I Dread the Thought of the Place

"Hartwig has written the best and most complete story of the Civil War's bloodiest day. He puts the reader in the middle of the action on every part of the Antietam battlefield during every hour of that horrific and lethal struggle. And he brilliantly places the battle in the context of the war in which it was a major turning point."

"This volume triumphantly concludes Scott Hartwig's examination of the Antietam campaign. Equally satisfying in dealing with commanders and soldiers in the ranks, it evokes the unimaginable chaos of the nation's bloodiest day and stands as the finest treatment of a battle that shaped the course of our defining national trial."

"The product of a historian who has been considering the nature and impact of war for decades, Scott Hartwig's book on Antietam is a masterpiece. Deeply researched, carefully considered, and beautifully crafted, the book is relentlessly human. America's deadliest battle with its immense stakes has received a treatment worthy of its profound significance to our nation.  "

"This volume triumphantly concludes Scott Hartwig's examination of the Antietam campaign. Equally satisfying in dealing with commanders and soldiers in the ranks, it evokes the unimaginable chaos of the nation's bloodiest day and stands as the finest treatment of a battle that shaped the course of our defining national trial."

"Hartwig has written the best and most complete story of the Civil War's bloodiest day. He puts the reader in the middle of the action on every part of the Antietam battlefield during every hour of that horrific and lethal struggle. And he brilliantly places the battle in the context of the war in which it was a major turning point."

"Antietam was the bloodiest day in American history and one of the most consequential—the battle that repulsed Lee's Army and propelled Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Scott Hartwig has written the definitive history of this most important moment. In the process, he has created a remarkable testament to Civil War soldiering. The richness of his sources and the eloquence of his language offer unparalleled access to the lived experience of combat. A feat of historical research and writing!"