Cigars and the Turning of the Civil War

A handful of found cigars helped the Union at Antietam, America’s bloodiest battle

BY KENNETH SHOULER

Union Gen. George McClellan could barely contain himself in a telegram sent to President Lincoln. It was September 13, 1862, and the president had wired the day prior, concerned about Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson, who was crossing the Potomac upstream at Williamsport, Maryland, not far from McClellan’s position. “Please do not let him get off without being hurt,” Lincoln had urged. “I have the whole rebel force in front of me,” McClellan replied. “I think Lee has made a gross mistake, and that he will be severely punished for it…. I have all the plans of the rebels and will catch them in their own trap if my men are equal to the emergency. I now feel that I can count on them as of old. My respects to Mrs. Lincoln…” The…

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Cigar Aficionado (Digital) - 1 Issue, November/December 2022

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