Michigan at Antietam: The Wolverine State's Sacrifice on America's Bloodiest DayThis Civil War study examines the role played by Michiganders in the Battle of Antietam, shedding new light on their sacrifices and contributions. The Battle of Antietam remains the bloodiest day in American history, and the people of Michigan played a prominent role both in the fighting and the events surrounding it. In Michigan at Antietam, Jack Dempsey and Brian James Egan—both Civil War historians and Michigan natives—explore the state’s many connections to the historic conflict. Dempsey reveals the state's connections to the Lost Order, one of the Civil War’s greatest mysteries. He also delves into George A. Custer's role as a staff officer in combat. Most importantly, he mourns the extraordinary losses Michiganders suffered, including one regiment losing nearly half its strength at the epicenter of the battle. The Wolverine State's contributions to secure the Union and enable the Emancipation Proclamation are vast and worthy of a monument on the battlefield. The authors provide research and analysis that shed new insights on the role of Michigan soldiers and civilians during the epic struggle. |
Contents
| 7 | |
| 15 | |
| 21 | |
| 33 | |
| 43 | |
At Lansing and the Front | 55 |
Michigan Christens the Field | 69 |
The 7th Michigans Destiny | 77 |
Near Complete Victory | 111 |
The Battle of Shepherdstown | 121 |
A Proclamation and Its Price | 137 |
Michigan and a Monument | 157 |
A More Perfect Union | 171 |
Appendix B Michigan at Antietam Day Proclamation | 205 |
Woodruffs Battery | 217 |
Bibliographical Note | 265 |
Common terms and phrases
1ST BrIgAde 1st Division 2nd BrIgAde 3rd BrIgAde 7th Michigan Infantry advance Antietam Creek Antietam National Battlefield Artillery Battery Battle of Antietam battlefield Bentley Historical Library BrIgAde BG Campaign of 1862 Campaign of September Cannon’s Mouth Capt Captain Cavalry Civil Clark Colonel commissioned Company Confederate County Historical Museum crossed Custer Detroit Emancipation Proclamation enemy enlisted farm Federal field fire flank Frederick front George Georgia Hagerstown Harpers Ferry Hartwig Henry History Ibid IX Corps Jackson James John Lee’s Lincoln Lost Order Lt.Col Maryland Campaign McClellan McClellan’s Own Story military Monroe Commercial Monroe County Monroe County Historical monument moved North Carolina officers Pennsylvania Pierro Pittman position Potomac president Proclamation Quaife regiment reported Richardson road Robert Robertson Samuel September 17 September 1862 Sharpsburg Shepherdstown soldiers South Mountain Stonewall Sumner Thomas troops Union Washington Willcox William Withington Papers Withington wounded XII Corps York