1. Battle of Antietam
September 16-18, 1862

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

10. 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
antietam-animated-map.html

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

12. 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