My husband and I have lived in Sharpsburg now for 5 years. The house we bought was built in the late 18th century. There are published stories about 2-3 Confederate soldiers being killed in our house when an artillery shell came through it, one dead soldier being found with a bunch of pilfered onions in his hand. A newspaper story from around Antietam’s centennial mentioned our house was used as a hospital, the last wounded soldier vacated in January 1863. What is claimed to be bloodstains remains on the original pine floor in our parlor.
I’m eager to read Cowie’s book. We heard him speak recently about the book. He’s an engaging speaker, and the audience, I assume mostly Sharpsburg/Washington County residents, was greatly enthused by his presentation. I appreciate your critique of the book. Perhaps it will appeal to a more narrow readership than Cowie intended. I’m hoping to get my hands on this book soon.
You should be able to locate your lot on his village map and I suspect that he includes at least one account about your home and surrounding lots. Definitely pick up a copy.
It has always struck me as kind of weird that we have so much detail about what happened to the civilians at Gettysburg, but so little about those art Sharpsburg.
Ditto for Vicksburg. There are a handful of oft-referenced diaries, but an account that encompasses the ordeal of upper- and lower-class whites, free blacks, and enslaved persons, would be fantastic. To my knowledge the best available are Terrence Winschel’s essays that, although excellent, leave one wanting more.
Thank you for taking the time to read and critique the book, Kevin. I sincerely appreciate it.
Steve
My pleasure and congratulations on the book.
My husband and I have lived in Sharpsburg now for 5 years. The house we bought was built in the late 18th century. There are published stories about 2-3 Confederate soldiers being killed in our house when an artillery shell came through it, one dead soldier being found with a bunch of pilfered onions in his hand. A newspaper story from around Antietam’s centennial mentioned our house was used as a hospital, the last wounded soldier vacated in January 1863. What is claimed to be bloodstains remains on the original pine floor in our parlor.
I’m eager to read Cowie’s book. We heard him speak recently about the book. He’s an engaging speaker, and the audience, I assume mostly Sharpsburg/Washington County residents, was greatly enthused by his presentation. I appreciate your critique of the book. Perhaps it will appeal to a more narrow readership than Cowie intended. I’m hoping to get my hands on this book soon.
You should be able to locate your lot on his village map and I suspect that he includes at least one account about your home and surrounding lots. Definitely pick up a copy.
It has always struck me as kind of weird that we have so much detail about what happened to the civilians at Gettysburg, but so little about those art Sharpsburg.
Ditto for Vicksburg. There are a handful of oft-referenced diaries, but an account that encompasses the ordeal of upper- and lower-class whites, free blacks, and enslaved persons, would be fantastic. To my knowledge the best available are Terrence Winschel’s essays that, although excellent, leave one wanting more.
This book more than makes up for it.