The Battle of Antietam

Antietam Union General: George B. McClellan Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee Stonewall Jackson I. Fast Facts Union Army – Over 90,000 soldiers Confederate Army – 45,000 soldiers This battle took place September 17th 1862 Bloodiest single day battle in American history with 23,000 casualties Lincoln dismisses General McClellan after this battle and placed Ambrose Burnside in command of the Union Army of the Potomac Antietam was the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Northern soil.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Why did General Lee go on the Offensive and conduct the Maryland Campaign This was the first of General Robert E. Lee's two attempts to carry the war into the North. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had entered Maryland following their recent victory at the Battle of Second Bull Run. His plan was to attain new supplies and fresh men from Maryland, which had pockets of Confederate sympathizers, and to impact public opinion in the North. Encourage European support with a victory in enemy territory. Lee wanted to give Virginia a chance to recuperate from the constant fighting in the state. Virginia had been stripped of most of its food resources and this campaign would give the farmers a chance to harvest their crops and use them to help feed the local population. Union Forces Commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan Confederate Forces Commanded by Gen. Robert E. Lee Conclusion: Union Victory Lee's Maryland/Antietam Campaign Strength Killed Wounded Missing/Captured ± 75,000 2,010 9,416 1,043 Strength Killed Wounded Missing/Captured ± 75,000 2,010 9,416 1,043 Strength Killed Wounded Missing/Captured ± 75,000 2,010 9,416 1,043 Strength Killed Wounded Missing/Captured ± 75,000 2,010 9,416 1,043 Strength Killed Wounded Missing/Captured ± 40,000 1,512 7,816 1,844 Strength Killed Wounded Missing/Captured ± 40,000 1,512 7,816 1,844 Strength Killed Wounded Missing/Captured ± 40,000 1,512 7,816 1,844 Strength Killed Wounded Missing/Captured ± 40,000 1,512 7,816 1,844 The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was also the bloodiest single-day battle, as far as casualties, in American history. This was the first of Gen. Robert E. Lee's two seperate attempts to carry the war into the North. His initial objective was to advance his army to Hagerstown, from where he could either advace towards Baltimore, Washington, D. C., or any other place as dictated by the Union army movements. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had entered Maryland following their recent victory at the Battle of Second Bull Run. His strategy was to seek new supplies and fresh men from Maryland, which had considerable pockets of Confederate sympathizers (*see bottom of page*), and to impact public opinion in the North. It turned out that the Marylanders were not as thoroughly won over as Lee had hoped, and the Union's strategic victory at Antietam easily diminished any successes Lee may have had in winning the hearts and minds of the people of Maryland. Lee also wanted to give Virginia a chance to recuperate from the constant fighting in the area. The land had been stripped of most of its food sources and this campaign would give the farmers a chance to harvest their crops and use it to help feed the local population. The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was also the bloodiest single-day battle, as far as casualties, in American history. This was the first of Gen. Robert E. Lee's two seperate attempts to carry the war into the North. His initial objective was to advance his army to Hagerstown, from where he could either advace towards Baltimore, Washington, D. C., or any other place as dictated by the Union army movements. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had entered Maryland following their recent victory at the Battle of Second Bull Run. His strategy was to seek new supplies and fresh men from Maryland, which had considerable pockets of Confederate sympathizers (*see bottom of page*), and to impact public opinion in the North. It turned out that the Marylanders were not as thoroughly won over as Lee had hoped, and the Union's strategic victory at Antietam easily diminished any successes Lee may have had in winning the hearts and minds of the people of Maryland. Lee also wanted to give Virginia a chance to recuperate from the constant fighting in the area. The land had been stripped of most of its food sources and this campaign would give the farmers a chance to harvest their crops and use it to help feed the local population. The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was also the bloodiest single-day battle, as far as casualties, in American history. This was the first of Gen. Robert E. Lee's two seperate attempts to carry the war into the North. His initial objective was to advance his army to Hagerstown, from where he could either advace towards Baltimore, Washington, D. C., or any other place as dictated by the Union army movements. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had entered Maryland following their recent victory at the Battle of Second Bull Run. His strategy was to seek new supplies and fresh men from Maryland, which had considerable pockets of Confederate sympathizers (*see bottom of page*), and to impact public opinion in the North. It turned out that the Marylanders were not as thoroughly won over as Lee had hoped, and the Union's strategic victory at Antietam easily diminished any successes Lee may have had in winning the hearts and minds of the people of Maryland. Lee also wanted to give Virginia a chance to recuperate from the constant fighting in the area. The land had been stripped of most of its food sources and this campaign would give the farmers a chance to harvest their crops and use it to help feed the local population The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was also the bloodiest single-day battle, as far as casualties, in American history. This was the first of Gen. Robert E. Lee's two seperate attempts to carry the war into the North. His initial objective was to advance his army to Hagerstown, from where he could either advace towards Baltimore, Washington, D. C., or any other place as dictated by the Union army movements. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had entered Maryland following their recent victory at the Battle of Second Bull Run. His strategy was to seek new supplies and fresh men from Maryland, which had considerable pockets of Confederate sympathizers (*see bottom of page*), and to impact public opinion in the North. It turned out that the Marylanders were not as thoroughly won over as Lee had hoped, and the Union's strategic victory at Antietam easily diminished any successes Lee may have had in winning the hearts and minds of the people of Maryland. Lee also wanted to give Virginia a chance to recuperate from the constant fighting in the area. The land had been stripped of most of its food sources and this campaign would give the farmers a chance to harvest their crops and use it to help feed the local population.

Antietam II. Prior to The Battle General Lee’s battle plans were discovered by the Union Army before the battle took place Two Union soldiers (Corporal Barton W. Mitchell and First Sergeant John M. Bloss of the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry) discovered Lee’s detailed battle plans-Special Order 191-wrapped around three cigars. McClellan did not act on this information for 18 hours, and ended up missing the opportunity, that had been laid at his feet, to defeat Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia.

Antietam III. The Battle The battle of Antietam unfolded in 3 Phases Phase One- 6:00 am: The Union, under the command of Joseph Hooker attacked Lee’s left flank – by the Dunkers Church Phase Two- 10:00 am: the Confederates protect their center at the Sunken Road, later they get trapped in the road by Union Soldiers and get slaughtered. The Sunken Road become known as the “Bloody Lane” Phase Three – After Noon: Union General Burnside attacks Lee’s right Flank by crossing Antietam Creek Bridge. The Union ultimately won the battle of Antietam and forced Lee to retreat back in to Northern Virginia.

The Emancipation Proclamation IV. After the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. This Proclamation Freed all slaves in the states rebelling against the Union. It does not free the slaves in the Border States. This was an attempt to further undermine the South’s economy and ability to make war. This will also add 180,000 African American Soldiers into the Union Army.