The Maryland Campaign of September 1862: Volume III - Shepherdstown Ford and the End of the Campaign

I gave the book 4 stars rather than 5 initially as Carman's story needs elaboration by other authors to get the full picture. But I came back to my review and upgraded it to 5. This reflects a view of the entire 3 volume set - a beautifully bound presentation with the detailed and informative maps of Gene Thorpe. (check out his site!) Carman accomplishes exactly what he stated as his goal - providing a running narrative that ties together the entire campaign, not shying away from controversies. In volume three, he highlights what his impression of the crossing at Shepherdstown Ford as a tepid conclusion. (Pleasanton was ordered away by MCClellan!) This is a contemporary voice of the participants; If he harbored more controversial ideas concerning Mac's intentions....Carman frames the controversies of this crucial phase of the war through the detailing of messages between Halleck and MCClellan. He's a marvelous journalist here, letting the materials tell the story, adding his views only at certain points, based on the paper trail. This third volume is a valuable window into the political conflict in the east between the Democratic professional army officers and the Republican administration, (And it's few allies in the AOP.) So much for, 'before we became such a political/media obsessed nation.' Additional recommended reading - 'McClellan's Other Story,' by Styple, 'Abandoned by Lincoln,' by Schutz, 'The First Republican Army,' by Matsui and 'Secret War for the Union,' by Fishel. The last book is kind of specialized, showing the nature of intelligence gathering in the 19th Century and the rise in the AOP of all-source intelligence, beginning with General Pope! But therein lies its value, i.e., why did Meade shutter this semi autonomous spy group, led by Butterfield and Sharpe/Babcock, after Gettysburg?

I now have all three in the Maryland campaign series by Carman and Clemens. I don't believe these books will ever be surpassed as to the history of these momentous days. Truly, as someone said, the Bible of this campaign.

Read the other two books and this one was just as great as the first two. I had the pleasure of meeting Tom a few weeks later on a tour of South Mountain. This made his books come to life.

Very informative.

The third volume of an excellent study of the Maryland Campaign but reads a bit like a text book.

Excellent editing of a major source for information about the Maryland campaign.

The Maryland Campaign of September 1862: Volume III, The Battle of Shepherdstown and the End of the Campaign by Ezra A. Carman (Author) and Thomas Clemens (Author, Editor), Savas Beatie (February 15, 2017) A Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table ReviewBy David Lady This is the third and final volume of an exhaustively researched analysis of the Maryland (or Antietam) Campaign of the American Civil War. Originally authored by Union army officer Ezra Carman (1834-1909), the trilogy has been edited by Thomas Clemens, and enriched with bibliographical and genealogical reference material, a statistical study of casualties, a scholarly analysis of Lincoln's decision to relieve General McClellan of his command, a summary of the entire campaign, and a good deal more. All three volumes provide very valuable details and thought-provoking interpretation and are highly recommended to Civil War students. The first two volumes are The Maryland Campaign of September 1862: Volume I, South Mountain; The Maryland Campaign of September 1862: Volume II, Antietam. Ezra Ayres Carman was born in Oak Tree, New Jersey, on February 27, 1834, and educated at Western Military Academy in Kentucky. He fought with New Jersey volunteers during the Civil War. Thomas G. Clemens earned his PhD at George Mason University. He has published a wide variety of magazine articles and book reviews and is a licensed tour guide at Antietam National Battlefield. Carman accomplished what he stated as his goal - providing a running narrative that ties together the entire campaign, while not shying away from controversies. This particular volume illustrates that the battle of Antietam or Sharpsburg did not end this most important campaign: General Robert Lee led his troops back to Virginia after the stalemate in Maryland, but intended to return at Williamsport; Union General George McClellan intended to follow the Army of Northern Virginia into Virginia, but the fight at Shepherdstown changed both commanders’ plans. Carmen covers the political controversies around this campaign by utilizing the near-real time letters and messages of the participants: for example, the telegraphic messages between Halleck and McClellan. This third volume is a useful window into the political conflict in the east between the professional army officers (almost to a man the senior officers were conservative members of the Democratic Party) and the Republican administration which had few allies in the Potomac Army. The author and his editor give more credit to McClellan than many contemporary historians, successfully portraying the general’s resolution in fighting Confederate forces as well as his belief that his accomplishments that lived up to his goals. The non-traditional viewpoint of McClellan’s assistance or lack thereof to General Pope in the battle of Second Bull Run should cause the reader to at least question the more common view of our times. Interesting analysis is made concerning the interaction between McClellan, President Lincoln and Harry Halleck and why ultimately Lincoln replaced the commander on November 7th. Solid evidence is provided that shows how Union Generals Halleck, McClellan and Pope did not always work together with the best interest of President Lincoln and their soldiers. Carmen demonstrates the failure of Generals Porter and Franklin to act in conjunction with the orders of their commanding general at the battle of Second Bull Run which contributed to the utter defeat that Northern forces received from the Confederates. I am grateful that Savas Beatie publishers has reproduced and greatly improved the original edition of the nineteenth century with the insights and corrections of the editor, himself an expert on the battle and latter part of the campaign. Carmen and Clemens provide an even handed and balanced appraisal of the campaign that has caused me to think about its importance to both war efforts in a new way. I have added this set to my list of must haves and encourage students of the war in the east to consider purchasing these books or pursuing them through the library system.

Superb Excellent narrative