John Michael “Mike” Priest has been studying the Civil War since he was in grade school when his parents took him and his brother to Gettysburg every weekend. A specialist in small unit tactics, referred to by Ed Bearss as the “Ernie Pyle of the Civil War soldier”, he has authored or edited about 12 books on the Civil War.

• Antietam: The Soldiers’ Battle

• Before Antietam: The Battle of South Mountain

• A two volume set on the Battle of the Wilderness: Nowhere to Run and Victory Without Triumph

• Into the Fight: Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg (He can also be seen on the Discovery Channel with Unsolved History: Pickett’s Charge, which is based in part on this book).

• “Stand to It and Give Them Hell”: The Second Day at Gettysburg from Cemetery Ridge to Little Round Top

A retired school teacher, he loves hiking Antietam and South Mountain. His favorite sites on the Antietam Battlefield include Fox’s Gap at South Mountain and the walking trails for the Bloody Lane, West Woods and The Final Attack Trail at Burnside Bridge. Mike specializes in small unit tactics and walking tours of the battlefield.

Mike is available for tours on a walk-in and prearranged basis. See below for information about how to arrange a tour with Mike.

Contact The Antietam Museum Bookstore at 301-432-5180 or toll free 866-461-5180 to arrange tours of Antietam and South Mountain or contact Mike at priesjoh@verizon.net.