Horrors Inseparable: Robert Gould Shaw’s Battle of Antietam

The United States’ bloodiest day in history left an indelible mark on all those who bore it witness; not the least on a young Robert Gould Shaw, who described a horror the likes of which nothing could ever justify. In this video I explore the Battle of Antietam from Captain Shaw’s perspective, moving through one of his letters home and seeking to offer some context to the powerful sentiments contained therein. As we discuss the battle and the things that Shaw would have seen and done, we are left to wonder at the ways in which the battle affected the young man, and how- as historians- we might use silence in helping us to understand the past.

~~Sources & Further Reading On This Topic~~

BlueEyed Child of FortuneThe Civil War Letters of Robert Gould Shaw

You can find all the other primary sources used as free PDFs at

Including: "The Record of the 2nd MA Infantry, 1861-1865"

"The Pictorial History of the War for the Union"

and, "The Maryland Campaign"

To learn more about the Battle of Antietam itself, I recommend these videos:

The American Battlefield Trust:

~~Other Links & Contact Info~~

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~~Timestamps~~

Intro 00:00

The Maryland Campaign 01:34

The Native Oak 08:13

The Battle of Antietam, in brief 10:48

Shaw's Experiences at Antietam 14:32

What Does This Tell Us? 32:56