Antietam / Sharpsburg Single Bloodiest Day of Battle in United States History

Why go north? –Move the battles out of Virginia so they could ultimately resupply in PA Harrisburg was a major rail and communication center close to large eastern cities –Gain recognition of Confederate cause with European countries –Gain Maryland for the Confederacy When? –September 17, 1862

Battle –The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history, with more than 12,000 Union and 13,000 Confederate casualties. –McClellan is returned to command because of his skill, but Lincoln is still concerned with his less then aggressive actions but rebuilding the Army is most important after several losses –Frontal attacks that lasted from dawn till dusk –Lee’s Confederate troops and McClellan’s Union army met along Antietam Creek in Maryland

Outcomes –No clear victor – fighting ended due to exhaustion –Lee withdrew during the night re-crossing the Potomac River –Tactically battle ended as a draw –Strategically it was a Union victory

McClellan hangs back planning the attack for another day underestimating the size of Lee’s army m/videos/the-battle- of-antietam#the- battle-of-antietamhttp:// m/videos/the-battle- of-antietam#the- battle-of-antietam rg/battlefields/antieta m/maps/antietam- animated-map.htmlhttp:// rg/battlefields/antieta m/maps/antietam- animated-map.html