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Emerging Civil War
To Hazard All: A Guide to the Maryland Campaign, 1862
“The present seems to be the most propitious time since the commencement of the war for the Confederate Army to enter Maryland,” wrote Robert E. Lee following his army’s stunning success at Second Manassas.
Confederate armies advanced across a thousand mile front in the summer of 1862. The world watched anxiously—could the Confederacy achieve its independence?
Reacting to the Army of Northern Virginia’s trek across the Potomac River, George B. McClellan gathered the broken and scattered remnants of several Federal armies within Washington, D. C. to repel the invasion and expel the Confederates from Maryland. “Everything seems to indicate that they intend to hazard all upon the issue of the coming battle,” he said of the invading force.
Historians Robert Orrison and Kevin Pawlak trace the routes both armies traveled during the Maryland Campaign, ultimately coming to a climactic blow on the banks of Antietam Creek. That clash on September 17, 1862, to this day remains the bloodiest single day in American history.
To Hazard A Guide to the Maryland Campaign, 1862 offers several day trip tours and visits many out-of-the-way sites related to the Maryland Campaign. Chapters
Confederates Enter Maryland
The Federals Respond
The Investment of Harpers Ferry
The Battle of South Mountain
The Battle of Antietam
Return to Virginia
Confederate armies advanced across a thousand mile front in the summer of 1862. The world watched anxiously—could the Confederacy achieve its independence?
Reacting to the Army of Northern Virginia’s trek across the Potomac River, George B. McClellan gathered the broken and scattered remnants of several Federal armies within Washington, D. C. to repel the invasion and expel the Confederates from Maryland. “Everything seems to indicate that they intend to hazard all upon the issue of the coming battle,” he said of the invading force.
Historians Robert Orrison and Kevin Pawlak trace the routes both armies traveled during the Maryland Campaign, ultimately coming to a climactic blow on the banks of Antietam Creek. That clash on September 17, 1862, to this day remains the bloodiest single day in American history.
To Hazard A Guide to the Maryland Campaign, 1862 offers several day trip tours and visits many out-of-the-way sites related to the Maryland Campaign. Chapters
Confederates Enter Maryland
The Federals Respond
The Investment of Harpers Ferry
The Battle of South Mountain
The Battle of Antietam
Return to Virginia
- GenresCivil War
192 pages, Paperback
Published September 14, 2018
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14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 17, 2023
I have been to Antietam many times, walking the battlefield, and trying to imagine what it must have been like that bloody day. This book has been written to help those who want to learn about the Maryland campaign by driving and walking in the footsteps of the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac. There is much to see and do so it is helpful to have such a guide with maps and pictures.
It is just what it says it is--a guide--so don't expect a detailed history of the campaign, however, it does offer an overview of the sites of this amazing historical Civil War campaign.
It is just what it says it is--a guide--so don't expect a detailed history of the campaign, however, it does offer an overview of the sites of this amazing historical Civil War campaign.
October 4, 2018
A great overview book about the Maryland Campaign with good, clear tour notes. A great addition to a Civil War library and a must-have if you're planning to road trip along the routes the armies took to and from Antietam.
January 27, 2021
If there’s one thing that can be said about the Emerging Civil War Series, it would be consistency. Every book added to this series, and I believe there are over thirty at this point, have been excellent narratives on the battle or campaign on which it surrounds itself. The same can be said for today’s book, To Hazard All, which chronicles the Maryland Campaign in 1862. I have always said that these books are the perfect accompaniment to any battlefield trip, and it rings true with this one as well. Both Robert Orrison and Kevin R. Pawlak have delivered another stunning addition to this series.
Robert Orrison currently serves on the boards of Civil War Trails, the Mosby Heritage Area Association, and the Virginia Association of Museums along with being the Historic Site Operations Supervisor for Prince William County. He has authored A Want of Vigilance: The Bristoe Station Campaign, and The Last Road North: A Guide to the Gettysburg Campaign 1863. Kevin Pawlak is a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Antietam National Battlefield along with the Director of Education for the Mosby Heritage Area Association. He is on the Board of Directors of the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association along with the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. He has authored Shepherdstown in the Civil War: One Vast Confederate Hospital.
This book opens with a guide to the battlefields, not only Antietam but those fields which had some action during the Maryland Campaign in 1862. Not only is this an excellent use of the authors for the education of those new to Civil War studies, but it helps those others who know little about the area surrounding Antietam. And for the first time in the Emerging Civil War Series, I would say that it’s rather essential that you read this section since the narrative following focuses on what was just explained for the tour. This was something presented in other books of this series, but I found it most interesting and useful here. Each battle is presented with each chapter outlining the whole of the experience from the Battle of Harper’s Ferry, all the way to Antietam, even covering the retreat. I’ve also been fascinated with McClellan during this campaign since this is where much of his reputation seems to be solidified in history, not only with leading the battle but his response to the actions of Lee. The chapter detailing that is one of the highlights in this book. Needless to say, both Orrison and Pawlak have given the reader a great narrative here that outlines everything you would need to know when visiting these places.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Maryland Campaign in 1862, or anyone wishing to grow their collection of the Emerging Civil War Series. It continues to showcase the talents of these authors and the passion of the publisher, Savas Beatie, in bringing the Civil War to the forefront. Accompanied by both maps and photographs, along with touring guides sprinkled throughout the text, it is an excellent addition to the Maryland Campaign study.
Robert Orrison currently serves on the boards of Civil War Trails, the Mosby Heritage Area Association, and the Virginia Association of Museums along with being the Historic Site Operations Supervisor for Prince William County. He has authored A Want of Vigilance: The Bristoe Station Campaign, and The Last Road North: A Guide to the Gettysburg Campaign 1863. Kevin Pawlak is a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Antietam National Battlefield along with the Director of Education for the Mosby Heritage Area Association. He is on the Board of Directors of the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association along with the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. He has authored Shepherdstown in the Civil War: One Vast Confederate Hospital.
This book opens with a guide to the battlefields, not only Antietam but those fields which had some action during the Maryland Campaign in 1862. Not only is this an excellent use of the authors for the education of those new to Civil War studies, but it helps those others who know little about the area surrounding Antietam. And for the first time in the Emerging Civil War Series, I would say that it’s rather essential that you read this section since the narrative following focuses on what was just explained for the tour. This was something presented in other books of this series, but I found it most interesting and useful here. Each battle is presented with each chapter outlining the whole of the experience from the Battle of Harper’s Ferry, all the way to Antietam, even covering the retreat. I’ve also been fascinated with McClellan during this campaign since this is where much of his reputation seems to be solidified in history, not only with leading the battle but his response to the actions of Lee. The chapter detailing that is one of the highlights in this book. Needless to say, both Orrison and Pawlak have given the reader a great narrative here that outlines everything you would need to know when visiting these places.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Maryland Campaign in 1862, or anyone wishing to grow their collection of the Emerging Civil War Series. It continues to showcase the talents of these authors and the passion of the publisher, Savas Beatie, in bringing the Civil War to the forefront. Accompanied by both maps and photographs, along with touring guides sprinkled throughout the text, it is an excellent addition to the Maryland Campaign study.
April 14, 2025
"To Hazard All" is typical of the Emerging Civil War Series, that being a small, inexpensive volume (about 175 pages) which presents the reader with a fast paced and very basic explanation of a campaign or personality of the Civil War Era.
In this case it's the September 1862 Maryland Campaign, culminating in the rolling countryside around the village of Sharpsburg, where in 12 hours of horrific fighting nearly 23,000 Americans were killed, wounded, captured or missing, making it the bloodiest day in the Republic's history. Interspersed throughout with modern day and battle maps, driving directions, along with now and then photos and illustrations, this book makes for a handy guide for any history buff or battlefield stomper seeking to retrace the routes taken by the armies over 160 years ago.
In this case it's the September 1862 Maryland Campaign, culminating in the rolling countryside around the village of Sharpsburg, where in 12 hours of horrific fighting nearly 23,000 Americans were killed, wounded, captured or missing, making it the bloodiest day in the Republic's history. Interspersed throughout with modern day and battle maps, driving directions, along with now and then photos and illustrations, this book makes for a handy guide for any history buff or battlefield stomper seeking to retrace the routes taken by the armies over 160 years ago.
January 24, 2023
Pretty good book that is part guidebook and part history book. It tells the various battles, movement and engagements of the Confederate Army during their invasion of Maryland. Tells of various stops you can visit the well-known battlefields and minor sites. It ends with a description of the Battle of Antietam and Lee's retreat.
January 24, 2019
A thorough march through the routes of the Maryland Campaign, it seems a little daunting for the average traveler to follow. However, for the amateur historian, many little visited places come to life and give the reader a want to visit them.
November 15, 2023
This is a straight up tour book of the Maryland Campaign of 1862. Directions are well written and concise. The explanations of each stop is well researched. If you want a history of the campaign, go to one of the books the authors recommend for the history. This is an excellent tour guide.
March 27, 2023
Very interesting viewpoints. I would love to read it while actually taking the tour.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews