RETURN FIRE
Martin Pritchett’s “Irwin’s Brigade at Antietam” (February 2022) overlooks Colonel William H. Irwin’s serious misconduct at Antietam. When Irwin ordered Major Thomas W. Hyde’s 7th Maine Infantry to make an attack requiring at least a brigade, Hyde realized the Irwin order came “from an inspiration of John Barleycorn in our brigade commander alone.” Hyde obeyed and his regiment was ambushed and only by leadership that earned him a Medal of Honor did he save at least half his men; “I wished I had been old enough, or distinguished enough, to have dared to disobey orders.” A
Author Martin Pritchett replies: During my research for Brigades of Antietam I noticed there were variations to Thomas Hyde’s issues with Irwin, probably due to the passage of time eroding his memory. Given the opportunity to comment on the clash between Hyde and William Irwin, I could not throw shade on an officer’s legacy based on hearsay or innuendo. The charges against Irwin were dismissed, and he was breveted later in the war. There is no proof he drunkenly conjured up the 7th Maine’s attack, which was to support Emory Upton’s artillery that was under fire from Confederate sharpshooters. Hyde’s memoir, Following the Greek Cross, written 32 years after the battle, should be examined against his official report written two days after the battle. In that report, Hyde makes no mention of Irwin’s drinking. Hyde and the 7th deserve all the glory attributed to them, but they were one of many regiments or brigades dashed against unknown odds at Antietam. Editor’s note: We regret misspelling author Martin Pritchett’s last name as “Prichett” in the February 2022 issue.
because he was instrumental in the abolition of slavery or, worse, because it’s an effort on your part to present his ideology in a more favorable light? In my view you cannot help yourselves. Rick Huff Sykesville, Md.
Marx
Editor’s note: We objectively pointed out that Marx had an interest in the American Civil War and Lincoln, an intriguing bit of history. To claim those few sentences illustrate some sort of ideology on our part is overreach.
WHY MARX?
PATHBREAKING SURGEON
Of all the historical figures that have been why would you stoop so low as to point out that Karl Marx was a lover of Lincoln? Why would a man who authored the political ideology that brought about the brutal death of tens if not hundreds of millions disgrace the pages of Civil War Times? Was it
I was very surprised when reading the excellent article on Dr. Alexander Augusta in the February issue to see modern political rhetoric weave its way into the narrative. I do not deny that there has always been racism throughout the ages and that unfortunately it exists even today.
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But I think that it was inappropriate for Mr. Williams to write, “similar indignities followed, all of them constant reminders of the country’s systemic racism” (italics added) in a publication like yours. That is advocating a current political thought into a historical narrative. I greatly enjoy your magazine’s articles. However, I am surprised that you allowed current racial politics onto your pages. Steve Williams Prescott Valley, Ariz. Author Michael Williams responds: I’m pleased that Mr. Williams enjoyed the article, but there are subtle but critical differences in contextual interpretation when it comes to the Civil War. The use of the term “racism” when referring to the 19th century is accurate. Like the Speed of Light, the definitions of such words are constants. Regardless of the time period, they do not change. Racism is any decision, institutional or otherwise,
CIVIL WAR TIMES APRIL 2022
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS (2); THE CIVIL WAR IN TENNESSEE COLLECTION; COURTESY OF DON TROIANI/BRIDGEMAN IMAGES
Nice article in the February issue about the image of dead Union soldiers at Antietam! I decided to go and check it out for myself, and I agree with you. It seems likely those men belonged to the 20th New York. Kevin Pawlak Antietam Battlefield Guide Manassas, Va.
week after the battle, Hyde wrote home, “The Colonel who ordered us in has been severely censured and may lose his commission,” but Irwin, sobered up, and apparently talked his way out of that. Stephen W. Sears Norwalk, Conn.
USAHEC; IAANDAGNALL COMPUTING/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
ANTIETAM IMAGE
