timid, slow, and never anywhere close to the actual fighting...in other words, a coward.

Is this a series? I'd love to see it from the beginning

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

It is a series in the making. I have assembled the completed ones in an American Civil War playlist. Chronologically, the Grant at Fort Donelson and Henry is the first (February 1862).

Just a quick correction: Hartsuff's brigade is mislabeled as "Hartstuff". Otherwise, nicely done.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the correction!

Just found out that my ancestor Robert B VanValkenburgh was in command of the recruiting depot in Elmira and organized seventeen regiments early in the Civil War. He was elected as a Republican to the 37th and 38th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1865. While in the House he was Chairman of the Committee on Militia (37th and 38th Congresses). He served as colonel of the 107th New York Volunteer Infantry, and was its commander at the Battle of Antietam.

Thank you so much. I have refought Antietam over and over using the Talon “Battlefield Antietam” pc game (which is excellent). I never understood why McClellan didn’t try to outflank Lee by approaching down the west flank of the west woods. The Union army just piled up through the cornfield…

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

I played that same Battlefield Antietam back in the 90s. That was a great series. Many wonder why McClellan didn't take Nicodemus Hill, west of the cornfield, where the rebels had their artillery. I think McClellan was afraid to try anything daring, because he knew he could not afford a fate that other Union armies had. On the one hand, McClellan doesn't get a knockout win. On the other hand, his caution avoids the same disasters that other Union generals suffered. He has the best *not losing* percentage in the Army of the Potomac until Meade.

@sim100

2 жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian Thanks Jeffrey. I have a sabbatical next year and hope to visit the battlefield, from the U.K. Then I can see the lie of the land for myself!

@mjfleming319

2 жыл бұрын

@@sim100 McClellan was much too far from the battlefield to coordinate his corps...as usual. Throughout the 7 Days fighting earlier in 1863 he was rarely within three miles of the fighting, and sometimes much farther away. Of course a commanding general is not supposed to be directly on the front lines, but the great generals like Grant, Thomas, and Lee were usually a lot closer than McClellan. Grant would often put himself close to the corps commander with the least experience, or where the line was getting shaky. I hope you get to Antietam on your sabbatical. I was able to visit there last summer. A great experience.

@sim100

2 жыл бұрын

@@mjfleming319 thanks so much for that reply Makes sense!

@sim100

2 жыл бұрын

@@mjfleming319 thanks for that. The video game offers an alternative scenario with Meade taking command of the Union army and all their corps can move much more flexibly.

Excellent video, you've managed to take a presentation style that I typically find unbearably boring and turn it into something amazing. Ancient history lover is another channel I recommend for interesting takes on otherwise boring presentation styles.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Whatever prevented McLellan from attacking over the Middle Bridge? and flanking the Sunken Lane and indeed the rest of the Lee's army. He still had a chance to carry out his initial plan, hit the left, or hit the right, and if either was successful, hit the middle? or maybe they did cross it?

@michaelvaughn8864

Жыл бұрын

No, actually no crossing was ever made, sir. At least, nothing on historical record to indicate Union troops doing so or in making an attempt to do just that

My GreatUncle John owned the house general Rodman died in when I was a kid. It's the one just northeast of Burnside Bridge,just across the road. The state let him name his driveway. He said "UN" State asked why? UN-road He had a sense of humor.

lesgoo war of rights campaign

It's hard to find a battle more mismanaged than Antietam. Especially considering Lee's orders that came into federal hands.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

Definitely. Both sides bungled. Lee sort of cornered himself against the Potomac, and McClellan couldn't coordinate more than one Corps at a time.

@JohnnyRebKy

3 жыл бұрын

Well Lee became aware the order was lost and began counter moves. So he didn't exactly enter the battle totally surprised and unaware McLennan knew his prior plans

@j.lebowski3917

3 жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyRebKy I have not read about that. Where did you read this?

@j.lebowski3917

3 жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian McClellan also had the 5th corps in his pocket and never used them.

@MS-kd9fd

2 жыл бұрын

@@JohnnyRebKy I would also like to see proof of this. It was my understanding that Lee learned of the lost order later and that may have affected his decision to attack the next year.

Was this narrated by Dennis Miller? Doesn’t say so in the credits but it sure sounds like him.

How many slaves did Lee have with his army, performing work that was performed by soldiers in the union army? This issue is almost never discussed when the relative numbers of soldiers in civil war battles are given. The only significant discussion I know of is in Guelzo’s book on Gettysburg.

@mjfleming319

2 жыл бұрын

Guelzo’s book is a work of art! Essential reading.

@michaelvaughn8864

Жыл бұрын

@@mjfleming319 I like his battlefield narrations, Mr. Fleming. He gave an oration at Gettysburg College years ago when my cousin, Daniel, was an undergrad there. In fact, I think it was about Antietam??🤔

Maybe it was already said, but can you give typical numbers for the different unit sizes?

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

The numbers for regiments and brigades in the civil war are actually all over the place. At Antietam, southern units were much smaller than their Union equivalents. In general, a small regiment is less than 300 men, and a larger regiment is more than 400 men. Brigades (the units I show on the Antietam map) are composed of somewhere between three or five regiments.

Hi Jeff, That's a shaded relief map not a topographic map. Your point would be better served using an actual topographic map, or maybe even a shaded relief-topographic map combo. Thanks for the video.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I will use those words in the future.

Alternative title for the battle: McClellan gets lucky.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

2 жыл бұрын

McClellan is actually the only Army of the Potomac general that can get Lee to a draw before Meade. On the one hand, he didn't get a decisive victory, but on the other hand, his campaign didn't end in a route.

@mjfleming319

2 жыл бұрын

More like “McClellan squanders the greatest opportunity of the war through cowardice and incompetence”.

This is good but still feels extremely opaque. For example It would be hugely helpful regarding Hooker‘s initial attack to also know where all the non-engaged regiments in the area were, what they were doing, where Mansfield was etc. It would also help a lot to know what Hooker‘s or Meade‘s tactical plans were. Were they trying to keep the front narrow, were they keeping lots of reserves, why didn‘t they flank the enemy.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

Жыл бұрын

Good point. I am going to continue to make more detailed videos on different sectors of the big battles to show more details. I limit the map to the units engaged because I don't want to over clutter the map. I recently did a Bloody Lane video that focuses on that section of Antietam.

Fantastic presentation Jeffrey! Really enjoyed the animation (as you know picture is worth a thousand words) as it helps immensely w/understanding troop movements & what Gen'ls Lee & McClellan were attempting to achieve w/their chess moves. As many students of the war & this battle in particular realize, Gen. Lee had the heart of a riverboat gambler, while Gen. McClellan had the heart of a chicken.

@JeffreytheLibrarian

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! The best description that explains Lee's calm personality yet daring nature (I think it comes from Foote, but I'm not 100%) is that Lee dresses like an Episcopalian but fights like a Baptist.

@jeffcox9393

3 жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian Thanx Jeffrey for your reply. Yea, the Episcopalian/Baptist remark sounds like Shelby Foote, either from his books or the Ken Burns documentary. Been going to Sharpsburg, Md./Antietam Nat'l Battlefield Park since 1967 or '68 when first trip was as Cub Scout! Seem to learn something new every visit. Met several of the good park rangers over the years on such visits as real-time battlefield walks, including Ranger Keith Snyder, who like me, was high school class of '75. Love all the Antietam specific books too (which you no doubt are familiar). Anyway, please keep up the good work & maybe will bump into you at the Battleview Market or Nutter's Ice Cream!

@jeffcox9393

3 жыл бұрын

@@JeffreytheLibrarian Did not mean to overlook Dept. of the Interior historian emeritus, Ed Bearrs, who everyone misses.

تحيه للرئيس الخالد ابراهام لينكولن وجنرالاته وجنوده الشجعان

@JeffreytheLibrarian

8 күн бұрын

شكرا لك يا صديقي Thank you, friend!

@user-ns5fl9zx2t

Күн бұрын

لا شكر على واجب يا صديقي​@@JeffreytheLibrarian

Great video! One possible point of controversy, however. That summer, there was an immense drought within Maryland for multiple months. This would’ve greatly impacted the agriculture of the area, such as corn growth. Also, the corn of the time (1860’s) didn’t grow nearly as tall compared to today’s genetically modified corn. With that in mind, Miller’s cornfield would’ve had (relatively) unobstructed views for both sides. There would’ve been no true concealment for defenders or attackers in this instance. It was a literal death trap for anyone who dared step foot into it.

@cobapl5987

Жыл бұрын

Regardless, Union forces should’ve concentrated a majority of their troops on Miller’s Cornfield and attacked the Confederates directly from their front (at that time). With how outnumbered the Confederates were, the Union swell would’ve broke the ranks and expose the Confederate left flank. The Confederates would’ve had no time to shift their men into defendable positions had this happened. Should’ve been a cut and dry battle, but that’s hindsight 20/20. McClellan was far too passive and absolutely failed our country in this battle.