The Cornfield, David A. Welker
The Cornfield, David A. Welker
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
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The Cornfield
Antietam's Bloody Turning Point

Author: David A. Welker

Narrator: L.J. Ganser

Unabridged: 13 hr 5 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 10/12/2021

Synopsis

For generations of Americans, the word Antietam—the name of a bucolic stream in western Maryland—held the same sense of horror and carnage that the date 9/11 does for Americans today. But Antietam eclipses even this modern tragedy as America's single bloodiest day, on which 22,000 men became casualties in a war to determine our nation's future.

Antietam is forever burned into the American psyche as a battle bathed in blood that served no military purpose and brought no decisive victory. This much Americans know was true. What they didn't know was why the battle broke out at all—until now. The Cornfield: Antietam's Bloody Turning Point tells for the first time the full story of the struggle to control "the Cornfield," the action on which the costly battle of Antietam turned. Many of the firsthand accounts included in this volume have never before been revealed to modern audiences or assembled in such a comprehensive, accessible narrative.

At the same time, The Cornfield offers fresh views of the battle as a whole, arguing that two central facts doomed thousands of soldiers. This new, provocative perspective is certain to change our modern understanding of how the battle of Antietam was fought and its role in American history.

About David A. Welker

David A. Welker is a professional historian and military analyst for the Federal Government. He holds a master's degree in international affairs from American University and a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Westminster College.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Hans on January 18, 2021

There's an anecdote that a veteran of the Civil War, when asked where he had fought, would only ever have to answer "The Cornfield" for it to be known he had been amidst some of the most brutal, bloody fighting of the American Civil War. Historian David Welker here undertakes a study of the infamous......more

Goodreads review by Samuel on March 20, 2025

The Cornfield: Antietam's Bloody Turning Point" by David A. Welker is a meticulously researched and engaging account of the Battle of Antietam's pivotal moment. Welker's narrative, enriched by firsthand soldier accounts and detailed tactical analysis, clarifies the complex and bloody fighting in Mil......more

Goodreads review by Christan on October 22, 2021

I have visited the Antietam battlefield twice. The first time it was with my kids. The last time I was alone and in a reflective mood. It’s a beautiful, isolated location, seeped in a sense of time and tragedy. I can’t begin to imagine what it was like to be here on the morning of September 17, 1862......more

Goodreads review by Neal on November 05, 2023

"The Cornfield" is unique in that it explains the complicated fight in Miller's cornfield that took place during the similarly complicated battle. I've been studying the Civil War almost all my life (MA in Military History; 10 years Manassas National Battlefield volunteer) and have read "Landscape......more

Goodreads review by Gregory on April 30, 2024

David Welker provides a vivid account of the Battle of Antietam, focusing on events in or around The Cornfield, a small piece of ground in the northern center of the battlefield. Most of the day's casualties occurred in The Cornfield so it's a good place to anchor the stories of that awful day. I rea......more

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