What Was Antietam Really Like? Soldiers Tell Their Story | Scott Hartwig
Distant Drums Podcast
•
1h 33m
In this episode of The Distant Drums Podcast, we sit down with historian and author Scott Hartwig to explore the Battle of Antietam through the experiences of the men who fought there.
Rather than simply walking through the battle from a bird's-eye view, we focus on the individual soldier. Using firsthand accounts, letters, and recollections from men who experienced the fighting, we explore what they saw, heard, feared, and endured on September 17, 1862.
Our focus is the Miller's Cornfield sector—one of the most violent and chaotic portions of the Battle of Antietam.
Scott provides additional context for these firsthand accounts, explaining what was happening around these soldiers and helping us understand their experiences within the larger battle.
Their words give us a different perspective on Antietam: not just movements on a map or numbers on a casualty list, but the experience of the men who actually stood in the Cornfield.
Up Next in Distant Drums Podcast
-
Slaughter Along a Stone Wall | The Li...
The Battle of Antietam is often remembered for the Cornfield, the Sunken Road, and Burnside's Bridge, but some of the most brutal fighting of September 17, 1862, took place on the southern portion of the battlefield.
In this episode of The Distant Drums Podcast, we sit down with historian and au...
-
Inside the Battle of Kennesaw Mountai...
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain marked one of the most dramatic moments of the Atlanta Campaign, as General William T. Sherman abandoned his usual flanking strategy and launched a rare frontal assault against General Joseph E. Johnston’s well-fortified Confederate line.
In this episode, I sit do...
-
How History Becomes Film | A Conversa...
In our latest episode, we chat with Will Eichler, a pioneer in Civil War productions, who shares how he transforms historical narratives into captivating visuals. From his childhood in a farming community to creating impactful documentaries, Will emphasizes the power of connection in understandin...