The Tale Untwisted

“Thorp and Rossino make a very persuasive case for McClellan having received the Lost Orders in mid-afternoon and sending his dispatch to Lincoln at midnight on September 13, 1862. If I were writing my Antietam book today, I would follow their account.” ~James M. McPherson, author of Crossroads of Freedom

“This well-documented and logical explanation of the controversial Lee’s ‘Lost Orders’ debate finally puts the actions of General George McClellan in a proper context. Before a single Union soldier took a step in response to any order based on finding S.O. 191, Lee remarked that he found the Union army ‘advancing more rapidly than convenient.’ Now we know why.” ~Thomas G. Clemens, ed., The Maryland Campaign of September 1862, Vols. 1–3

“A clear, extremely well-researched study exploring when Lee’s famous ‘Lost Orders,’ S.O. 191, came into McClellan’s possession and how he responded to them. It is good history and anyone with an interest in the 1862 Maryland Campaign will find it a fascinating and illuminating read.” ~D. Scott Hartwig, author of To Antietam Creek

“Who Lost the Lost Orders? is the greatest single mystery of the Civil War. But chasing its answer has frequently distracted attention from the larger mystery of what George B. McClellan did with the discovery of the Lost Orders. For almost a century-and-a-half, opinion has followed McClellan’s legion of critics in blaming him for ‘dawdling,’ even with the greatest intelligence coup of the war in his hands. Gene Thorp and Alexander Rossino beg, very pointedly, to differ. In The Tale Untwisted, they offer an alternative view, with McClellan in heated pursuit of the Confederate army, managing a badly demoralized and hastily improvised Army of the Potomac and deploring a lackluster surrender of Harpers Ferry that ought never to have occurred.” ~Allen C. Guelzo, author of Robert E. Lee: A Life and Gettysburg: The Last Invasion

“…Thorp and Rossino offer readers a masterful summary of the period September 7-15. Clarity abounds in the narrative, but the book's dynamic and highly detailed maps (many of which are two-page spreads) provide what amounts to a daily military chessboard. In research, argumentation, and overall presentation, Thorp and Rossino's study shows how going about the process of changing minds influenced by generations of printed misinformation is properly done. Theirs is a refreshing and essential new addition to the 1862 Maryland Campaign literature.” ~Civil War Books and Authors

“Thorpe and Rossino tell the story in a clear, engaging style, with numerous primary references, supported by many splendid maps. Their analysis lends depth and texture to our understanding of the role of the " Lost Orders" in the campaign. The Tale Untwisted, which is likely to prove contentious, is highly recommended, a "must have" for anyone interested in the Eastern Theatre, Antietam, or George McClellan.” ~The NYMAS Review