What Was Antietam Really Like? Soldiers Tell Their Story | Scott Hartwig
New for September 2026
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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.
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