Battle of Antietam September 16-18, 1862

Background Maryland had a difficult time decided which side to take Divided EAST and WEST EAST – Sympathetic to the SOUTHERN cause WEST – Farmers who did not own slaves

Confederate Strategy Move North from Virginia into Maryland Take the war North to make the Union feel the war Hoped that a win would end a stalemate and allow the South to continue trade overseas General Lee believed that this battle could end the war

Union Strategy After finding General Lee’s battle plan, McClellan knew he could attack He chose Antietam because Lee’s army was divided Knew that there was an Union numerical advantage

Confederate General Robert E. Lee Born and raised in Virginia Was offered the position of Union General Decided to stay with his state and joined the Confederacy after Virginia seceded Graduated from West Point without a single demerit Married George Washington’s great-granddaughter, Mary Curtis Had seven children After the war, became the president of a small college in Virginia

Union General George McClellan Nicknames were Young Napoleon and Little Mac Graduated second in his class from West Point Served in the Mexican-American War Left the military to work on the railroad Fought to maintain his position as General Lincoln did not have complete confidence in his ability Ran as a Democrat against Lincoln for Lincoln’s second term Served as the Governor of New Jersey after the war

Timeline September 16, 1862 September 17, 1862 September 18, 1862 General McClellan confronted General Lee’s Army at Sharpsburg, Maryland September 17, 1862 Major General Hooker attacked General Lee’s left flank Single bloodiest day in American history Fought back and forth over Miller’s cornfield Union had numerical advantage, but Stonewall Jackson was able to hold his ground General Lee focused all of his troops to Antietam September 18, 1862 General Lee continued to fight General McClellan General McClellan angered Lincoln when he did not attack the wounded Confederates

Battle Facts Total Forces: 131,000 Total Casualties: 22,717 NO VICTOR Union: 87,000 Confederate: 45,000 Total Casualties: 22,717 Union: 12,401 Confederate: 10,316 NO VICTOR http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam/maps/ antietam-animated-map.html

Aftermath Lincoln and the Union declared victory General Lee was driven from Maryland Lincoln delivers the Emancipation Proclamation

Fun Facts This was the first battle fought in the North September 17, 1862 (the first day of fighting) is the single bloodiest day of American combat Death toll averages to one death every seven seconds First time in history that the dead were photographed on a battlefield and published http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tomcN9qC2wo