Rating: 
Summary: A focus on contingencies
Review: I have always had a high opinion of Dr. McPherson, and he certainly doesn't disappoint with this excellent work. "Crossroads of Freedom" isn't a thorough examination of the Battle of Antietam. Instead, it is an expert look at the perilous condition of the Union prior to the September battle, and illustrates the critical importance of this engagement, and how it served as a turning point in both Civil War and American social/political history.
Full of generalizations by one of today's most enlightened historians, this book is perfect for the Civil War enthusiast and novice alike; It simply puts the first few years of the war into perspective. Perhaps the most valuable facet of this work is the excellent bibliography and appendices that serve as an invaluable asset to further research in a variety of subjects.
Rating:
Summary: Concise history
Review: McPherson's "Crossroads to Freedom" is much different than the battle history by Sears in terms of length (it's short) and focus. Less than a quarter of the book describes the battle itself; the majority of it describes the context of the battle - the campaigns leading up to Antietam, Lincoln's behind-the-scenes strategies, the politics and public opinion in both North and South, the personalities, the deliberations in France and Europe as to whether or not to recognize the Confederacy, the Emancipation Proclamation, and why the battle was a turning point in the war.If primarily looking for battle maneuvers and strategies, "box scores" for the generals, and first-hand descriptions of the excitement and horrors of one of the bloodiest battles in American history, "Crossroads to Freedom" will at best whet the appetite. If looking for a concise and comprehensive look at the battle, "Crossroads to Freedom" is a good choice.
Rating: 
Summary: Good solid book
Review: Some people don't like this book because it is more an overview of the events and isn't full of all the technical battle stuff that many civil war buffs like to get into. I think this is a great book for people who are interested in history, especially the civil war. It is a great introduction to the events surronding Antietam that can lead to a more in depth study of them. Just my opnion, but I highly reccomend reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Indictment of General McClellan.
Review: "Antietam" by James M. McPherson. Sub-titled, " The Battle That changed The Course Of The Civil War". Oxford University Press, 2002. As so many of the 53+ reviewers have noted, this book is NOT a blow by blow account of the Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, the bloodiest single day in American history. Many of those friendly reviewers suggested other books which give an account of the actual battle, itself. The author, the noted Historian James M. McPherson, spent much of the front part of the book developing the political, military and international situation just prior to the Battle of Antietam. The condition of the Union was far bleaker than I had realized. President Abraham Lincoln seized on any success, even the slight and scanty success of Antietam, to promulgate his Emancipation Proclamation. But, what I would like to point out is that McPherson's book is a scathing indictment of the actions of Union General, George Brinton McClellan, (1826-1885). McClellan was certainly the most controversial of the Union generals. He ran against President Lincoln in the election of 1864. When I was working on my MA, History, at Bridgewater State, the joking comment in the Civil War class was that , after Robert E. Lee, General McClellan was the best general that the Confederacy had. If , in the modern Gulf War, a modern Army general had done one-tenth of the things that McPherson wrote about McClellan (e.g. hold back his reserve troops when needed in battle), then that modern General surely have been found guilty by a court-martial. So, if you are ever required to write a paper on the failings of McClellan, take it from this book.
Rating:
Summary: A look at the causes and effects of the battle of Antietam
Review: In this short book, James McPherson attempts to explain why Antietam (or Sharpsburg, as the South called it) was such a crucial battle. Far from being just a look at the battle itself, this book explores the causes of the battle, the events leading up to it, and the ramifications of the Union 'victory' achieved after the battle. The most notable effect of the battle was the Emancipation Proclamation, which Lincoln had been waiting for a victory to issue and which kept Europe out of the war. McPherson, as always, presents an engaging narrative and some very useful and appropriate commentary, as well as a very helpful interpretation.
The principal drawback of this book, in my opinion, is that so little of it actually focuses on the battle. In fact, only one chapter is devoted to it, and details are often somewhat sparse. I see the need to build up to the battle and explain why it was so important, but I would have really liked to see an in-depth look at the battle with McPherson's great analysis to accompany it. McPherson points out that, though the Union won, the battle was far from being as decisive as it should have been. I wish the idea that the potential gains of the battle were not realized due to the North's inability to follow up on the victory could have been better developed.
Those who have read McPherson's great work The Battle Cry of Freedom will find that much of this book is similar in nature to that larger volume. It seems that this book was intended as a brief look at a part of the Civil War, and not as an in-depth study of this particular battle. In that capacity I think it serves the purpose very well.
Rating:
Summary: Great brief history of Antietam
Review: McPherson, one of the best Civil War writers alive, proves with this book that you don't need to write 500 pages to convey the horror of this battle. This is a great little book, which tells the story of the bloodiest day in American history. I would recommend any of his Civil War books. For a more in-depth look at the battle, try reading "Landscape Turned Red," by Stephen Sears, but if you just want a quick read to get an appreciation for what happened that day this is the book you want to read.
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