Introduction and Thesis
“Battle’s Hard Aftermath” by Steven Cowie is the scholarly historical periodical Civil War Times article selected for analysis in this work. In this paper, Cowie mainly focuses on the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam, which destroyed the houses and fields of Sharpsburg residents and cost several thousand lives of soldiers and civilians. The peaceful sky overhead came at a high price: the battle ended in a virtual draw, but the Southerners retreated. The author’s main argument is that the 1862 Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in all the years of the American Civil War, which brought extremely negative socio-economic consequences.
Evidence
Cowie supports the thesis and appeals to the evidence from many years of research experience on the Civil War and the Battle of Antietam. The evidence confirms his main idea and provides a basis for further research. As one knows, the deadly one-day battle had far-reaching consequences, terrifying residents and destroying buildings. The bloody day turned people’s lives upside down, radically changing individuals and the usual way of life (Cowie, 36).
The aftermath of the battle was most vividly reflected in the residents of the village of Sharpsburg, Maryland. More than 23 thousand people were wounded, killed, or captured in just a few hours of combat (Cowie, 37). The peculiarity of the battle was that already fully trained and experienced armies participated in it. However, infantry tactics could have been better since the northerners conducted frontal attacks in a closed formation. The Southerners did not erect any fortifications on the battlefield in the hope of the convenience of the landscape.
It should be noted that the author uses letters, regimental histories, diaries, and official reports as primary sources. Cowie carefully studies archival accounts to comprehend the picture of the situation and fully interpret the information received. He traces the fate of individual citizens, ordinary people who are in a difficult situation.
Moreover, When Hell Came to Sharpsburg is the author’s book, which most fully reflects these aspects. It is known that Steven Cowie is a qualified specialist who has earned a degree from California State University, Long Beach. Cowie is a historian who has devoted most of his time and work to studying the Civil War, its “underside” or, in other words, the inner side. His knowledge of US history and research experience makes him qualified to write on the subject.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cowie’s article is unique due to the focus not on the external but on the inner side of the Battle of Antietam, revealing the social rather than the political moments. The article helps to look at the consequences of the battle from a different angle and understand how people lived at that time. The results of the Battle of Antietam led not to destruction but to salvation, which is the opposite point of view. Indeed, this problem significantly affects my world and changes my worldview regarding how my ancestors shed blood for a better future for the next generations.
Work Cited
Cowie, Steven. “Battle’s Hard Aftermath.” Civil War Times, vol. 62, no. 2, 2023, pp. 36-45.